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NEW WORLD LEVIN
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2013
Runaway dog now home By FRANKIE WEBB Horowhenua community launched a fullscale search and rescue operation when Zac the blue heeler went walkabout from Harkleah Meadows boarding kennel at Labour Weekend. Using all available resources, 11 days after his escape, Zac and his Raumati family were reunited. ‘‘We are just so blown away by the community effort to find him,’’ Zac’s ‘mum’ Rebecca Foley said. ‘‘Zac doesn’t even live in Levin, and here were all these people, the media, everyone doing everything they could to make sure we got him back.’’ Peter Collier, owner of Harkleah Meadows, said Zac’s escape was discovered quickly and he began searching immediately. ‘‘I had sleepless nights,’’ he said. ‘‘Horowhenua District Council dog control were fantastic and helped.’’ There were numerous sightings of the elusive Zac, some of which were posted on social media. Rebecca and partner Ian’s cellphones ran hot, their children excited by the news. The breakthrough came on Friday. Levin woman Patty Hapeta had seen a flyer with Zac’s story which her husband brought home from a fishing trip. Taking her grandson out to Waitarere, Patty saw Zac standing outside the local store. ‘‘I called him but he took off towards the forest,’’ Patty said. Her son and grandson took off in hot pursuit, joined by Peter. ‘‘I rang my friend Maria and got Rebecca’s phone number.’’ During the chase, sighting details were being relayed to Rebecca and Patty’s family via cellphone. A two-hour chase through the forest eventually saw Zac run on to Waitarere beach. Having arrived at the scene, Rebecca urged Zac into her van. ‘‘It took a bit of persuading but he finally jumped in,’’ Rebecca said. Moments later the successful outcome was posted on social media. ‘‘We can’t thank everyone enough, the fantastic people we’ve met through this, the media, thank you so much,’’ Rebecca said.
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Changing faces — page 2
HOME: Zac is a happy heeler now he’s home with his family after an adventure any dog would envy.
Boarding kennels heighten fence Harkleah Meadows was established by Peter Collier 13 years ago. Peter was shocked at Zac’s escape. ‘‘We have thousands of dogs from all over New Zealand stay here every year. I have to stress it is a boarding kennel, not a prison,’’ Mr Collier said. ‘‘Zac was here with a number of other dogs, being Labour weekend we were pretty full.’’
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No other dogs left the 5ha property. ‘‘Zac had been at the kennel over a week, it took until his last day to escape so it obviously wasn’t easy for him,’’ Mr Collier said. The property is fully fenced, with deer fencing in some places. The section of fence Zac escaped over has been identified and increased in height.
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