Authorities are currently probing allegations that Arnie, a German shepherd, was left to perish in a parked vehicle while his owner was at a brothel in Brisbane’s inner city, as reported by the Daily Mail.

On Thursday, Nathan McKeown, aged 43, faced charges related to allegedly neglecting his pet, after the dog was found deceased inside his abandoned utility vehicle on Amelia Street, Fortitude Valley, on November 17.

Previously, McKeown had appeared in the media for over a week, asserting that Arnie had been abducted by car thieves as the dog slept in the back of his utility vehicle outside a friend’s house in Wynnum on November 8.

Alongside his wife, McKeown initiated a viral social media campaign, offering a $6,000 reward for Arnie’s return. The story resonated with many Australians, who showed support for the family and sent numerous tips regarding possible sightings of the dog.

Recent revelations by the Daily Mail indicate that investigators are now looking into reports suggesting McKeown was at a well-known city brothel on the night Arnie was supposedly left unattended.

Police allege that on November 7, at around 10:30 pm, McKeown drove his vehicle into the bustling nightlife area, parking outside Elysian Touch massage in Fortitude Valley, a venue reputed to provide sexual services.

It is alleged he then left on foot while Arnie was still inside the car and attended a separate brothel, about a 30-minute walk away.

The manager of that brothel told the Daily Mail one of their workers saw McKeown on the Today Show during one of his public appeals and recognised him as a customer from the night of November 7. 

Nathan McKeown, 43, (pictured) has been charged over the alleged neglectful death of his dog, Arnie the German Shepherd

Arnie was allegedly left inside the back of McKeown’s ute (pictured) for more than a week before it was discovered on November 17. Now police are investigating claims he spent part of the evening at a brothel

Footage has emerged of police removing Arnie’s body after he was allegedly left abandoned in the vehicle

The woman then reported her alleged encounter to management, who lodged a report with police on Thursday as news broke of McKeown’s arrest. 

The brothel asked not to be named to avoid being associated with the tragedy. 

The Daily Mail has confirmed a report was lodged with Queensland Police Service and officers are working to substantiate it.

It is understood that the brothel has CCTV footage that allegedly shows McKeown at the premises between 11pm and 1am that evening.

The manager told the Daily Mail: ‘He came in and booked a lady and stayed with that lady.

‘We found it difficult to remove him and all he could talk about was that he had lost his car, but there was no talk of his dog [being inside it].

‘The girl told him to report it stolen, then he called his wife and said it had been taken,’ she claimed. 

She said McKeown eventually left of his own accord. 

She said CCTV also showed McKeown returning to the business between 3am and 3.30am, but none of the ladies would see him. 

Footage obtained by the Daily Mail shows McKeown driving to Amelia Street, where police will allege he left his car with Arnie inside 

Arnie was said to have been stolen by car thieves as he slept inside McKeown’s ute, but police will allege the pet owner abandoned the vehicle in Fortitude Valley

The manager said staff at the establishment were shocked and distressed after hearing about the arrest in the case, which they have been following. 

The Daily Mail put questions to McKeown but did not receive a response by deadline. 

Police have alleged that on November 8, McKeown allegedly told his wife, Louise, that the ute had been stolen and she filed a police report. 

Ms McKeown had no idea the vehicle had not actually been stolen, police say.

How the search was sparked 

The frantic week-long search began after Arnie was reportedly stolen along with the ute from outside a home on Davidson St, at Wynnum, between 1.30am and 5am on November 8.

McKeown said he had the eight-year-old German shepherd with him when he dropped in to visit friends, but his mate’s kelpie didn’t get along with Arnie, so he put his dog in the back canopy of his black Toyota HiLux and gave him some water.

When McKeown went to leave several hours later, he said both his ute and Arnie were gone.

‘I went and met one of my mates, he picked me up, we drove around looking up streets, checking car parks seeing if it had been abandoned,’ the father-of-one told Seven News last week.

‘I would have heard him if he barked, he probably thought it was me getting in the ute.’ 

The Daily Mail understands McKeown had spent part of the evening of November 7 with one of his best mates, who has an aggressive cattle dog.

A poignant tribute to the dead dog could be seen at the home of Arnie’s family in Brisbane

The Daily Mail understands McKeown attended the brothel alone, and does not suggest the friend was with him.

The Daily Mail also does not suggest the friend was aware that McKeown had allegedly left the dog in the car on Amelia Street.  

One neighbour, Claire, told the Daily Mail ‘they’re a lovely couple’ who never caused trouble.

‘Arnie was like their family, they loved him and he would be genuinely devastated about what’s happened,’ she said. 

‘Sometimes we’d be having a bonfire at the same time and they’d have some music going, but we never had any trouble.

‘It’s so sad because they’re so nice.’

McKeown issued countless online community appeals as Queensland Police worked around the clock to locate Arnie and the stolen vehicle.

Police will allege McKeown’s wife Louise did not know the vehicle was never stolen 

The search came to an end on Monday when a member of the public located the vehicle parked on Amelia Street with Arnie dead inside.

‘Unfortunately there isn’t a better outcome and Arnie was found… deceased, still in the back of the ute that was stolen,’ the family posted on Tuesday. 

‘We are beyond devastated. He didn’t deserve to go like this!! We had the best life with him and he is going to be so missed.

‘We sincerely want to thank everyone for all your help over the past week in the search for our boy Arnie.

‘Police are following up all CCTV footage and leads.’

Shock arrest 

Following inquiries from Daily Mail on Thursday, Queensland Police revealed they will allege in court that the car was not stolen and the owner had left the dog in the ute in Fortitude Valley.

‘The owner of the vehicle has assisted police with these investigations, and it has now been established that a criminal offence of unlawful use of (a) motor vehicle has not occurred,’ a spokesperson said.

Queensland Police previously said that reports of ‘Arnie’ sightings took officers across the Brisbane region and surrounding districts, but they were ‘unsubstantiated’.

As investigations remain ongoing, Queensland Police thanked the media and the public on Thursday for their extensive assistance throughout the investigation.

‘Police are aware this has been a highly publicised case, and offences of this nature may cause distress and upset members of the public,’ a spokesperson said.

‘The Queensland Police Service requests that the public are respectful of the matter’s progression through the courts.

‘The QPS takes animal care seriously.’

McKeown has been charged with one count of ‘breach of duty of care of animal by failing to provide under the Animal Protection Act’. 

He is expected to appear before a Brisbane court next month.