Two beagles that went missing from Mount Barker home in emotional reunion with owner

Offers of help from pilots to psychics have stunned the Mount Barker owners of two dogs that went missing without a trace.

Beagles Lexi (left) and Hunter, back home, with Jack, 12, after wandering off from their Mount Barker home. Picture: Sarah Reed

The tears flowed when Michelle Buckley took the call saying her beloved beagle Hunter had been found trapped in netting on a Mount Barker Summit vineyard.

“I could not talk,” Ms Buckley said. “I just burst into tears and handed the phone to my partner, Daniel.”

Hunter went missing with Ms Buckley’s other rescue dog, Lexi, on March 1 from their Mount Barker home, sparking an extensive social media campaign and a $3000 reward.

Initially, Ms Hunter had thought pet thieves had stolen her beloved beagles, however when Lexi arrived home on Thursday afternoon on her own, she moved away from this theory.

“I think they dug and got out and then went on a big beagle adventure together,” she said. “If only they could talk and tell us.”

Hunter, 8, returned home on Tuesday morning with a few grazes and scabs on his nose, but otherwise healthy.

Ms Buckley said she had been overwhelmed by the generosity of friends and strangers, who had supported her in her desperate search to be reunited with her pets.

“I just can’t believe the time that people took out of their day and night to help us,” she said. “People I don’t even know. It’s a huge thank you to everyone.”

Michelle Buckley holding Lexi, after she was found. Picture: Emma Brasier

She said the kindness extended to a stranger offering their plane to help in the search.

“He needed to get his flying hours up, so he offered to take us up in his plane to look for Hunter,” Ms Buckley said.

“So on Saturday, we drove to Parafield Airport and Daniel and the man flew around for two hours trying to find him.”

A Hills-based medium who communicates with animals also gave up her time to help find Hunter.

“She told me he’s OK, his leg is trapped and Lexi has come home to tell you,” Ms Buckley said.

“It reassured me but also worried me that he was trapped and I couldn’t find him.”

She said her stepson Jack, 12, was frantically scouring online marketplaces for any sign of Hunter or Lexi, when they feared the pair had been stolen.

Ms Buckley said she was yet to have a conversation with the woman who returned Hunter about the reward.

She said Lexi and Hunter were now going to wear GPS trackers, and her backyard was being “dog-proofed to within an inch of its life”, to make sure she never relives the nightmare of the past week.