Melissa Townsend, Springvale Dandenong Leader
January 13, 2014
TONY Fadljevic was beaten unconscious and left with a fractured skull, three cracked ribs, and a broken shoulder and hand during a violent aggravated burglary at his Noble Park home.
But worse than the injuries was the final blow: the robbers stole his dog.
Three men broke into the 36-year-old's house about 3.30am on November 24, allegedly stealing his phone, clothes, entertainment unit, food, Ford XR6 sedan and beloved nine-month-old purebred American staffy, MJ.
As Mr Fadljevic relived that night's events and his journey to recovery, he broke down.
"I didn't care what happened to the house, but when they took MJ, I was devastated," Mr Fadljevic said.
"He was the love of my life.
"I took him home when he was six-weeks and he was so tiny.
"He'd lie in bed with me against my chest and over my neck and I couldn't let him go.
"He's such a lovable dog … he just loves everybody."
But four weeks later, thanks to an online appeal championed by the Narre Warren South Veterinary Clinic, Mr Fadljevic was reunited with MJ.
Vet nurse Rebecca Nichols put up a post on the vet's Facebook account about MJ, contacted Find My 4-Legged Friend to put the word out in a post, and called more than 30 vet clinics to forward them an email with a flyer.
Meanwhile, the thieves allegedly tried to sell MJ for $100, sparking the suspicion of the buyer who happened to work for an animal rescue organisation.
The buyer knew that purebred staffies were worth a lot more than the price the sellers were asking for.
The buyer paid the $100 before the man left.
She recognised MJ from the vet's Facebook post and, after a microchip scan to confirm his identity, MJ was traced back to the Narre Warren South Vet.
Mr Fadljevic said nothing would ever compare to the elation he felt when he heard MJ had been found.
He was reunited with his best mate two days before Christmas.
"I was speechless," he said.
"I couldn't stop crying.
"The Narre Warren South Vet was absolutely fantastic.
"I couldn't thank the vet enough for what they had done for me."
It has been a rough road to recovery for Mr Fadljevic and MJ, who are both still recovering from their ordeal.
Mr Fadljevic had a word of advice for those who were responsible.
"You just don't steal a man's dog, that's the rule," he said.
Dandenong CIU detective Senior Constable Jason Wombwell said no one had been charged over the incident but investigations were ongoing.
Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/noble-park-man-reunited-with-stolen-dog-after-brutal-home-invasion/story-fngnvmhm-1226799021317
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