A pet lover has been reunited with her Chihuahua after fears it may have been snatched by dognappers.
Sam Clements, 21, of Webbscroft Road, Dagenham, celebrated this week after tiny Billy was picked up by a Marks Gate resident four miles away who spotted one of her appeal posters.
She believed her two-year-old pooch worth around �1,200 may have been taken through a hole in her garden after reports the trendy Mexican dogs changed hands for just �20 at Central Park in Dagenham.
The mum-of-one said: “I was informed a number of pedigree dogs being brought in, and it seems there has been a pattern of dogs being stolen for their breed.
“I put posters everywhere. I’m really lucky.”
Police said dog thefts were rare in Barking and Dagenham adding records showed it had received just one theft report in 2011, that of Billy now back at home with Sam.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here