'Absolutely disgraceful': Woman's pet dog vanishes from kennel on ferry trip
A woman is devastated and fearing the worst after her beloved dog disappeared onboard the Spirit of Tasmania.
On Tuesday afternoon, Holly Alexander put out a desperate plea for help on a public Melbourne lost and found Facebook group.
Ms Alexander explained she was on the ferry coming from Tasmania on Monday and had secured her two-year-old doberman rottweiler cross, Ester, in the kennel and checked it was secure twice.
Security guards woke Ms Alexander up at midnight to tell her Ester had escaped and staff had been trying to locate her.
They allowed Ms Alexander to look for her dog for an hour. She told the ABC she called out Ester’s name where the cars were parked on the ship and then she waited at the bar as the search continued.
“They couldn’t find her, they didn’t raise any alarms when they were trying to get people to disembark or check their cars as they seem to think that she might of jumped in the utes or trailers,” she said on Facebook.
Ms Alexander said she refused to leave the ship until midday on Tuesday, adding the security camera footage did not help.
“We were moving from Tasmania to Tweed Heads and she is my best friend and I just want her back,” Ms Alexander wrote on Facebook.
“Not knowing if she’s dead or alive is killing me. Please help.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Ms Alexander commented on the Facebook post to say Ester still hadn’t been found.
The Spirit of Tasmania told AAP in a statement it was closely working with Ms Alexander to find Ester and was asking passengers who were on board the ferry to check their vehicles.
"Despite a thorough search of the vessel, Ester has not been found suggesting that she may have left the vessel inside another passenger's vehicle or trailer," the company said in a social media post on Wednesday.
"If you have seen Ester please send us a direct message with your contact details. Please help return Ester to her owner."
The Facebook post has been widely shared in hopes of reuniting Ester and Ms Alexander, however several people were upset the ordeal could happen in the first place.
“That is the most horrific post I’ve ever read. Absolutely disgraceful,” one person said on the post in the Facebook group.
“That is so bloody irresponsible of them,” another person said.
“You must be beside yourself. They could have put on loud speaker before opening for people to disembark so as for everyone to check.”
With AAP
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