- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source
A truckie who was fostering a dog after saving it from the Western Australian outback has been devastated after a rescue group reclaimed him almost two months later.
Tank was being transported to Perth for foster care in June when he escaped from his crate, with the driver only realising he was missing after stopping at the Billabong Roadhouse, a remote fuel stop between Geraldton and Carnarvon in WA's north.
asserted
he → see → north
Despite a desperate search, the three-year-old American Bulldog could not be found.
uncertain
Bulldog → find → search
After photos of Tank were shared on social media, he was eventually spotted walking along a remote desert highway by truck driver Dean Trounson, who stopped and picked him up.
asserted
who → share → him
The Perth resident bonded quickly with Tank, telling the rescue organisation he would be happy to take him if he got along with his other rescue dog Asha.
asserted
he → bond → dog
He began to foster Tank in late July, and Mr Trounson claimed Oldies but Goodies Dog Rescue told him to bring the dog in for a vet visit on September 22.
asserted
Rescue → begin → September
Mr Trounson claimed the charity organisation told him to visit Warwick Veterinary Hospital for a follow up blood test for Pilbara tick disease.
asserted
organisation → claim → disease
He aired his concerns the dog would be permanently taken out of his foster.
asserted
dog → air → foster
'None of this is sitting well with me, and I actually presume that I'm going to drop Tank off and I'm going to be getting a phone call saying that he won't be able to be picked up for whatever reason,' he said in a video before he took Tank into the hospital.
asserted
he → sit → hospital
After photos of Tank were shared on social media, he was eventually spotted walking along a remote desert highway by truck driver Dean Trounson, who stopped and picked him up
Mr
asserted
who → share → him
Trounson bonded quickly with Tank, telling the rescue organisation he would be happy to take him if he got along with his other rescue dog Asha
Mr Trounson said Tank was never returned to him with the rescue explaining it was because he was a 'high medical needs dog'.
asserted
he → bond → him
'If this were the case, then why did no one let me know, why was this information kept secret from us all, why did no one come check on Tanks' welfare in over 7 weeks?' he said.
asserted
he → let → weeks
'Even after me inviting them to my home at any time unannounced and why did it take over six weeks for Warwick Vets to ask for him to come back in for more tests?'
asserted
him → invite → tests
Mr Trounson said that he 'loved and spoilt' his other dogs and is now calling for Tank to be examined by an independent veterinarian.
asserted
Tank → say → veterinarian
'I'm not even close to done...
asserted
I → do → ?
I have plenty of fight in me,' he said.
asserted
he → have → me
'I'm not giving up.'
asserted
I → give → ?
The bitter dispute marks a stark contrast to the gratitude Mr Trounson initially received for rescuing Tank.
asserted
Trounson → mark → Tank
'Big shoutout and hug to Dean who was driving his road train and he had heard Tank was missing and as he was driving he said "THAT'S TANK",' Oldies but Goodies Dog Rescue founder Natalie Plunkett wrote in a now deleted Facebook post.
asserted
Plunkett → drive → post
In a statement posted on social media, the rescue founder said she would not publicly disclose the reasons for taking Tank back into her care.
asserted
she → post → care
In a statement posted on social media, rescue founder Natalie Plunkett (pictured) said she would not publicly disclose the reasons for taking Tank back into her care
An email from Warwick Veterinary Hospital sent to Oldies but Goodies founder Natalie Plunkett saying Tank had Pilbara tick disease but after treatment 'most do well'
asserted
most → post → treatment
Natalie Plunkett initially praised Mr Trounson after he rescued Tank from the outback with an email sent by her to the Warwick Veterinary Hospital labelling him 'amazing'
asserted
he → praise → him
Truck driver Dean Trounson (pictured) found Tank lost on a lonely outback highway
'
asserted
Tank → picture → highway
I have done rescue for over 20 years.
asserted
I → do → years
Every decision I make is always for the benefit of the dog,' Ms Plunkett wrote.
asserted
Plunkett → make → dog
'We understand the frustration this may cause the public given the only information provided was Dean's video and post which didn't include any of the circumstances surrounding our concerns for Tanks' ongoing care and medical needs.
uncertain
which → understand → care
We encourage the public to refrain from commenting further in absence of the facts.'
asserted
We → encourage → facts
Ms Plunkett said Warwick Veterinary Hospital and its staff had no involvement in the decision and had simply followed instructions regarding Tank's authorised collection and Daily Mail does not suggest otherwise.
asserted
Mail → say → collection
'For sake of clarity, the steps we have taken is indicative of the serious nature of the concerns we held for Tank giving rise to his urgent return to our care,' she wrote.
asserted
she → take → care
'We rarely have to take steps like this unless absolutely necessary, when things do not work out as they should have.'
asserted
they → have → this
Daily Mail contacted Mr Trouson and Ms Plunkett for comment.
asserted
Mail → contact → comment
The Aporia
