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Stolen Dog Finds His Way Home 14 Months After Going Missing

Stolen Dog Finds His Way Home 14 Months After Going Missing

This is 'Homeward Bound' worthy stuff.

Aneira Davies

Aneira Davies

A stolen dog has been reunited with his owners after finding his way home 14 months after he was first taken - and the pics are making us cry tears of joy!

German Shepherd Rico was stolen from his garden in broad daylight in June 2019 but managed to get home to his original owners.

Owners Natasha Jones, 24, and George Harden, 23, turned away for a few seconds when the three year old pooch was lured out of the garden with a toy.

Though the couple, from Armley, West Yorkshire, led search parties looking for Rico, checked local CCTV and put up posters, they weren't successful in finding him.

Rico has now been reunited with his owners after 14 months away (
Mercury Press and Media)

Natasha and George also reached out to the community to help find the dog, who had been microchipped, but still had no luck.

However, in a wonderful turn of events, Natasha was shocked to see the dog on her doorstep after he mysteriously came home at the end of last month.

Natasha said: "We were sitting in the house and we thought we heard a knock at the door.

"One of our friends went to answer it and shouted 'there is a large Alsatian at the door'.

"I was confused so I went and had a look myself and just saw Rico's face staring up at me.

Natasha said she'd "never given up hope" of finding Rico and that, although he'd put on a bit of weight since his abduction, he was still the same dog.

Owner Natasha never gave up hope of finding Rico (
Mercury Press and Media)

"I never once gave up hope that we would find him again."

Natasha doesn't know how Rico got home, but thinks he may have escaped and found his way back.

"He must've seized an opportunity to run away, but it's just amazing to have him back," she adds.

Rico is now back where he belongs (
Mercury Press and Media)

"He's just the same old dog he always was but he's put on a lot of weight, probably because they didn't want to risk being seen walking him.

"Now he's on a doggy diet, getting lots of walks and he's been sleeping next to George where he belongs."

We wish Rico and his owners all the best!

Featured Image Credit: Mercury Press and Media

Topics: Pets, Animals, Dogs