A beagle named Harley, who vanished from a dog grooming business in Adelaide almost a week ago, has been safely reunited with his owner thanks to a widespread social media effort.
Owner Casey Knight revealed to ABC Radio Adelaide that Harley was discovered in a creek in Hawthorn on Monday night after a frantic search involving countless online volunteers. The beagle had managed to cover approximately 25 kilometers in just under two hours before being located.
Harley’s journey began when he escaped from a grooming facility in Highgate. His whereabouts were tracked across multiple southern suburbs through the collaborative efforts of community members who posted updates on various Facebook pages. These updates were rapidly shared and helped to build a comprehensive search network.
“The impact of social media has been phenomenal,” Knight remarked. “Since Harley’s escape six days ago, the entire community has been on high alert, aiding in the search.”
The search saw reported sightings of Harley in at least seven different suburbs, starting from Adelaide’s south and extending through the CBD to the eastern suburbs. Knight expressed immense gratitude for the numerous individuals who contributed to the search by posting updates and distributing flyers.
“We had an incredible amount of sightings and almost a live tracking feed from everyone in Adelaide telling us where he was found,” Knight said. “The community’s efforts were crucial in bringing him home.”
Harley’s adventurous escape took him from Glenside, across Fullarton Road to Dulwich, through the city along South Terrace, and then to Forestville, Goodwood, and Unley Park, before finally being retrieved in Hawthorn.
The community’s response was overwhelming, with Knight’s Facebook post thanking the public receiving more than 2,500 likes and hundreds of comments from relieved locals.
“I’ve been following Harley’s story and, like many, had very little sleep worrying about him. The terror of tracking his sightings was real,” one user commented.
Knight, overjoyed at being reunited with Harley, described him as a “miracle dog” due to his history of surviving a serious fall earlier this year. Despite his misadventures, Harley’s resilience and the support of the community played a crucial role in his safe return.
“He’s more of a miracle than a dog,” Knight said. “Earlier this year, he survived a 30-meter fall down a cliff at my partner’s beach shack without a single broken bone. He’s amazing, possibly more of a cat than a dog.”
