Missing Algester dog search comes to a tragic end for two families

A family’s month-long search for their missing pet has ended in tragedy after they found their beloved dog dead, next to another missing puppy.

Tilly, a beloved two-year-old staffy cross german shorthaired pointer went missing from Blueberry St in Algester on March 17 at around 10am. Picture: Facebook.

Weeks of a southside community rallying together with hundreds searching on foot and in their cars, has ended in devastation for a family after they found their beloved dog dead.

Tilly was found alongside another missing dog after the beloved two-year-old staffy cross german shorthaired pointer disappeared from Blueberry St in Algester on March 17.

Both Tilly and her brother, Murphy, were staying with their owner’s parents when they escaped through a hole dug under a fence.

Murphy managed to find his way back home, but Tilly was not so fortunate.

Tilly went missing from Blueberry St in Algester on March 17. Picture: Facebook.

Local pet detectives from Doggone Detectives, Jessica Carey and Kellie Burrastone, spent the next few weeks searching for Tilly, along with hundreds of people in the southside community.

“They contacted our community page and we all jumped into action to help with the search,” Kellie Burrastone said.

“I did all the laminated posters and put them around the local communities (shopping centres and major roads) throughout Algester, Parkinson, Calamvale, Drewvale and even Forest Lake.

Tilly was only two-years-old when she went missing from Algester. Picture: Facebook.

“I went door knocking for camera footage and asked if anyone had seen her. Nobody had.”

Ms Burrastone said they had thought Tilly might have run off into bushland near Ridgewood Rd in Algester.

A community search was held at the bushland.

“If you know this area, you would also know that the bushland is immense,” Ms Burrastone said.

“We paired people up and all went to potential areas to search.

“These areas included Karawatha, all the bushland down near the back of Algester Rd (Parkinson end) Hamish St, Benheim, Drewvale, every park in all suburbs — to no avail.”

It wasn’t until three weeks later that Tilly’s parents heard the news that their beloved pet had been found dead alongside another dog.

“We all really thought Tilly would be found safe,” Ms Burrastone said.

“A young gentleman came across them, which would have been a very confronting sight and phoned Tilly’s owner straight away.”

Tilly passed around April 7, just three weeks after she went missing. Picture: Facebook.

Tilly’s parents posted on Facebook about the devastating news.

“We would like to say thank you to the community for all you did to try and reunite our beautiful fur baby Tilly with us,” the post read.

“Tilly had been found, however, sadly, she has crossed the rainbow bridge.

“Tilly will be collected and brought back to be with her family where she belongs.

“Thank you to everyone who helped us endlessly.

“We are so appreciative of everyone’s time, effort and support.

“Tilly was an amazing companion with the cutest personality and she will be missed forever.”

The other dog found, named Zuma, had gone missing just a week after Tilly and sadly was found dead as well.

Ms Burrastone said the condition the dogs were found in led her to believe their deaths may have been suspicious.

“Were they both picked up by someone and used for bait for dog fights, then dumped there after death?” she said.

“Or was it a case of they died from starvation?

“There are plenty of waterways, so water would not have been a problem.

“It’s also very strange that not one person sighted either dog in all that time.

“So it was either from starvation, or that they ate something out in that bushland or something more sinister.

“But we will never know.”

Tilly was a beloved two-year-old staffy cross german shorthaired pointer. Picture: Facebook.

Ms Burrastone said she would like to help spread awareness to other dog owners about safety precautions to keep their family pets safe.

“Tilly’s story should be told to educate other pet owners about being aware that our communities do have unsavoury people that will take the opportunity if they can,” she said.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone in the community that joined in the effort to find Tilly and bring her home.

“Our hearts are with her family at this sad time.

“Fly high beautiful Tilly.”