Doggie drama ends in a happy return

Louis is home - and dog-sitter Edmond Stack's secret is out.

The Irishman had been desperately searching for black coat retriever Louis since he disappeared from Mr Stack's boss's Parnell home on New Year's Eve.

He believes the dog was spooked by fireworks and escaped through a gap in the fence. He was found yesterday with a Mangere family who found him on New Year's Day.

Mr Stack kept Louis' missing status from his owners, who are honeymooning in Europe, while posting hundreds of flyers and offering a $1000 reward for the six year-old's return. He also placed an advertisement in the news section of the Weekend Herald.

Mr Stack feared the owners would cut short their honeymoon if they found out Louis was missing.

The couple, who Mr Stack did not want to identify, would send their dog postcards and text how much they were missing him.

"I would text back, 'He misses you, too'. It wasn't a lie. Louis would be missing them wherever he was." MORE>>