IT TOOK a nerve-wracking seven days for Tamborine animal lover Shianne Robinson to be reunited with her best friend Dexter.
The almost five-year-old English Staffy dug his way out of a yard enclosure and bolted from his home at about midday on May 31.
Ms Robinson said she flipped out after failing to locate Dexter on the day he went missing but never gave up hope of finding him.
“I did not want to think I would never see him again. He has been around for all my journeys in adult life,” she said.
“My biggest fear was that someone wanted to keep him for breeding and that just is not him. He is a family boy.
“I am glad we have a good community and he was handed to the vet and brought home. When I got him back I was still in disbelief”
Dexter was handed in to the Yarrabilba Veterinary Hospital late on June 6 and was returned home on June 7.
Ms Robinson said he had clearly been through the wars on his adventure and was now recovering.
“He lost so much weight, had heaps of bush ticks on him and has a sore back leg and a mark probably from walking through a barbed wire fence,” she said.
“He is getting better now. He is a big family member and comes everywhere with us and we were all really sad not to see him.”
Dexter was described as a colourful character with numerous quirks.
“I have some of the funniest memories of him running around dams just to get warmed up before jumping in for a swim,” Ms Robinson said.
“He just loves everyone but is a funny character around males as he was brought up with women.”
Dexter was also reunited with Charlotte at their Tamborine home.
