Alone in the dark looking for his beloved Suzie, Daniel Maybury thought more than once he might never see his two-year old American Chocolate Labrador again.

Only with thanks to two good-hearted members of the community was the pair reunited some three hours later.

It all started with a balloon, Mr Maybury told the Post.

“I was assisting volunteering at the Scout Hall with the young Joeys on Monday night and we started playing a game with balloons and it got a bit loud and rambunctious. Suzie got frightened of the busting balloons and took off,” he said.

“I couldn’t catch her, I tried to catch her but I’m not Usain Bolt or anything so I couldn’t. It being dark she just disappeared.

“For the next hour-and-a-half I was patrolling the streets everywhere and couldn’t find her. In a bit of shame I went back and told the missus and she tore strips off me, so we went out for another hour-and-a-bit.

Getting to the point of desperation, Mr Maybury phoned the local Radio Cabs to request a keen-eye on the streets.

Within minutes he heard back.

“Within ten minutes we got a phone call from one of the cabbies, named Paul, and he told us that she was seen around the Coles Service Station on Clifford Street so we got there as quickly as we could and there she was – running off,” he continued.

“Paul said “here jump in the cab I’ll take you up there” and we got her.

“He and the lady who works for Coles, Denise, need to be publically recognised.

“My daughter lives in Sydney so I don’t get to see her as much so Suzie is my little girl and I felt worse than what I did when I lost my daughter when she was three years old for 32 seconds. 

“It was the worst three hours of my life to be honest and not many people would do that. They need some recognition and I want to say thank you.”