THE mesmerising story of the first penguin guard dog Oddball has taken another fascinating turn.
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A holidaying couple in Warrnambool saved the beloved Maremma from drowning after she got lost during thunderstorms.
Anita Iellamo posted on the Warrnambool Facebook page about their Oddball encounter on Friday, which has been shared more than 1400 times and garnered 5000 likes.
Ms Iellamo and Steven Terzioski were fishing along the Merri River when Mr Terzioski heard a noise.
“After a few minutes what appeared to be a dog popped its head up through the reeds just off the bank of the river,” Ms Iellamo wrote on the Facebook post. “Steve cautiously took a few steps towards the dog to see what its temperament was like as a human approached it. As he got closer Steve could see the dog was stuck in thick mud and reeds, with only its head just above water. The dog was struggling to stay above the water line, going under every now and then.”
Mr Terzioski made a comment that the white dog “kind of looked like that dog from the movie”.
He managed to pull the dog from the water before a ranger was contacted and the dog was taken to the vet.
“We could not believe it,” Ms Iellamo wrote. “The dog Steve saved from the river was the original Oddball. Steve being a humble hero and not wanting much fuss, was hesitant to tell the story, even to family. But I believe that he did a wonderful and selfless act, that he would’ve done for any animal.”
Swampy Marsh, the owner of Oddball, said he received a phone call at about 4pm last Friday from the vet.
“She got a fright because of the thunderstorms,” he said.
“My daughter Georgia went down to the vets and Oddball was so happy to see her. She wrapped her paws around her neck. It was a big adventure for Oddball.”
Mr Marsh said had only ever been on Middle Island and farms at Purnim and Dennington.
“She’s back at home and staying close to the homestead,” he said. “In human terms she is 90 years old.”