Stolen dog reunited with owner after two years

A chihuahua stolen two years ago has been reunited with her owner in Swindon.

During a break-in at a private address in Gorse Hill in October 2019, the female dog was taken, along with some household items, by unknown burglars. 

Despite enquiries at the time, police officers were unable to locate the pet. 

However, earlier this month the original owner received a letter from a company called Petlog telling her that someone was trying to change ownership of her dog. 

Officers then reopened the case and made enquiries which led them to the dog at an address in Buckingham, where she was being cared for by a woman whose daughter had bought the animal from a pet shop in London in December 2019. 

The chihuahua was found fit and well but pregnant.  

Negotiations between the legal owner in Swindon, police officers and the current owner in Buckingham took place to find a solution to the situation, especially as the woman in Buckinghamshire had bought the dog on good faith, not knowing it had been stolen. 

Following enquiries with a local Buckingham vet - the one the Buckinghamshire family were using to care for the dog - it was deemed safe for the pregnant dog to be transported back to Swindon to be reunited with its legal owner.

Inspector Gill Hughes said:  "This was a case where a person bought a dog from a pet shop believing it to be legal, only to find out later that the animal was indeed stolen property. 

"I would urge anyone buying a dog or puppy to do their research beforehand and to go through the check list of dos and don'ts in buying one, even if you are purchasing from a shop.

"Thankfully, the dog - along with puppies - has been reunited with its rightful owner now; this also has a message in the tale - as the dog was microchipped and registered with Petlog, when someone went to try and change the ownership it was flagged to the original owner. 

"Without that, I doubt we would have ever found the animal.  It pays to microchip your pets." 

The police advise that to avoid buying a stolen or farmed puppy, people should always make sure to see mother and pups together, and never buy a puppy if they have doubts about the breeder or situation - buying the puppy will only fund their illegal operation.