Missing dog found after a month

Dexter, a Mastiff Boerboel cross, that went missing on February 5 at Smuts House Walk Park in Irene has finally been found after a month of intense search efforts by specialist organisations and community members.

Paws R Us broke the news in a Facebook post on Sunday, March 5 – exactly a month since he went missing.

“Thank you for the outpouring of joy, relief and excitement. Finding Dexter has brought so much goodness and unity,” the animal welfare organisation said on Facebook.

On Sunday, February 5, Dexter was out with his family at the walking park in Irene where he was being walked on a leash.

Dexter was still at the car with his owner, Nhlanhla Nyide, when a 4×4 vehicle drove past, frightening Dexter.

he fright caused Dexter to bolt and an immediate search effort began. Nyide searched alone well into the night that first day.

In the first three weeks, several sightings of Dexter by members of the public and search teams confirmed that he was still in the area.

A R20 000 award was offered for finding Dexter, with PawsRUs saying at the time, “The bond with his human Dad is incredible and we must reunite them again”.

Wendy van Blerk is one of the many skilled and experienced experts that joined the search efforts for Dexter once she heard about the story.

Van Blerk found a passion for helping find lost pets after she started Xara’s Army during the search for Xara in February last year after the dog escaped following an accident on the N14 at Diepsloot.

Van Blerk told Rekord that as Nyide searched for his fur baby, the community joined and the search effort rapidly grew.

“Nyide came across people during his search, and these people quickly got involved. They have supported and done everything under the sun to help him from day one.

“They have been out every day; they have sent out drones; they have done planning; set traps; set up trail cams – the one guy’s trail cam was even stolen. It has been one of the most incredible stories I have been a part of,” said Van Blerk.

Healthy Hound said that Dexter seemed afraid, and although their search and rescue K-9s had picked up a scent, they were unable to find him.

That’s when team members built a trap, which members named “Missy Trap” and conducted overnight operations to catch Dexter.

Dexter luckily did not go hungry during this time. Van Blerk said that the search team was trying to lure Dexter in, using one of Dexter’s favourites, namely lots of KFC chicken.

After a month of unsuccessful search operations, a search day was organised for March 5, where search teams in two waves would search a targeted search grid.

Finally, at exactly 09:34 on the day, Dexter was found by young Josh Hopkins, the son of wildlife tracker Miles Hopkins.

The team found Dexter by 06:00 that morning and kraaled him over the next few hours until they were able to catch him.

Nyide’s fiancé and Dexter’s mum, Natasha Liversage, was thankful for the outpouring of support from Pretoria’s community.

“The community that came together to help bring Dexter home has been so amazing, we are truly blessed to have met them and have now found lifelong friends in these amazing humans!

“Dexter’s dad searched for him every single day and the people who joined the ‘Bring Dexter home’ group assisted in so many ways. They brought food to the site every day, put cameras up to try to spot him and drove up and down the trails. They refused to give up on the search – even on days when it seemed like we wouldn’t be able to bring him home.

“We are humbled by their kindness,” she said.

READ MORE: Dexter has been found after a month

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