A plumber whose dog was stolen three-and-a-half years ago has been reunited with her after she was found 50 miles from his home.
Josh Burns was left distraught when Belle was snatched from his garden.
The 31-year-old and his partner Shellee thought he’d never see his Cocker Spaniel ever again.
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Josh of Sturry, near Canterbury, Kent put out missing posters and a social media appeal.
He also offered a reward to anyone who found her.
But as time passed, he believed he’d never see Belle again even though she was microchipped.
He even got another dog – a Labrador puppy called Winnie – to replace her.
However, amazingly Belle, now six, was found by a dog warden in Paddock Wood, also Kent – an hour-and-12-minute drive away.
The chip was scanned and then he contacted chuffed Josh out-of-the-blue last Tuesday (10 Sept).
He said it should give the owners of other missing pets belief.
“Never give hope,” said Josh, who runs his own plumbing business.
“I had no idea where Belle had gone back in March 2021.
“But she’s back with me now and that’s all that matters.”
Josh added on Need To Know: “She wasn’t in a good state, with concrete dust and paint all over her and her fur badly matted.
“But she’s been cleaned up and is obviously pleased to be back home.
“She’s getting special treats and has settled in well with our Labrador puppy we got when Belle was stolen.”
Josh added: ”I’d like to thank all the thousands of people who shared her picture on social media.
“Without their help, who knows if Belle would be here now.”
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