A dog stolen during a break-in in Suffolk was reunited with its owner eight months after its removal.
Willow, a two-year-old Cocker Spaniel, was one of ten dogs seized by Sussex police on Tuesday March 16 during a search warrant in a location in Surrey.
It was stolen during a break-in in Suffolk in July 2020.
Yesterday, unwilling to be identified, her owners traveled to Sussex to reunite with their beloved pet.
“We’re so excited to have Willow back home and we can’t thank the Sussex Police enough for finding her. After eight months we thought we would never see them again and we hope this gives other dog owners the confidence that they can be found and this is taken seriously, ”said one owner.
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An investigation is underway with Crawley CID detectives who have worked closely with the Armed Forces Specialized Rural Crime Team and other law enforcement officers to identify the remaining dogs and their rightful owners.
Det Chief Inspector John Wallace of Crawley CID said, “We are delighted that Willow has been reunited with her owners and is now safely home where she belongs.
“After Willow has recovered, Suffolk Police are trying to investigate developments in the burglary investigation and are working closely with Sussex Police to assist us with our ongoing investigation.”
The remaining dogs, a mix of amphibians and spaniels, will continue to be cared for in a safe place.
Det Chief Insp Wallace added, “This is a complex and likely lengthy investigation. Our priority has been to ensure the health and welfare of the dogs – some were in poor condition when we found them and are receiving ongoing medical attention, which is also part of our investigation.
“We work meticulously through all of the information and pursue other lines of investigation to help identify these dogs. We will publish more information in the coming days to aid this process. “
The search warrant in Surrey was directed by Crawley CID with the assistance of the Sussex Rural Crime Team and the Surrey Police.
A 30-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods was released pending further investigation.
The news comes less than a week after over 80 suspected stolen dogs were found in Ipswich.
