Local hero Andy Snook reunites furry friends with their families in southwest Sydney
When a lost dog is roaming southwest Sydney streets, everybody knows Andy Snook is the man to call.
Fairfield
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When a lost dog is roaming southwest Sydney streets, everybody knows Andy Snook is the man to call.
Armed with his microchip scanner, the reluctant hero comes to the rescue when furry fugitives wind up on the streets of Fairfield, Liverpool and Bankstown.
He shot to local fame through a range of community Facebook groups whose users call on him night and day when a lost dog shows up.
“It’s a bit strange,” Mr Snook smiled.
“I don’t really put myself out there, I only comment to tell people I’ve found the dog or returned it home safe – but everyone knows Andy Snook now.”
Mr Snook has lived in Bonnyrigg since 1982, and had been quietly saving straying dogs for years before social media reinvented the process.
He has been part of the Bankstown, Liverpool and Fairfield Lost Pets group for four years, fielding requests from almost 11,000 members to pick up and locate lost pets.
“Everyone says “tag Andy Snook” when someone posts about a lost pet,” Mr Snook said.
“When you return a lost pet to their owner they’re usually incredible grateful – it’s incredibly rewarding to reunite the pet with its human.”
It is an amazing cause that keeps Mr Snook very busy – but he doesn’t mind at all.
“I’ve had 95 different dogs in the house with me just this year,” he laughed.
“My wife carries on with me saying ‘why are you bringing them home’ but she loves it too.”
Mr Snook believes people’s limited understanding of the responsibility of pet ownership is part of the problem.
“A lot of people get Staffys because the puppies are really cute when they’re small,” he said.
“When they get older they require more attention and become very boisterous, and sometimes they suffer from anxiety as well – that’s why so many of them end up in the pound.”
Mr Snook hadn’t had dogs of his own for three years after his previous dogs died after 16 happy years, until three new furry friends showed up in need of a loving home.
“My daughter’s friend was a carer for a woman with cancer and she wanted someone to take her dog before she died,” Mr Snook said.
“My wife saw Rascal and that was it.”
His other dog Casey was running around in the valley for weeks before he caught her, skin and bones, and adopted her after the foster period.
Mr Snook kept Peaches after he rescued her from the streets and her former owner no longer wanted her.
“Another one that stands out is Hobo, who had been running around on the streets and in the bushland on Henry Lawson Dr for weeks and couldn’t be caught,” Mr Snook said.
“I went back and snuck up on him and he was in very bad condition – my wife adopted him and he stayed with us for two years until he passed last year from cancer.”
Mr Snook believes part of the problem is people who don’t keep their pets properly.
“We’re really trying to push people getting microchips for their pets,” Mr Snook said.
“It only costs about $15.”
So, next time a furry interloper crosses your path – you can count on Andy Snook to save the day.