A dog owner has spoken of her relief after her Bichon Frisé, stolen from her Glasgow home a year ago, has been found in Co Antrim.
Isabella Roden said it was "incredible" that her dog, Issy, had been discovered in Ballymena.
Dog wardens from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council had been alerted to a stray dog in the Doury Road area of the town last week.
After scanning the dog’s microchip, the council enforcement officers realised that little Issy, along with her brother Diego, had been reported stolen last year.
In May 2022, the then four-month-old pups were taken from their front garden in Glasgow, leaving their beloved owner devastated.
Having given up hope of ever seeing her cherished pets again, Ms Roden was stunned to receive a call from Nigel Devine from the council to tell her Issy was safe and well – albeit she was 140 miles from home.
“Receiving the phone call from Nigel was incredible and I could not quite believe it," said Ms Roden.
“Since then I have done nothing but think of my Issy coming home.
"Seeing the photos of her that Nigel sent has put my emotions all over the place and I still have hope that Issy’s brother Diego may also one day be returned to me.
"I am so grateful to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for their vigilance.”
Stray pooch found in Ballymena was stolen in Scotland last year: https://t.co/OqdSqOpEWL pic.twitter.com/tOfJ3bAwA0
— Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (@mea_bc) May 15, 2023
Mr Devine travelled to Scotland on Saturday to personally reunite Issy with Ms Roden.
“I was delighted to be able to bring Issy back home to Isabella who was just so amazed and thankful to get her wee dog back after all this time," he said.
"It is unbelievable that a wee stray found in Ballymena had been taken from Scotland, but it just shows how important it is to microchip pets and to report it immediately should they be lost or stolen.
“I’m determined to do my best to track down Diego next and hopefully get him back to Isabella too.”
