When Gold Coast couple Chris and Jo Ross left their dog Molly with a friend in the regional Victorian town of Rushworth, they were sure they'd be reunited soon.
But two days into their trip to Tasmania for a wedding, they received the worst news — their beloved Maltese had vanished.
Lost in the thick bushland surrounding Rushworth, at the mercy of eagles and foxes, Molly's survival was suddenly uncertain.
Far away and feeling helpless, he posted on several Rushworth community Facebook pages, pleading for aid.
In the subsequent eight days, up to 60 people turned out to help them, combing the bush for Molly.
"The response was overwhelming," Mr Ross said.
'They refused to give up hope'
Two local women in particular — Michelle Somerville and Juanita Locke — wouldn't rest until Molly was safely back with her owners.
They distributed flyers, pinned up posters and searched the scrub from morning to night for eight days straight.
Ms Somerville said it was like "finding a needle in a haystack".
"But when I gathered that the owners were interstate on holidays I thought, 'They've got nobody around to help search'," she said.
Mr Ross said he was blown away by their response.
"They refused to give up hope."
One local woman even flew her drone over, to see if she could spot Molly.
But while the dog was sighted a couple times by locals, she'd bolt before anyone could catch her.
Friends for life
Eight days in, the Ross family started to give up hope.
At this point, Mr Ross had flown over from Tasmania to join the search.
"Then this lady rang me from just down the road and said, 'I've got a little dog here with your name on its collar'," he said.
"I couldn't believe it."
By the time he arrived at the woman's house, Molly was snuggled in her arms, wrapped in a towel.
Five minutes later, Ms Somerville and Ms Locke joined them, and Mr Ross video called his wife.
"She said, 'Any sign of her'?" Mr Ross said.
Molly was found covered in burrs and 700 grams lighter, but is now on the mend — and under the close watch of her human parents.
Mr Ross said he couldn't thank the Rushworth community — particularly Ms Somerville and Ms Locke — enough.
"They will have a connection with this little dog and us for life," he said.
"They've gone from total strangers eight days ago, to brilliant friends."
