Narre Warren’s Keith Massey was reunited with his four legged companion Rusty last Thursday after he escaped and boarded a Melbournebound train. By Rebecca Fraser
A NARRE Warren man was devastated last Thursday when his fiveyearold crossbreed terrier Rusty went missing.
Little did Keith Massey know his trusty companion was having the time of his life boarding a Pakenham line train with Oaks day revellers.
Mr Massey, 75, said Rusty had escaped after scaling his 168centimetre back fence after being frightened by an earlymorning thunderstorm.
Rusty then had made his way to either Narre Warren or Hallam station about three kilometres away before boarding the 8.40am train.
“I had driven home from Nowra that night and got home about 8 (o’clock),” Mr Massey said.
“I then fed Rusty and went to bed.
“I did not discover that he was gone until about 9.30 in the morning but I believe he went about 5am.
“He is absolutely terrified by the thunder and the person from the North Melbourne dogs’ home said they (dogs) get so much adrenalin when they are scared that they can do amazing things.
“I guess he must have jumped over and then walked to one of the stations,” he said.
Mr Massey’s wife died three years ago and Rusty has been his sole companion since.
He said he had been amazed to hear that his fourlegged friend had made it all the way to Flinders Street station, from where he was taken to the Lost Dogs’ Home in North Melbourne by transit police.
“My wife died in January 2002 and I got Rusty in February 2002,” Mr Massey said.
“When I discovered that he was gone I was devastated.
“I live alone and he is my companion and a big part of my life.
“I rang the RSPCA and checked the local pounds thinking that he could have only gone a reasonable distance.
“I was absolutely amazed when I found out how far he had gone and I could not believe it when they rang me.
“They called and said they had him and asked what time they could send the TV cameras over,” he said.
Mr Massey said he had been surprised by all of the media attention and was just glad that Rusty had been found safe and well.
“All the attention certainly surprised me.
“My friend saw it on television in New South Wales.
“I am very grateful to the police who found him and advise anyone to have their pet microchipped.
“I took his collar off because we had travelled so far in the car and it was a hot day so if he did not have the micro chip it would have been hard,” he said.
The grandfather of four said he was now in the process of building a higher fence to prevent another escape.
But Mr Massey did concede that he was slightly disheartened by Rusty’s response when the pair was reunited.
“He was a bit takeitorleaveit when I saw him,” he said.
“I was a bit disappointed ,but I think he was in shock.
“It took him a day or two to recover but he is back to normal now and following me around again,” he said.To comment on this story or to let us know about your pet stories go to the News web forum at starnewsgroup.com.au/forum or TXT 191918 with the code NWS1.
SMS cost is 55c.
