Popular dog returns home

Woy Woy resident Ms Shirley Lowry describes her dog Rusty as one of the most popular dogs on the Peninsula.

Rusty was stolen in May and found in Darwin, almost 4000 kilometres away from his Waterloo Ave home on July 24,.

Ms Lowry said she is astounded by the amount of attention Rusty has received since arriving home.

"Rusty has appeared on everything," Ms Lowry said.

"On television, radio, newspapers, shopping centre appearances, you name it.

"He has even been asked to make a celebrity appearance at Newcastle's Doggy Walk Day on September 26."

But despite all the attention Ms Lowry and her husband Dennis are "ecstatic" to have their eight year old poodle-Maltese cross home.

"Words cannot describe how happy we are to see Rusty again," Ms Lowry said.

"We just love him to death."

According to Ms Lowry, Rusty was treated to a welcome home party after returning from his "big adventure".

"We had a barbecue for Rusty to celebrate his return," Ms Lowry said.

"His closest canine friends Fluffy, Daisy and Zoe came along too."

Rusty went missing on May 7, from the general store on the corner of Trafalgar Ave and Waterloo Ave, Woy Woy.

Ms Lowry said she had tied Rusty up out the front of the shop before walking inside to get the paper.

"I had only been inside the shop for no more than 20 seconds," Ms Lowry said.

"When I came outside and realised Rusty was gone, I ran down the street to see if I could catch a glimpse of him.

"But there was no trace of him.

"The only way I found out he had been stolen was because of a lady passing by.

"She said she had seen a man on a bike leading Rusty away."

Ms Lowry said she never gave up hope for Rusty.

"My husband and I walked the streets at night looking for Rusty and put up posters all over the Peninsula in hope of finding him," Ms Lowry said.

Ms Lowry said she is "very disappointed and angry" at the person who took Rusty from her.

"I cannot understand why someone would go to the trouble of stealing a dog and not look after it properly," Ms Lowry said.

"When we picked Rusty up from the airport I could hardly recognise him.

"He looked neglected.

"One of the first things I did when we got home from the airport was to give him a good bath."

Clare Graham, 2 Aug 2007