Ollie makes it home at last

Reporter: ZOE HAWKS

MALTESE shih tzu Ollie was welcomed home recently after he went missing for more than a month.

His owners Debbie and Greg Fisher said they were relieved to have him home.

Mr and Mrs Fisher said Ollie went missing on Tuesday, December 20. Immediately, they began searching for their missing pet.

“The first night we were out all night looking and when our son Aaron came home from night shift he stayed up to look for Ollie,” Mr Fisher said.

The little dog was found by a fellow dog owner the same day, but escaped the enclosure he was in.

The Fishers were concerned Ollie would be prey to snakes and eagles.

GOODBYE: Elsie King (seated) enjoyed her last appointment at DeAnna’s hair salon recently, after 42 years of patronage. She is pictured with hairdressers Jess Tilbrook (left), Rosanna and

Fond farewell after 42 years

ELSIE King has had an appointment every Wednesday with Rosanna Christinger for the last 42 years. However, the 94-year-old recently visited the salon for the last time before moving into ValleyView.

Mrs Christinger was a 15-year-old apprentice when she first did Mrs King’s hair at Julan’s salon in Steere Street.

Mrs King was a loyal client, and followed Mrs Christinger when she moved to Deanna’s.

Mrs Christinger said that Mrs King’s valued presence will be missed, as she has always been “a part of the salon”.

“She’s always interested in our lives and our families, all the girls love her,” she said.

“I was in tears every night - we had all these thoughts running through our minds of what could happen to him,” Mrs Fisher said.

The longer Ollie was missing, the more concerned they became. They searched for him every day.

“Even though I didn’t give up, I came to the conclusion that we may not get him back,” Mrs Fisher said.

Phone calls of dog sightings came often during the five weeks, all of which were followed up as quickly as possible by the Fishers.

“For a while we were two days behind every sighting,” Mr Fisher said.

The couple left food and water in the various sighting locations, and refilled them each day.

Mrs Fisher said she was concerned Ollie had been taken by someone, and she stayed in contact with the ranger and vets in the south west.

A call from the ranger finally came on Wednesday, January 25.

Mrs Fisher was told that a small white dog was at the vet.

“Before I even turned around to reply, she was gone,” Mr Fisher said.

Mrs Fisher said she cried with relief when she was reunited with the dog.

“I didn’t say his name or anything and he was trying to jump out towards me,” she said.

The Fishers said they believe Ollie’s past helped him to survive.

“He’s always been a scavenger because he used to be starved,” Mr Fisher said.

“When we first got him he was skin and bones, and he was worse after being missing.”

Ollie was happily returned home, and the Fisher said their family has been reunited.

Junior programs make a return

ROCHE Park Recreation Centre's junior activity session returned this week.

Sporty Tots and Kindy Kids are back, as well as Home School Sports and a babies' program.

Visit Roche Park Recreation Centre in Coombe Street, or visit its Facebook page for all the start dates and times.