Five Years, A Thousand Footsteps

Nala’s Second Chance After Years On The Run

In a story that reads more like fiction than fact, a dog named Nala has been found – five years after she first went missing from a backyard in West Mackay.

Nala vanished in February 2020, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, near the Botanical Gardens. Her disappearance sparked an emotional and determined search by her heartbroken family.

But Nala was in flight mode.

Each time she was sighted, her family raced to her location, laid down food and bedding, only for her to approach, recognise them, and run.

Over the years, community members continued to report sightings. Photos were posted online. Social media users tagged her family in hopes of a reunion…But every lead ended the same way – Nala was always just out of reach.

In early 2025, new sightings began surfacing more frequently. A dog matching Nala’s description was seen again and again – thin, frail, and limping. It was clear she needed help.
That was when Ella, a resident from Moranbah, saw a post, and without hesitation, she committed to rescuing the dog.

Ella teamed up with a group of Mackay-based volunteers: Jodi, Debbie, Chantel, Julz, and Taylah from Lucky Paws Dog Rescue Inc.

Using CCTV footage from a local business, the team located the dog, and from that point on, a nightly routine began. The volunteers regularly dropped off home-cooked meals at the site in hopes of earning the dog’s trust.

The animal, wary but hungry, began returning to the same spot.

A Lucky Paws Dog Rescue Inc Representative said, “Rain, hail or shine, this hungry dog turned up for a warm bowl of dinner.”

However, there were unfortunate setbacks.

Some locals kicked over the food and water bowls, and the first trap attempt proved too small.

But the group persisted. Ella personally constructed a larger, custom-built trap designed specifically for the rescue.

Then, on Friday 9 May, after weeks of patience and perseverance – the dog was caught.

“The dog was finally in the trap and we can confirm this beautiful girl is Nala,” a Lucky Paws volunteer said.

Nala is now nine years old, battling heartworm, a hip injury, and several lumps requiring medical assessment. While she has not returned to her original family, she is now safe under the care of Lucky Paws Dog Rescue Inc, where she’s receiving the treatment, she urgently needs.

The organisation is appealing for public support to help cover her care, and donations can be made at www.luckypaws.com.au.

Thanks to the compassion and determination of a small group of volunteers, Nala now has a second chance, and the community is quietly cheering her on, hoping her next five years are filled with nothing but cuddles, comfort, and good food.

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After five years on the run, a determined dog named Nala has finally been rescued thanks to the efforts of a small group of volunteers - and now begins her long-awaited second chance. Photo source: Lucky Paws Dog Rescue Inc. (Facebook)

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