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.”

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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.”