Desperate search ends happily as Yoda the dog found after crash near Murgon
After a car crash near Murgon caused their beloved dog Yoda to flee into the wilderness, a family’s desperate week-long search which captured the community’s hearts has ended with a joyful reunion.
South Burnett
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A road trip that turned into a nightmare for Gemma Feasey, her father Paul Feasey, and their beloved brown mastiff cross rottweiler, Yoda, has had a happy ending.
Yoda has been found safe, albeit skinnier, a week after a crash and a desperate search that captivated the community.
The car crash happened just outside Murgon on the Bunya Hwy on Saturday, July 27, about 2.40pm.
“I was bringing my dad and Yoda home from Kingaroy as we live in Hervey Bay,” Ms Feasey said.
“Dad and Yoda have been making this trip almost every weekend for the past two years without any issues, and I’ve done it many times before too.”
The crash, which Ms Feasey described as happening “out of nowhere,” occurred as they were heading out of Murgon towards Goomeri and said it was still too traumatic for her to discuss.
“Once we finally stopped, Dad and I checked on each other to make sure we were all right, then we turned back to Yoda, and he was gone,” she said.
Good Samaritans stopped to help, with one man reporting seeing Yoda fleeing down the road.
The bystanders attempted to search for Yoda, who was believed to have jumped out of the window.
Shortly after the crash, the family posted social media messages for help, which were shared hundreds of times.
Throughout the week, property owners reported spotting Yoda on farm land, close to where the crash happened.
With temperatures dropping down to -2.5C, the family were desperate to get Yoda home as quickly as they could.
On Saturday afternoon, exactly a week after the crash, a property owner who had been searching all week, spotted Yoda having a drink down at a creek and quickly went down to retrieved him.
Mr Feasey said Yoda hadn’t left the area near where the crash happened.
He’s a bit skinny and has a few bumps and scrapes, otherwise in good form after his bush adventure,” Mr Feasey said.
“We’ll get him checked out properly in the week.”
The family have described the support from the community as “amazing”.
“It continued to give us hope and we’ve really appreciated it,” Mr Feasley said.
Ms Feasey described Yoda, who recently celebrated his 6th birthday, as a friendly and social dog who loves to snuggle in the comfiest spots he can find.
“His hips play up a lot because he’s big and getting older,” Ms Feasey said.
“Yoda loves going to parkrun with Dad. He’s very friendly with both dogs and people.
He’s the biggest softie.”
The day after being found, Ms Feasey said Yoda had been mostly sleeping since he came home.
“He’s very sleepy and has completely taken over Mum and Dad’s bed,” she said.
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