When Staffordshire bull terrier Tiger was stolen by thieves three-and-a-half years ago, his heartbroken owners knew the chances of getting him back were slim.
But their despair turned to joy following a surprise phone call from a Black Country animal rescue centre this week saying he had turned up safe and well and with his original microchip intact. Tiger is owned by the Singh family from Oldbury, who were left devastated after he was taken from their back garden when he was just a 17-month-old pup.
Varinder Singh, aged 27, told today how he was over the moon when he received the telephone call from Rose Dean Animal Rescue Centre in Walsall to tell him the animal had turned up.
“We couldn’t believe it,” he said. “He was taken from the back garden in 2004 and we have been searching for him ever since.
“We had flyers printed which we distributed all over the neighbourhood and we never gave up hope.
“We got him when he was just six weeks’ old and the whole family missed him.
“As far as we know, after he was taken he was re-homed and there was nothing we could do to get him back until he was taken to the kennels on Monday.
“He still recognised us when we went to pick him up and we are delighted to have him back.”
Rose Dean Animal Rescue Centre, based in Radley Road, Rushall, caters for 40 dogs and is staffed by volunteers.
Spokeswoman Ann Lawrence said: “This just stresses how important microchipping is.
“The dog was brought into the centre by the dog warden at about 6pm on Monday night and we scanned it straight away.
“When I called the owner to tell him we had his dog he just burst into tears.
“I heard him shout to the family, ‘Oh my God, they’ve found Tiger’ and I could hear everyone cheering in the background.
“They came down to pick him up from us yesterday.
“It was wonderful. I love a happy ending and this just goes to prove how important it is for owners to microchip their pets and ensure their details are kept up to date.”
6 Comments
great news the dog should be back with its rightful owners.
Its great for you to have your dog back but please be careful with it around your children because you don’t know how its been treated and whether its used to being around children.
That is great news to hear, i can’t imagine what you went through over the last few years but it’s so nice to hear that you are reunited again.
i also echo what Donna said, you really don’t know how your dog has been treated so please be careful, i would hate to think of any harm coming to you or your family and the dog having to be destroyed for it. Give the dog a big hug from me.
I have 2 Satffordshire Bull Terriers and i would hate to be without them it’s hard enough for a week on holiday but for that length of time it would truely break my heart.
This is brilliant news. It’s not very often that you see a story like this.
Hope he dont feel to rufff !!
I am so so pleased for you to have your dog back after so long.People who don’t have pets wont understand what it is like to loose one,they are family so god help any one who say’s they are only dogs cos they are part of your family.I really am so pleased,now dont loose him/her again.