Locals are banding together to help track down Luna, a rare British Cream Dachshund who slipped away from her home in Fig Tree Pocket during a violent hailstorm and has not been seen since.
Neighbours, volunteers, and specialised teams have joined the effort, turning the quiet riverside suburb into the centre of a determined community push to bring the dog home.
Community Rallies Behind Massive Search Effort
After Luna ran from Kiriwina Street in Fig Tree Pocket during the hailstorm on 27 October, her owner, Pru Gillett, took time off work and began an intensive hunt. She has spent thousands of dollars on search tools and support, and residents have boosted her efforts by walking tracks, checking yards, and sharing updates online.
Pru has explained in social media groups that Luna is timid and fast, which makes sightings difficult. Investigators now believe the dog may be hiding in scrub and creek corridors that run through the western suburbs.
Specialist Tools Deployed Across Western Suburbs
Advanced search technology has become a key part of the operation. Industrial Drone Services Australia has used high-end thermal drones capable of scanning bushland up to 3.5 kilometres from the search base. The equipment can distinguish small animals in thick vegetation by temperature, helping searchers narrow down possible movements.
A pet detective, described as a former police officer, is also assisting Pru and believes Luna is more likely hiding than stolen.
A GoFundMe campaign supporting these efforts has raised additional funds to keep aerial searches going, and volunteers continue to work through mornings and evenings when thermal imaging is most effective.
Hope Builds as Community Shares Sightings and Support
Pru continues to monitor online listings and checks regularly with the RSPCA and councils in case Luna has been found. Volunteers are also responding to reported sightings, including one along a Chapel Hill creekline, and the owner has offered a reward for Luna’s safe return to encourage more residents to keep watch.
Earlier cases, such as another dachshund found after more than a year in the wild, have encouraged the community to persist. For any pet owner, the goal is clear: they simply want their dog home and safe.
Published 20-Nov-2025