Sally and Roger Anderson were touring Southland in a campervan with their dog, Kelly, in early January.
Mrs Anderson said the holiday took a turn for the worse when they stopped in Invercargill.
"It was seven weeks ago today when she jumped ship. Long story short, it was a hot day. We stopped in at a Japanese restaurant for sushi," she said yesterday.
"We think traffic must have spooked her and she jumped so high it undid her leash, which was around a pole.
"She tore off looking for us."
They frantically went searching for the 8-year-old mixed breed without success.
The couple had to return to Hawke’s Bay due to a scheduled surgery without Kelly.
"It was heartbreaking. We had to go home and leave her, so after a couple of weeks, we left very sad," she said.
Kelly was seen near Invercargill Airport the evening she went missing.
Over the next fortnight, she was spotted in Hedgehope and eventually Gore, where she came to the attention of Gore District Council animal control officers in mid-February.
Members of the Southland community took the story of Kelly and ran with it, posting sightings and information consistently on social media.
It was not hard to discern Kelly, her leash still attached as she roamed Southland.
After weeks of being missing, Kelly was spotted in the Gore District after roaming over 60km, scavenging food and tracking the couple’s scent.
The crafty dog only wanted to be reunited with her owners, and nobody else.
"She was quite hard to predict, I think. She was great at hiding. She didn’t want to be caught. She just wanted to find us," she said.
Gore District Council animal control was hot on Kelly’s trail, but the dog was just too quick — bolting away 10 times from council staff.
Gore resident Melanie Ferguson became involved and after consulting with the Andersons, managed to pin down Kelly to Terry Rd in Gore, near the Gore Golf Club.
The Andersons sent down Kelly’s bed and Mrs Ferguson set it up on the road with food and water.
The familiar scent and feel seemed to resonate with Kelly, and she made multiple visits to her bed but still could not be captured.
The Andersons came down again from Hawke’s Bay and monitored the road.
After seven weeks, they finally were reunited.
"While I was talking to [Mrs Ferguson], there was this streak of lightning, she appeared and nearly knocked me over.
"She just leapt at me and licked me all over. The postie was there and reminded me, ‘grab her lead, grab her lead’," Mrs Anderson said.
She said it was great to have Kelly back, safe and sound.
"It’s just great, just amazing. All of us are so happy. The whole family. She’s a bit needy now, but she’s healthy."
Now heading back north, Mrs Anderson said both her and her husband were incredibly appreciative for all the help from the Southland community.
"It was a team effort, and we’re just so thankful."
