His best mate, four-month-old Lou Lou the Jack Russell/Blue Heeler cross, went missing on Monday around lunchtime.

Locals and tourists alike know Lou Lou as she gets around on the back of Joe’s black Suzuki motorbike. She’s very popular with visitors who can’t resist taking her picture as she happily sits, safely tethered, in a dog box on the back of the bike.

“I lost my wife a few years ago and now my dog is my only company,” Joe told the Magnet yesterday.

“I’m finding it hard to sleep at night I’m that worried about her. She used to wake me up each morning at 6am with a lick on the face. She ate what I ate. She didn’t like pears or apples but I like them so she used to eat them,” he said.

Lou Lou was due to visit the vets this week to be desexed and micro-chipped.

Mr Grant blames himself for Lou Lou’s loss. Her clip for the bike tether was faulty and he had a new one at home ready to swap it over. But Lou Lou disappeared before he got around to it.

“She disappeared somewhere between the post office and the northern end of town,” Mr Grant said.

“She’s that friendly - especially with kids - that she would have gone off with anybody.”

Lou Lou has a black face with distinctive pointy ears, very small bits of brown on each paw and has black and white speckling over her body. She was wearing a pink collar when she disappeared.

“I’ve had mates out helping to look for her. The day she went missing I searched all afternoon and the next day and couldn’t find any trace of her. I think somebody may have picked her up,” Mr Grant said.

“If I get her back they’ll have a friend for life.”

Anyone with information about Lou Lou should contact the Magnet on 6496 1199.