An elusive hero has come to the rescue for one Canberra family after their dog, Jake, was ''dognapped'' more than a month ago.
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For five weeks, Rachel Davidson and her young family were beside themselves with worry.
On Sunday, July 31, seven-year-old Jake, a black labrador, vanished from the Isabella Plains property where he was being cared for.
''It was a horrible experience. The worst thing was just not knowing ... [four-year-old] Jack and Jake are very close and we were all beside ourselves with worry,'' she said.
Jake was returned to the grateful family last week, but they are only now piecing together the missing five weeks of their pet's life.
The Davidson's still do not know who may have taken Jake, but 12 hours after he vanished he was rounded up by officers of the Renbury Pound in Sydney. Jake had been found wandering near the Holsworthy Army Barracks.
Jake stayed at the Renbury Pound and was placed on its euthanasia list. Unknown to pound staff, his identifying microchip had moved beneath his skin and they were unable to identify or locate an owner.
After a two-week stay on death row, Jake was rescued by Amanda Scott who runs an organisation called LabraDOG Rescue which takes in unwanted labradors and rehouses them. For two weeks, Ms Scott paid for Jake to be kept in a kennel while his health recovered. Jake had an eye infection and was in a poor state.
Ms Scott later took Jake to a Box Hill vet where an examination revealed the location of the microchip and data identifying his owners. The Davidson family was contacted and Ms Scott drove halfway to Canberra to meet them and return their long lost pet.
''We're all so happy he's back. It's the end of a nightmare and I can't say enough good things about Amanda,'' she said. ''Although she [Ms Scott] can be shy and refused to take any money as a reward.''
Ms Scott did not return any telephone calls yesterday, but luckily for the Davidsons, and especially Jake and his young pal Jack, she is not shy about rescuing lost labradors.
Donations to LabraDOG Rescue can be made at the website, www.labradogrescue.com.au.