Lani reunited with owner

A lost dog that sparked a region-wide search has been reunited with her owner.

Shih Tzu-Bichon cross Lani was lost by a pet transporter in Marlborough while enroute from a breeder in Kaitaia to Queenstown.

Lani’s new owner, Aleisha Blackley, made the long drive from Queenstown on Thursday with her best mate Ashlea Pope to pick up the little dog.

“It’s finally sunk in that’s she safe and going to be ok,” Aleisha says.

“I’m very happy now.”

Tears, heartfelt thanks and stories of the ups and downs of the search flowed as a relieved Aleisha was finally reunited with Lani.

Lani was missing for 18 days after Hopkins Horse Transport owner Tierney Hopkins let the dog out for a wee at the Marlborough Saleyards, in Riverlands, on November 4 at 8.30am.

The pet transporter waited more than 24 hours to tell Aleisha that Lani was missing.

Lani was found only 2 kilometres from where she went missing.

“We were almost certain she had been stolen – from the length of time she was missing,” Aleisha says.

“It was hard being in Queenstown – we had people going all over the show. I spent so much time on my phone.

“We’re definitely lucky to have so many people willing to do so much.”

Dedicated searchers went from Seddon, up the Wairau Valley and followed the river right to the sea.

“I wasn’t sleeping,” Aleisha says.

“When I saw the photo, I knew straight away that it was her. I broke down in relief.”

Fleur Pope, Ashlea’s sister, picked up Lani from Nicola, who found Lani.

“When I picked her up, she was covered in blood,” Fleur says. “I took her straight to the vet.”

The 17-month-old dog had about 60 seeds in total burrowed into her skin, requiring urgent vet care.

Lani received 26 stitches and another three seeds were removed on Thursday.

Aleisha says Lani’s condition matches up with her being out for so long.

She says Tierney put $1000 toward the vet bills, but has reneged on paying anything more.

“He paid the $1000 he said he would pay another $2000 if we stuck to his story – that he had tried to look for her,” says Aleisha.

But CCTV footage from the stock yards show his search was token at best.

“That first 24 hours is crucial. He just doesn’t care.”

Fleur says if Tierney had been truthful and told her what happened, she would have been there right away to search.

“He called me greedy for creating a Givealittle page,” Aleisha says.

“If I didn’t have that, I’d be in a state right now.”

Animal advocate and Marlborough Four Paws founder Michelle Madsen says Tierney gives pet transporters a bad name.

Less than three weeks later, Tierney lost another dog, Bess, at the same location.

Again, Tierney didn’t tell the owner until the following day.

Michelle says luckily Bess was quickly found.

“He shouldn’t be near any animals, in my opinion.”