Lost staffy Nala found by Lucky Paws volunteers after five years on the run in Mackay

A dog living rough in the Queensland mangroves for five years has been rescued thanks to an ingenious plan.

Nine year old mixed staffy called Nala who went missing in 2020 and was found by local animal rescuers on May 9, 2025.

A Mackay dog missing for five years has been rescued thanks to an ingenious plan involving a tasty trap.

Nine-year-old mixed staffy Nala went missing from her West Mackay home in February 2020, feared to have been hit by a car, but sightings matching her description returned earlier this year.

After looking through CCTV footage of a local business, Lucky Paws wildlife carer Ella Harker made it her mission to locate the dog and bring her back to safety.

“She was just so emaciated and you could see a limp in her back leg,” she said.

Local CCTV cameras show a struggling Nala in the lead up to her rescue

“We kind of said that we’ve got to find her, we’ve got to trap her. She’s been out for over five years now, someone’s got to do something.”

With the help of Mackay pet rescue volunteer Taylah Jane, the team at Lucky Paws were able to trace Nala back 1900 days to when she went missing near the Mackay Botanical garden.

After confirming with her original owners, Ms Harker made a commitment to bring her back.

Even with 10 years of experience in animal rescue, Ms Harker said the size of Nala and her timid behaviour around humans made the rescue mission a difficult task.

“She was completely no human, she would run away from anybody that saw her,” she said.

“She hung around in the mangroves we believe, behind Canelands in the pool.

The meshed trap used to capture Nala.

“She went to these wheelie bins every night to try and find some food. So we started feeding her everyday so that we could build trust up with that area so we could trap her.”

Using a makeshift trap made of concrete rebar mesh, Ms Harker and her team were able to lure Nala and trap the dog late Friday night, May 9.

“I was just about in tears because the wind kept setting off the trap,” she said.

“It was just so exciting.”

Rescuers said Nala may have been involved in a car accident while she was missing for five years. Photo: Contributed

Unfortunately after years living in the wild, Nala suffered severe injuries including a dislocated hip, skin cancer, heartworms and a lump in her throat.

“We are looking at amputating that leg.

“She has multiple surgeries coming up.

“We could only assume she was hit by a car because of the way she was limping.”

Nala will stay in the care of Lucky Paws given her original owners have since moved away from Mackay and cannot take care of her anymore.

Community members have rallied behind the team at Lucky Paws Dog Rescue with donations flowing for Nala’s recovery.