Cherished dog went missing near Melbourne Airport in the hands of pet transport company
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The heart-wrenching tale of a beloved Jack Russell terrier named Milo, who went missing in the vicinity of Melbourne Airport, has recently gripped the local community.
Milo's owner, Jason Whatnall, was preparing for a new chapter in the United Kingdom when the unthinkable happened.
On March 18, while under the care of AeroPets Animal Transport, Milo managed to escape as he was being transferred from his cage.
The incident occurred just as he was about to embark on his journey with Whatnall to their new home overseas.
The escape has been attributed to Milo biting the handler during the transfer, a situation that AeroPets claimed was unforeseen as they were not informed of Milo's fear of people or vehicles.
The company's immediate response was to inform the owners and initiate a search, which Whatnall participated in for several hours before his scheduled flight.
‘We advised the owners of what happened immediately, who came in and helped with the search for a few hours. The owners of Milo then took a flight out of Australia,’ the company stated.
Despite the distressing situation, Whatnall had to leave Australia as planned, leaving the search for Milo in the hands of AeroPets and local animal rescuers.
AeroPets has since taken extensive measures to locate the missing dog, including flying in staff from Brisbane, distributing hundreds of flyers, setting up food and cameras, and engaging social media groups to spread the word.
In a unique approach to the search, rescuer Nigel Williamson has been playing recordings of Whatnall's voice over a speaker, hoping to draw Milo out of hiding.
This tactic seemed to bear fruit when Milo was spotted on motion-sensing cameras in a paddock near the airport, albeit not in the area initially searched.
The rescuers have now set up a trap, hoping to lure Milo with treats and his owner's old clothes.
The emotional toll on Whatnall, who is anxiously awaiting updates from the UK, is palpable.
‘I’m feeling helpless, I’m over here in the UK because I couldn’t change my flights,’ he said.
He expressed his feelings of helplessness but also his satisfaction with AeroPets' response to the situation.
‘Our pets are like our babies, and we really expect that they’re going to be looked after and safely transported when we’re passing on our pets into care,’ he said.
The community's support has been overwhelming, with Whatnall's mother, Jenny Kling, driving from Bendigo to Melbourne in the hope that her dog, Milo's mother, could track down her son based on scent.
The local community's involvement has been a silver lining for the family, with strangers offering help and keeping the hope alive that Milo will be found safe and sound.
‘I’ve just had people just randomly pull me up on the street now and say, “Are you looking for Milo?” It’s just wonderful community help,’ Kling expressed.
‘That’s been amazing, and it’s kept me hopeful that he’s going to be all right,’ Whatnall shared.
Whatnall also posted on social media, emphasising that a ‘reward is being offered for the safe return’ of his beloved dog.
‘Please contact 0432 222 474 if you have seen Milo or know of his whereabouts!’ his post read.
He added: ‘If you see Milo, please do not approach, whistle, call out or chase as he is in survival mode/terrified and will run. Try to take a photo and note the time/location.’
You can watch the interview with Whatnall here:
Source: The Project/YouTube
Our thoughts are with Milo and his owner, and we hope that they are reunited very soon.
What are your thoughts on this story, members? Do you have tips to ensure your pet’s safety during transport? Let us know in the comments below.
Milo's owner, Jason Whatnall, was preparing for a new chapter in the United Kingdom when the unthinkable happened.
On March 18, while under the care of AeroPets Animal Transport, Milo managed to escape as he was being transferred from his cage.
The incident occurred just as he was about to embark on his journey with Whatnall to their new home overseas.
The escape has been attributed to Milo biting the handler during the transfer, a situation that AeroPets claimed was unforeseen as they were not informed of Milo's fear of people or vehicles.
Jason Whatnall and his pet, Milo. Image source: Jason Whatnall/Facebook
The company's immediate response was to inform the owners and initiate a search, which Whatnall participated in for several hours before his scheduled flight.
‘We advised the owners of what happened immediately, who came in and helped with the search for a few hours. The owners of Milo then took a flight out of Australia,’ the company stated.
Despite the distressing situation, Whatnall had to leave Australia as planned, leaving the search for Milo in the hands of AeroPets and local animal rescuers.
AeroPets has since taken extensive measures to locate the missing dog, including flying in staff from Brisbane, distributing hundreds of flyers, setting up food and cameras, and engaging social media groups to spread the word.
In a unique approach to the search, rescuer Nigel Williamson has been playing recordings of Whatnall's voice over a speaker, hoping to draw Milo out of hiding.
This tactic seemed to bear fruit when Milo was spotted on motion-sensing cameras in a paddock near the airport, albeit not in the area initially searched.
The rescuers have now set up a trap, hoping to lure Milo with treats and his owner's old clothes.
The emotional toll on Whatnall, who is anxiously awaiting updates from the UK, is palpable.
‘I’m feeling helpless, I’m over here in the UK because I couldn’t change my flights,’ he said.
He expressed his feelings of helplessness but also his satisfaction with AeroPets' response to the situation.
‘Our pets are like our babies, and we really expect that they’re going to be looked after and safely transported when we’re passing on our pets into care,’ he said.
Milo was last seen around Mareno Road and Lambeck Drive, Tullamarine. Image source: Jason Whatnall/Facebook
The community's support has been overwhelming, with Whatnall's mother, Jenny Kling, driving from Bendigo to Melbourne in the hope that her dog, Milo's mother, could track down her son based on scent.
The local community's involvement has been a silver lining for the family, with strangers offering help and keeping the hope alive that Milo will be found safe and sound.
‘I’ve just had people just randomly pull me up on the street now and say, “Are you looking for Milo?” It’s just wonderful community help,’ Kling expressed.
‘That’s been amazing, and it’s kept me hopeful that he’s going to be all right,’ Whatnall shared.
Whatnall also posted on social media, emphasising that a ‘reward is being offered for the safe return’ of his beloved dog.
‘Please contact 0432 222 474 if you have seen Milo or know of his whereabouts!’ his post read.
He added: ‘If you see Milo, please do not approach, whistle, call out or chase as he is in survival mode/terrified and will run. Try to take a photo and note the time/location.’
You can watch the interview with Whatnall here:
Source: The Project/YouTube
What are your thoughts on this story, members? Do you have tips to ensure your pet’s safety during transport? Let us know in the comments below.
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