Dog reunited with owner in Chichester four years after being stolen

The female spaniel, called Bluebell, was reunited with its owner, Louise Dewey after it was found straying in North Mundham on the weekend of October 24 and 25.

A member of the public took the dog to Alpha Vet Pets, Chichester, which then alerted Chichester District Council’s dog wardens.

Luckily, Bluebell had been microchipped and when the vet checked the details found the dog was registered to an owner in Kent.

Ms Dewey said: “We just can’t believe she’s back.

“Apart from being a bit older and a bit more timid she’s no different.

“Obviously we don’t know the life that she’s had while she’s been away from us.

“It’s definitely made me more hopeful about the possibility of getting our other two dogs back as well.

“I was really shocked – to have her home is really exciting. She’s been having a few treats, some chicken and sausage and she is getting on well with our cocker spaniels and Labradors.”

Ms Dewey added: “My advice to any dog owner would be to make sure you microchip your dogs, and then to keep the details up-to-date.”

Chichester District Council’s Dog Wardens will be sponsoring the RSPCA Mount Noddy Christmas event ‘Santa in a Camper’.

The wardens will be providing the micro-chips for a free micro-chipping event which local vet Andrew Vawer has volunteered his time for.

The event takes place on Saturday, December 5, at Mount Noddy, Eartham.

The event is an excellent opportunity for people to get their dogs chipped before micro-chipping becomes compulsory from April 2016.

Councillor Roger Barrow, cabinet member for environment at Chichester District Council, said: “From April next year it will be a legal requirement for dog owners to have their animals micro-chipped.

“It will also be a legal requirement to keep the dog’s chip details on the data base up-to-date.

“I’m delighted that our dog wardens were able to return Bluebell to her owner - we love a happy ending and I hope this heartwarming story encourages as many people as possible to ensure their dogs are micro-chipped even before the new legislation comes into force.”

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