Bondi Beach shooting: Pets caught up in mass shooting reunited with owners
Panic ripped through Sydney’s Bondi Beach as families fled in terror from two gunmen opening fire on a Chanukah celebration with children separated from parents and pets bolting into the night on Sunday.
The attack, described as Australia’s deadliest anti‑Semitic act, left scenes of devastation and heartbreak across the community.
In the aftermath, social media became a lifeline. Posts, photos and pleas flooded Facebook as terrified event attendees begged for help to find loved ones and pets.
Sydney Pet Detective Anne‑Marie Curry, founder of Arthur and Co Pet Detectives, stepped in — offering her services free of charge to those shattered by the attack.
Among the first reunions was Sassy, a dog separated from her owner as gunfire erupted.
“Sassy was behind him throughout the whole ordeal,” Curry wrote on Facebook.
“Both are physically unharmed.”
But not every case ended with relief. Matcha, a small dog lost in the panic, was eventually found safe — her owner’s anguish giving way to tears of joy.
The search for Maui, a Bernese Mountain dog, carried a heavier weight.
“Tragically, the Bernese Mountain dog’s owner was shot and killed last night,” Curry posted.
“His wife was with him, as were his two beloved dogs. Amidst the horror, Maui escaped and was seen running amongst the shooting in a frantic state.”
Both Maui and the family’s poodle were later confirmed safe.
Footage of Maui sprinting through the carnage spread online, a haunting reminder of the terror unleashed on Bondi.
The attack — carried out during a Chanukah celebration — has been described as the deadliest anti‑Semitic act in Australia’s history.
Police allege Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid Akram, 50, opened fire on crowds gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach around 6.40pm Sunday.
At least 15 people — aged between 10 and 87 — were killed, with more than 40 others injured, including four children and two police officers.
The massacre has left a nation grieving, with comparisons drawn to the Port Arthur tragedy of 1996, when 35 people were killed.