WHEN a Ballarat family visited Reeds Lookout, they expected to see stunning views of Victoria Valley.
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What they also found was a puppy wandering dangerously close to the edges of the mountain ranges.
Jacinda O’Gorman said the family of four travelled to Halls Gap two weeks ago for a holiday.
During a day of sightseeing, they decided to walk to Reeds Lookout in the Grampians – 15 metres above ground level.
“It was far too windy that day, so we drove up instead and when we got there we found a puppy beagle wandering around without its owner,” Ms O’Gorman said.
“We spoke to other people at the lookout and they said the puppy had been there for the last few hours.”
Ms O’Gorman said they sat with the lost Beagle waiting for its owner.
“It followed the kids around for 20 minutes,” Ms O’Gorman said.
“We knew we had to do something. We could not just leave it there at the lookout.”
The family reported the dog to an officer inside a nearby fire watch tower.
Northern Grampians Shire Council was then contacted to retrieve the dog.
The O’Gorman family returned to Ballarat, but continued to speak to the council.
“We kept following up to see if anyone had claimed it,” Ms O’Gorman said. “But no one did and so we were contacted and asked if we would like to adopt the dog.”
Ms O’Gorman drove to Stawell on Friday to bring the dog, Bailey, to its new home.
She said her children Liam and Emerson were thrilled when she returned home with a new addition to the family.
“The kids were so excited. The whole two weeks they kept questioning me if anyone had claimed the dog yet,” she said.
Northern Grampians Shire Council emergency management officer Kelly Boladeras said it was pleasing to see the dog find a new home in such unexpected circumstances.
"We're always pleased to see an animal find a new home, and our Local Laws team takes pride in our rate of success in either reuniting animals with their owners or finding them a new home," she said.
"In this case, Jacinda and her family and their new pet found one another.
“We were extremely pleased to see her go to a home where she's sure to get the love and care that she deserves."
