Spooked dog searches Victorian city for dead owner

A much adored family dog fled from his home when spooked by lightning and went searching across town for his dead owner.

A much adored family dog fled from his home when spooked by lightning and went searching for his dead owner in regional Victoria.

Geelong couple Lois and John Hansen adopted their dog Spike from a shelter six years ago, Mr Hansen telling The Geelong Advertiser he’s been a special member of their family since then.

When Mrs Hansen moved into Multicultural Aged Care Services (MACS) in North Geelong, she was visited every day by her husband and Spike until she sadly passed away in March.

“Spike was there with me every day until Lois passed away and they adored him,” Mr Hansen told The Advertiser. But one recent afternoon Mr Hansen came home to find his beloved dog missing. The fluffy white pooch had been spooked by thunder, and had climbed onto a bin and fled over the fence.

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Every day for more than a year Spike the dog and his owner John Hansen visited his wife of more than six decades, Lois in Aged Care. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Spike ran more than 3km to the aged care home after being spooked by lightning. Picture: Peter Ristevski

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Mr Hansen said he’d never seen Spike try to escape before. He said the clever boy had run 3km to his mum’s old home at MACS and made his way inside — believed to have snuck in through a window or through the centre’s cafe.

“Spike always loved me a lot, but I was second fiddle whenever Lois was around,” he said. “And she absolutely loved to see him too.”

“He was probably scared of the thunder, climbed over the fence and thought, ‘I might as well go and look for my mum’.”

When Mr Hansen arrived he said he found Spike “all rugged up in towels”. He said his best friend had returned to his normal self in a few days.

John and Spike, best mates fur-ever. Picture: Peter Ristevski

The couple had been married for more than six decades before Mrs Hansen’s death, and rescued Spike from a shelter. He said the dog was “nervous” and “you could tell he’d been mistreated”.

He said these days he sleeps at the foot of his bed, and accompanies him on morning walks on the beach.

“Spike comes everywhere with me,” Mr Hansen said.

“I take him over to the bowling club. They love him over there too.

“I don’t know what I’d do without him.”

Originally published as Spooked dog searches Victorian city for dead owner