Gallagher Harbisher Thomson’s beloved blue heeler puppy, Dinghy, has been missing since Sunday, November 10, and is feared to have been stolen from his owner’s fishing boat in Port Douglas in the dead of night while Gallagher was in the hospital.
The 12-week-old pup has been a source of great companionship for Gallagher, and his disappearance has left his owner deeply distressed and anxious about his safety.
Just days before Dinghy went missing, Gallagher and his father had an interaction with a man to whom they had offered assistance. They later grew concerned for the man’s well-being and, on top of that, for their own safety.
As a precaution, they called the police. However, despite their concerns, law enforcement never responded to their call. Since then, the man, who is from Airlie Beach, has left the Port Douglas area and has not been seen or heard from again.
Gallagher, who is a fisherman from Cooya Beach, is increasingly worried that Dinghy may have been stolen and is being hidden somewhere in Airlie Beach.
The young blue heeler, who was not yet registered at the time of his disappearance, was last seen tied up on the deck of Gallagher's boat at the Port Douglas Yacht Club. He had enough rope to access the nearby wharf.
“He means a hell of a lot to me,’’ Gallagher, 30, said.
“I’ve been doing it pretty tough since he has been missing.”
Dinghy is a purebred blue heeler, with striking features that make him easily identifiable. One of the most distinctive characteristics that set him apart from other blue heeler puppies is his kinked tail.
At the time of his disappearance, Gallagher’s father, John, was staying on his own boat at the Port Douglas Yacht Club, which is moored next to Gallagher’s boat. John was looking after Dinghy while Gallagher was away, and had tied the puppy securely to a shelter on the deck of the boat.
The puppy had enough length of rope to move freely around the deck, even accessing the nearby wharf. Dinghy was last heard yelping at approximately 3:40am on Sunday, November 10, but when John awoke around 5am Dinghy was gone.
Gallagher and his family have been desperately searching for Dinghy ever since, reaching out to the local community, friends, and acquaintances in hopes of finding him. They have also posted notices on social media and local message boards, but so far, there have been no credible sightings or information that would lead them to Dinghy.
This story was brought to us by Newsport Daily, an independent newspaper in Port Douglas.
If you have any information or have seen Dinghy, please contact editor@newsport.com.au.