Leads come up short

There are unconfirmed reports a car pulled up alongside the dog, and someone scooped her up and drove away.

Since then, the community has come together to search for Dottie, sharing every photo, sighting and post of dogs that look like Dottie.

Miss Phillips estimates thousands of people have joined the search and pleading for the safe return of the dog.

It has been a heartbreaking experience for Miss Phillips, who said she sometimes feels like giving up the search.

‘‘I can’t go anywhere without someone asking me about my dog; even strangers are stopping me to ask me where my girl is,’’ she said.

‘‘It is lovely that people are taking the time to contact me, message me or speak to me about it, but there are just no answers.

‘‘I get used to the idea that she is not coming home and it feels like the scab is being ripped off as I start to heal. 

‘‘Then there is another bit of hope, someone shares a post or someone tells me dogs have been gone for 12 months and have still been found, and other people tell me their own stories about good and bad things that have happened to their pets.

‘‘It hurts. I would just like to know where she is.’’

Social media jumped in to action earlier this month when a dog who looks very similar to Dottie was posted on a Swan Hill-based lost pets site.

Identification was not possible though, because by the time Miss Phillips reached out to the person who made the post, the dog was no longer in their care.

‘‘I saw the post and I contacted her, I said ‘I believe you have my dog, can you tell me where you are?’,’’ Miss Phillips said.

‘‘But she replied saying she has dogs of her own and had to let Dottie go.

‘‘I was horrified.  I don’t understand why you would put up a post saying I have done a good thing and not follow something like that up. 

‘‘Surely she had a laundry, or even a friend or family member that could have taken Dottie until I got there. Or even the vets or the ranger.’’

Swan Hill based family and friends have been actively searching for the dog, but there is yet to be another sighting.

‘‘It might not have even been my dog, but it certainly looks like her,’’ Miss Phillips said.

‘‘I am not dealing with losing her well. I just want to know what happened to her. I want some closure.

‘‘We were her world and she was ours, so not knowing is the hardest thing.’’

Miss Phillips is offering a reward for the safe return of her beloved Dottie.

‘‘She is nearly 14 years old, and needs veterinary assistance especially to get through winter.

‘‘She wouldn’t go away to die, that’s not her, she would stay here with me.

‘‘I don’t believe that she took herself off, and she was seen being taken by a young couple in a red car.

‘‘I am waiting for an answer. She needs to be home.’’