December 20, 2010
Dougie Walker is reunited with his beloved dog Hooch today.
Christmas came early for a homeless Melbourne man today when he was reunited with his sole possession and much-loved companion - his stolen dog Hooch.
Dougie Walker, 32, who has been homeless since his mother died when he was 14, went into a Hungry Jack’s outlet in Swanston Street about 6pm on Saturday but came out less than five minutes later to find his wolfhound had vanished.
But the pair were reunited today after CBD worker James Dunn, who read about Mr Walker’s loss on The Age online, phoned with information on the dog’s whereabouts.
The phone call was the information Sergeant John Littlewood, of Melbourne East police station, had been waiting for. With two other officers, he and Mr Walker drove across town to Southbank to follow up.
Mr Dunn, who runs Bonza Bike Tours on Flinders Street, took police to where he saw the missing dog when he took his golden retriever for a walk early today.
He showed police an area under a rail bridge adjacent to the Melbourne Aquarium where the missing dog was found asleep with a man who fitted the description of the suspected thief.
‘‘You don’t see many dogs in the city,’’ Mr Dunn told The Age.
‘‘It was Happy (his golden retriever) who found the other dog. When they see another dog in the city they want to check them out."
For Mr Walker, who said he entertained dark thoughts about the thief’s possible intentions for his dog, it turned a devastating Christmas week into a joyful one.
‘‘My heart leapt out of my chest when I saw him,’’ said Mr Walker, overcome by emotion.
"He’s my whole life ... I used to be addicted to drugs. Ever since I’ve had this dog, he keeps me not on drugs."
The man who was found with Hooch was arrested by police and taken for questioning.
Source: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/homeless-man-reunited-with-stolen-dog-20101220-192hr.html
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