Slinky the sausage dog's story of survival

Dachshund lost for 13 days

Bryan Littlely

Journalist

Email
Last updated:
Slinky home with brother Domino after the Dachshund survived 13 days lost in the rainforest surrounding his Julatten home. Picture: Amanda Haines
Amanda Haines is reunited with sausage dog Slinky after his amazing survival story. Picture: Amanda Haines

Dachshunds aren't really built to survive the wilds of rugged rainforest country, but 10-year-old Slinky the ‘sausage dog’ has shown it's not the dog in the fight but the fight in the dog that matters most.

Amanda Haines had given up hope her boy would return after disappearing into the rainforest around her Julatten home on December 17.

But miracles do happen, and can come in small packages, with Slinky hobbling hurt but alive into a neighbour's yard on ..... 13 days after going missing.

“The chances of a tiny, 5kg Dachshund surviving out there weren’t really in his favour,’’ Amanda said.

“But somehow he has been able to Bear Grylls it!

“Our area is home to cassowaries, snakes and large pythons and goannas and as the days passed, it seemed impossible that he could still be alive. Something has had a go at him… it looks like a goanna possibly.’’

Slinky vanished without a trace, leaving his 9-year-old sausage dog brother Domino home after the wind had blown shut the bedroom door trapped him inside.

“We thought about all of the horrible possibilities and combed the dense surrounding rainforest endlessly for days, with the neighbours and community helping.’’

Having come to terms with the heartbreaking reality that Slinky was gone, Amanda and partner Edan Hollis decided to try and break the grief cycle and get out of town to attempt to recoup some joy in the holidays having delayed their break to search for Slinky.

“We headed off to Airlie Beach with Domino and our caravan. 

“On Monday December 30 at 10:30am, we got a call that changed everything. Our lovely neighbour's daughter spotted Slinky wandering into their yard,13 days after he went missing.’’

The neighbour, Simone and family rushed Slinky to the emergency vets in Cairns with Amanda and Edan packing up and starting the 10-hour drive back to Port Douglas.

“Slinky has a few battle scars: an abrasion on his back possibly from a goanna attack, some little injuries, an eye infection and obviously has lost a lot of condition and is all skin and bones,’’ Amanda said.

“But overall, he’s in surprisingly good shape for everything he’s been through.’’

Amanda has expressed her gratitude to her community and surrounds for the help given searching for Slinky, including sharing posts through social media.

“It really has brought the little community here together as they helped search for him.

“Now, the healing journey begins as we nurse little Slinky back to full health.’’

 

Hopes for Dinghy diminish

Gallagher Harbisher Thomson says he has to accept it unlikely he will find his stolen dog, Dinghy.

While it is a good new story for Slinky the sausage dog, widespread community efforts to find and reunite blue heeler pup Dinghy who went missing from the Port Douglas Yacht Club in early November with owner Gallagher Harbisher Thomson have died.

Gallagher believes the 12 week old pup was stolen from off his fishing boat in the early hours of Sunday, November 10, while he was in hospital and despite some potential leads, there’s been no success in locating the dog.

Gallagher expressed his gratitude to the community for sharing Newsport’s stories on Dinghy in a bid to raise awareness of the missing pup but said he had to now accept it unlikely that he will get news of Dinghy.

Support public interest journalism

Help us to continue covering local stories that matter. Please consider supporting below.

Got a news tip?

Send a news tip or submit a letter to the Newsport Editor here.

Comments

Comments are the opinions of readers and do not represent the views of Newsport, its staff or affiliates. Reader comments are moderated before publication to promote valuable, civil, and healthy community debate. Visit our comment guidelines if your comment has not been approved for publication.