Spaniel reunited with delighted owner

Press, 6 February 1986, Page 3

Spaniel reunited with delighted owner

A delighted owner and an even more delighted spaniel were reunited yesterday morning after a report about the dog appeared In “The Press.” An overjoyed Zelda bounded into her owner’s arms as soon as she saw him arrive at the Rangiora home where she was being cared for. Mr Hadjichristos Thanasis, proprietor of the Sign of the Takahe, had almost given up hope of finding his spayed Cavalier King Charles spaniel.

She disappeared late last Sunday evening and a search failed to find her. Mr Thanasis had also approached the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“I thought if she had been stolen she would have been taken by someone who wanted her. I did not think they would try to dispose of her,” he said. Mr Robin Rossiter, of Rangiora, and his son, Jamie, aged six, found Zelda in the Waimakariri

riverbed with her legs bound with pantyhose. It appeared she had been thrown off the old Main North Road bridge in an attempt to drown her. She had made her way to the bank where she became wedged between two rocks, still securely bound. Mr Thanasis was alerted to Zelda’s plight after one of his waitresses read the report and telephoned at 7.30 a.m. After telephoning the Rangiora branch office of “The Press,” he was put in touch with Mr Rossiter and arrived soon after to pick up his pet. Mr Rossiter said yesterday he was pleased but sad. His children, particularly Jamie, had grown very fond of the dog. It was nice to know that she' had been reunited with her owner. Jamie received a substantial reward for finding Zelda.

More than 20 offers of homes for Zelda were received by “The. Press.”