By Mikayla van Loon
A Montrose family’s heartbreaking search for their beloved dog George has been met with dead ends since he went missing in early September.
Owner of the four-year-old Dogue De Bordeaux, Natalie Stevens, said the last they saw of him was the week of heavy winds in the Yarra Ranges earlier this month.
“We live on acreage in Montrose and the week of the big winds through Melbourne on 6 September we had so many trees down, the wind blew our front door open and George has gone,” she said.
“George knows the area very well and all our neighbours who have lots of dogs between us also know George. There has been not one sighting of George from our CCTV, neighbours, community. He is a 70kg dog who sticks out like a sore thumb.”
Unsure whether George was taken or just escaped, Natalie said she and her family have reported him missing to every organisation possible.
From police to every local vet in a 50km radius, lost dogs homes, pounds, Animal Aid and local rangers.
Natalie said her and her husband have also placed posters around the local area and at the start of a number of walking tracks, with running and trail walking clubs notified as well, in the hope someone will spot George.
Despite his mastiff size, Natalie said “George is super friendly, gentle and loving and would never harm anyone”.
Having researched the breed extensively, Natalie said a French mastiff just seemed like the perfect fit for her family and George the name was a tribute to her grandfather.
“George came home to us at age eight weeks and from eight weeks old he has been loved and spoiled rotten,” she said.
“I cook his meals, I make him bone broth to go over his kibble, if he didn’t snore so loudly he would sleep on our bed but he retires at the end of each day on the couch.”
Adding to their distress, George had life saving surgery in February and requires medication and supervision to keep his condition under control.
“[He has] two shaved patches on his left hand side, these patches have not grown back so are quite identifiable.”
Having put out numerous social media posts, reaching over 3000 people, Natalie said it has garnered calls from “some really distressing, heartless, cruel people [who] call off private numbers adding to our grief”.
Natalie said if people do happen to see George, it would be best to take a photo of him, as well as the closest landmark, and to call her immediately.
“Without any sightings it is impossible to follow any leads, and we are stuck until somebody comes forward with some sort of information,” she said.
The pain of not knowing where this loved member of their family is, Natalie said, has been overwhelming and she just hopes that someone, somewhere knows where George is.
“I cry every day, my days are consumed with finding George, I can’t leave the house in case he comes walking through the door, I can’t put my phone down incase I get that call, I can’t smile because I know George will be so anxious and stressed.
“I will never get another dog as the pain in my chest is just unbearable to deal with having to go through this. His two dog brothers sit on the balcony all day also pining for him.”
If anyone sights George, call Natalie on 0402 209 885.
