Valerie and Brook Ratcliff received a phone call at 6am on Wednesday from two women saying they had found the body of their 15-year-old border collie, Billie.

Billie — wearing her collar with the Ratcliff’s phone number on it — was found on the north side of the J.C. King netball courts on David Street, about a kilometre from their home.

The couple said she had no signs of injury, she was just old and her time was up.

“She’s blind and deaf and she normally wouldn’t leave the house because she can’t see very well,” Mrs Ratcliff said.

“These two strangers found her body in David Street and took the time to call us and wait until we arrived.

“Their understanding and compassion cannot be overstated.

“They got a towel from a house nearby and wrapped her up and waited for us to arrive.”

Mrs Ratcliff said they did not get a chance to thank the strangers.

“We were very emotional and didn’t get their names or a proper chance to thank them,” she said.

“We would never have found her and now we have been able to bury her in the backyard.

“These two women showed so much compassion and we would like the chance to thank them.”

Mr Ratcliff can be contacted on 0433 984 233.