A six day search for a cherished family dog has ended in joy, while also uniting members of the community and a Canberra Facebook group.

Winx, a female toy cavoodle, was first reported missing on Sunday 30 December 2023, last sighted running from Theodore across the lights into Calwell. After several sightings across multiple suburbs in the ensuing days, she was finally found and reunited with her family on Thursday 4 January.

Winx’s family worked tirelessly to find their beloved pooch, and with the help of members of the public and updates on the Canberra Lost Pet Database and the Canberra Notice Board Group on Facebook, they were able to finally track her down.

The search stretched across several Tuggeranong suburbs, with Winx sightings reported in Calwell, Isabella Plains and Wanniassa, before she was finally found in Richardson.

After days out on her own, Winx was taken to the Tuggeranong Veterinary Hospital where a vet check revealed she had lost 500g, had a small stomach infection and had a bucket load of burs removed from her fur. All in all, Winx is doing well and is happy to be back with her family.

The story of missing Winx to find her struck a nerve with the Canberra community, with the Facebook post announcing the return to her family gaining 9.8k reactions.

It has had that much impact that Winx’s owner (Katrina Gillogly) has agreed to a gathering at the Calwell Club on Sunday 7 January at 12pm to celebrate community and thank those that helped.