Snowflake, bull terrier

Stolen dog Snowflake found
by Kevin Cheng and Tom Westbrook
Jun 11 @ 06:50am

Snowflake was returned to his owner after a front page in the Parramatta Advertiser told of how he went missing

Snowflake, the stolen minature bull terrier, was returned to Ermington police station yesterday afternoon just hours after The Parramatta Advertiser hit the streets with the story on the front page.

The puppy was stolen last Tuesday afternoon when owner Nik Wilker was walking with it on William St, Granville.

Mr Wilker, 25, was king-hit from behind and knocked unconscious.

When he woke up a short time later, Snowflake was gone.

After a week of fruitless searching, Mr Wilker has been reunited with his pet, thanks to The Parramatta Advertiser.

“I think it really was the big front page that brought her back,” he said.

“Someone must have seen that and thought ‘no, this dog is way too hot’, and just dumped it.”

Snowflake was found wandering in Ermington and was returned to the police station after a reader recognised her from the story.

Mr Wilker is overjoyed to have his favourite pet back.

“I couldn’t believe it, we were jumping up and down ... I’m nothing but happy,” he said.

Originally from Germany, Mr Wilker has lived in Australia for 2 1/2 years and in Granville for only six months.

He was walking Snowflake back from the off-leash dog park in Glen St, Granville, about 4.40pm.

He walked up William St and crossed the road between The Avenue and Lumley St, when he was attacked.

Mr Wilker said he remembered seeing a black Barina but his memory was blank after that.

Police said despite William St being a busy road, no one saw the incident or even came to Mr Wilker’s aid.

“If there’s not even one witness, there’s not much the police can do,” Mr Wilker said.

He suffered cuts to his head, hands and knees and woke up with a sore face.

The theft of Snowflake was the latest in a string of dognappings in Sydney.

In a Parramatta dog park last Wednesday, a man approached the owners of a staffie and asked if they would like to earn money by putting their dog in fights.