A Launceston family has been left devastated after their beloved dog Ruby - a special companion for a family member diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour - went missing last week and is yet to be located.
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Ruby, a three-year-old red smooth coat Griffon Bruxellois, had been close by David Gibson's side while he underwent brain surgery following his diagnosis in February.
"The diagnosis has turned our lives upside down and Ruby has been our little ray of light during this time," wife Sonya Gibson said.
"We're all devastated, just devastated."
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About 11am on Wednesday, Mr Gibson had just received medical clearance and decided to take Ruby out for a walk to meet a friend for coffee at Stillwater Restaurant on Bridge Road.
Ruby is a nervous dog and after getting spooked, slipped out of her harness and ran away from a "gutted" Mr Gibson.
"By the time I got there, we started to search and a lot of people got involved but we didn't even know what direction to search in," Mrs Gibson said.
Since then, there has only been one sighting of Ruby.
On Friday, a member of the community reached out over social media and said she had seen Ruby run across West Tamar Highway.
The sighting was welcome news for the family, believing that Ruby was trying to retrace her normal walking route.
Mrs Gibson said she had received overwhelming support through social media and was appreciative of all the messages and tips from the community.
"But no one's seen her, it's just a mystery," she said.
Since Wednesday, the Gibson family have been tireless in their efforts to be reunited with Ruby.
"We've been walking all over Trevallyn and Riverside, letterbox dropping and getting the word out on social media" Mrs Gibson said.
Mrs Gibson said she is trying to stay positive and hope for a good outcome but concedes it's getting harder every day.
"This will be night five that she's been gone. So she'd be very, very cold and hungry and scared," Mrs Gibson said.
"We just want her home"
Ruby ran away from Stillwater Restaurant and was last seen crossing the West Tamar Highway.
If you see Ruby or have any information, please contact Sonya Gibson on 0419 483 880.
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