Auckland woman De-Anna Kitto had all but given up hope of finding her beloved dog Baby after she went missing, presumably stolen, three years ago. 

When the American bulldog disappeared from her Papakura home in 2021, she tried everything to find her; she put up flyers in the neighbourhood, and scoured lost pet websites. 

So Kitto was shocked and elated to receive a phone call from Far North District Council animal control a few weeks ago saying Baby had been found in Northland. 

De-Anna Kitto was recently reunited with her dog Baby after three years, thanks to a microchip. 

“I’d pretty much given up. 

“Every time I saw a white dog I thought ‘Where are you Baby? I hope you’re getting looked after. 

“But one day out of the blue I get a phone call from Kaikohe animal management, saying ‘we’ve got your dog Baby here’. 

“I burst out crying, I was over the moon.” 

De-Anna Kitto never thought she’d see her Baby again after she went missing from her Papakura home. 

The council was able to reunite Kitto with Baby, who had been handed in as a stray, because she was microchipped and Kitto had regularly updated her contact details on the National Dog Database. 

The animal management officer then contacted Northland-based PT Pet Transport which offered to transport Baby to Auckland at no cost. 

Though Kitto’s “big softie” was 2 years old when she went missing, she was now fully grown. 

But there was no doubt their bond was still there. 

“She instantly knew who I was,” Kitto said. 

“Her bum started wiggling and she was licking me. She knew straight away.” 

De-Anna Kitto was elated to get a call from Far North District Council animal management saying her dog had been found. 

PT Pet Transport owner Trish Andrews said the moment was “a real tear-jerker”. 

“The poor dog, she was covered with a yeast infection, and she really stunk, she’s had a hell of a time. 

“I thought to myself, I bet she recognises her owner - as dogs remember kindness - and she did. 

“She got out and sniffed and suddenly her tail started going. It was almost instant. 

“I had tears streaming down my face it was amazing.” 

Baby was covered in mange and cysts. 

However, the reunion was bittersweet, due to Baby’s poor condition. 

“As soon as I saw her, I was so sad and so happy at the same time. She was so covered in mange and had lost her fur and was covered in cysts,” Kitto said. 

“It was heartbreaking ... she was unrecognisable.” 

A vet check confirmed Baby had a severe skin infection, ear infection, and infected toes. 

She had a large mammary tumour, had likely birthed multiple litters, and was scared of people. 

Several vet visits later, and with treatment for her irritated skin, the dog has “perked up” and has settled back into her home. 

“She had a game of rugby on the field with my kids,” Kitto said. 

“They [whoever stole her] may have broken her body, but they didn’t break her spirit. 

“She’s still the loveable big girl that we remember.” 

Baby recovering at home. 

Kitto said she’s grateful she had Baby microchipped and registered as a puppy. 

She has set up a Givealittle page to help with Baby’s recovery, which will involve an operation to remove a cyst from her chest, along with numerous other vet treatments. 

So far nearly $1000 has been donated. 

Visit givealittle.co.nz/cause/baby-the-bulldogs-road-to-recovery if you can help. 

Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with roading, lifestyle, business, and animal welfare issues.