Just this week, we received a thank you letter from resident Jan Thompson, who was humbled by the support of others when her dog went missing. 

Her little Cari was lost for almost a week, before the goodwill and determination from the community helped locate her. 

Residents posted updates on social media and helped piece together clues as to the whereabouts of the beloved pooch. 

This proves how valued pets are to our lives. 

Now, residents are calling on the Hepburn Shire to open a shelter for domestic animals in the region to save them from having to go to Ballarat. 

Just one look on the Daylesford Community Grapevine page reveals dogs and cats go missing in the region on a weekly basis. 

Surely this warrants a shelter in town?

But until then, residents must lock up their pets and make sure they are safe and secure when they're not home. 

There's no doubt our beautiful animals are worth protecting.