Help find Dinghy, Douglas

Gallagher Harbisher Thomson’s blue heeler boy, Dinghy, has been missing for 21 days, feared stolen from his fishing boat in the middle of the night while his master was in hospital.

The fisherman from Cooya Beach has posted a “decent” reward for Dinghy’s safe return home, but is increasingly concerned the 12 week old, unregistered pup, has been stolen and is being hidden.

“He means a hell of a lot to me,’’ Gallagher, 30, said.

“I’ve been doing it pretty tough since he has been missing.’’

Dinghy, a pure bred blue heeler has a distinctive kinked tail and Gallagher suggests he would stand out from other blue heeler pups because of it.

Gallagher’s father, John, was staying onboard his own boat adjacent to Gallagher’s at the Port Douglas Yacht Club and caring for Dinghy when he disappeared, Sunday, November 10.

He had been tied up at his shelter on the deck of the boat, with enough length of rope to also access the wharf.

He was last heard yelping at 3.40am but was gone when John rose in the morning around 5am.

“He is a very very special dog to me, please help, reward if found,’’ Gallagher said in a post the following day as he started his search for Dinghy.

Gallagher says he had only recently overcome the grief of his longtime canine companion, Captain, which spent six years with him at sea and was a much loved family pet. He had formed a strong bond with Dinghy in a short time.

“It has absolutely crippled me. My other dog was like a shadow and this boy was fast becoming the same.

“I was about to get him registered but was in hospital and unable to. I was just getting that stuff sorted out.’’

Gallagher has posted details of the missing dog on community groups but with no strong leads.

“He is a 12 week old puppy… he could be anywhere. I have to be realistic about it but I just want my dog back,’’ he said.