The news was met with a huge out pouring of grief on the Friends of Browns Creek Facebook page.

Every one knew that furry, familiar face in town. 

For Lucky’s owner, Eddy Rotgans, he was more than a dog, but a friend. 

“He’s going to be missed,” said Eddy. 

“He was like a shadow to me, never too far away.” 

Eddy loved seeing Lucky waiting outside the shops for him.

“He used to take the high ground for me when I was gardening too.”

Occasionally Eddy would take Lucky to local nursing homes.

One time, Eddy remembers Lucky jumping up to greet a lady in a wheelchair.

Lucky was also good at socialising young puppies.

 “He was so calm, they would climb all over him.”

The golden retriever lived a long life of 15 and a half years. 

“It was a long life for a large dog,” said Eddy. 

“He liked attention and a good pat.” 

Even after he fell deaf  Lucky would still follow Eddy’s commands.

“He would follow my arm motions and when I’d tap him on the back he’d do a ‘U-Turn’. He was a good dog.”

Lucky can be seen in many photos with Friends of Browns Creek members over the years.

Each year, the group gives away annual 'Lucky Awards' to its hard working volunteers.