Abbey, Max and Jemma give Blondie a cuddle after the miniature pony went on an adventure last week. 87349
By Danielle Galvin
THE LINDREA family’s alpaca and dog needn’t “fret” anymore – after Blondie and Stuart Little were reunited with their Harkaway owners and fellow friends on Saturday.
The two ponies went missing on Saturday 8 September and their owners Carolyn and David Lindrea were concerned that they hadn’t been spotted after an opportunistic escape.
“Blondie and Stuart Little wandered off Saturday morning from our property in Chadwick Road after a delivery person left the gate open,” Mrs Lindrea said.
“We were informed by our next door neighbours Pat and Joan that they had gone into their property which is mostly bush.
“We thought they were secure in there, until there was no further sighting of them.”
The family desperately put out flyers at Harkaway Milkbar, along Chadwick Road and Boundary Road in an effort to find their pets.
“Then the calls rolled in,” she said. “A big thank you to all who notified us.”
Office and events manager at Balmoral Equestrian Centre in Narre Warren North Louise Hocken and Ellen Dwyer went to rescue the ponies from their escapade around Harkaway and Narren Warren North. She and Ellen Dwyer caught the ponies with the help of passing motorists.
“We had to set up a mini road block to catch them! Without the help of the three cars that pulled over it would have been much more difficult and dangerous,” Ms Hocken said.
Mrs Lindrea said she wished to thank the local community and all involved in the round up, Balmoral Equestrian Centre and Anita Bezuch, who secured them in her pony-proof paddock.
“She shared her great knowledge of miniature ponies when she returned them back to us the following Saturday,” Mrs Lindrea said.
The family’s alpaca and dog Lucy were also thrilled to be reunited with their playmates.
“Jemma, Abbey and Max are very happy to have them home as it wasn’t the same without them,” she said.
“They are free to wander around our house even poking their noses inside the door at times.”
And after the ponies’ recent adventure on the run, there’s nothing quite like snoozing safely at home.
