A PET is in for a treat after being found almost a week after he was taken from the front of a Lavington hotel.
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The nine-year-old American long-legged staffy named Smithy was reunited yesterday with Patricia Welsh who says the animal has helped her as she has battled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which affects the lungs and heart.
“All I ever wanted was to have Smithy back — I’m going to cook him the biggest steak he’s ever seen,” she said.
“It’s better than winning the lottery.
“It felt like losing a child when he went missing.
“I’ve never had animals before and I never thought I would feel like that, but Smithy just got under my skin.”
Closed-circuit television tapes show a man taking the dog from outside the front of the hotel, leaving his owner, Beau, and his mother devastated.
It shows a man wearing shorts and a patterned shirt approaching the dog at just after 9pm.
Albury Council senior ranger Darren McFarlane said Smithy had been found wandering on Kaitlers Road at Lavington, and returned him to the family that night.
“I don’t think words can describe how much the dog meant to the family,” Mr McFarlane said.
“It was amazing, he knew who to run to and was jumping all over him and wagging his tail.
“(Beau) then made me ring his mother, and being asthmatic I thought she was going to lose her breath on me — she was overjoyed.
“It’s a good result and a good ending, and it shows just how important microchipping your animal is.
“We’ve picked up dogs before that have been missing for two years, and animals that have found their way here from other towns.”
Mr Welsh said Smithy looked to be in good health, but would still take him to the vet to be checked.
“He was a little underweight and a bit timid,” he said.
“But mum was just over the moon, she was crying she was so happy.
“It has lifted her up 150 per cent.”
Smithy will be able to tuck into his steak when it arrives later today.
