- Rusty was meant to be staying on a cattle property in rural Queensland
- He somehow found his way underneath a truck, bound for South Australia
- The escapee pulled a similar stunt in 2016, but only made it 230kms from home
A mischievous young terrier with a habit for hitchhiking has wound up more than 1500 kilometres from home after successfully stowing himself underneath a truck.
Rusty, who was meant to be staying on a cattle property in rural Queensland, somehow managed to travel 60 kilometres before being discovered by his driver.
With no sign of his owners nearby, truckie Paul McDowell upgraded Rusty to the front passenger seat and the pair continued the four-day journey to Snowtown, South Australia, ABC News reports.
Rusty (pictured) wound up more than 1500 kilometres from home after successfully stowing himself underneath a truck on January 2 while staying on a cattle farm in rural Queensland
The rebellious three-year-old was being looked after by Laura Scudamore’s in-laws in Goondiwindi, on the Queensland and New South Wales border, when he made his escape.
‘Rusty’s quite happy there (at the in-laws) but he makes a habit of sneaking off to the highway and trying to befriend people as they drive past,’ Ms Scudamore said.
‘Thankfully Rusty had a collar on with a number for my in-laws.’
Ms Scudamore said while her cheeky pooch had been enjoying his foster family’s care since his January 2 getaway, the family were hatching a plan to get him back.
In a comical post shared to Facebook, the mother – posing as Rusty – asked if anyone could help bring her hound home.
The rebellious three-year-old was being looked after by Laura Scudamore’s in-laws in Goondiwindi when he boarded Paul McDowell’s truck
‘My name is Rusty and I am a naughty little Australian Terrier whose favourite pastime is hitching rides with the traffic passing by, on the highway, near my home in Goondiwindi,’ the post read.
‘I’ve outdone myself this week managing to score a lovely mystery tour of Australia after thumbing a ride with an interstate truck.
‘Whilst Snowtown, SA is lovely this time of year, I really must be getting home to my family. I was wondering if anyone knew of a lift getting close to either of these places.’
Mr McDowell upgraded Rusty to the front passenger seat and the pair continued the four-day journey to Snowtown, South Australia
The runaway dog pulled a similar stunt in 2016, but only managed to make it 230 kilometres down the road before being found out stowed in Chinchilla.
The runaway may have fallen into the hospitable hands of Mr McDowell at just the right time, with him and his wife Heather Reid having recently lost a dog of their own.
‘We were heartbroken. Next thing he’s got this little dog keeping him company…It took our minds off what had just happened to us,’ Mrs Reid said.