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Snr Sgt Jason Homan, left, says it was “terrific” to be able to find Stig and return him to Rodney MP Mark Mitchell and his family.
Rodney MP Mark Mitchell continues his rise up the ranks, picking up the Defence portfilio in the recent parliamentary reshuffle.He says that his new responsibilities will not mean that the electorate takes a back seat. It appears that support goes both ways after the community rallied last month to find the Mitchell family’s lost black Labrador, Stig.
Security camera footage shows that Stig ran away from his Orewa home after the family’s other dog, Great Dane Zara, managed to open the door. Zara also went AWOL, but returned the same day. Stig was missing for almost a week.
No stone was unturned in the search – the family’s plea on Facebook attracted 60,000 views and local police alerted the highway patrol. Mark’s wife Peggy injured her leg while searching in thick bush.
Stig was eventually spotted by several members of the public who phoned police concerned the dog may cause an accident by running on the northern motorway. Snr Sgt Jason Homan and a small team went after him. Jason knows the Mitchells well, and, like Mark, is a former member of the Police Dog section.
He found a bedraggled Stig in bush near the toll cameras. The dog had lost 6kg. “The vet said he wouldn’t have made it through another day,” Jason says.
“He’s so glad to be home,” Mark says. “He’s worn the pads off his back paws but he’s recovering well. The tail hasn’t stopped wagging, so that still works ok! We want to thank everyone who supported us and helped look for Stig.”
