Their three-year-old dog, Blanco, was stolen from his home in broad daylight while he was out in the garden.
The family's CCTV camera caught the theft on video.
A desperate search
The footage showed a suspect grabbing the dog from the garden before heading back out through the gate. After Blanco was taken, his family was left utterly devastated. They left no stone unturned in their search, and social media users shared Blanco's story far and wide to help track him down.
Just a few days later, a miracle happened. In the early hours of Sunday, 26 July, at around 1am, the suspected thief quietly slipped back onto the family's property. He opened the exact same gate Blanco had disappeared through days before and left the pooch safely in the garden.
An unexpected apology
But that wasn't all – the thief also left a handwritten note. In it, they expressed sincere regret for their actions, explaining they had been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the theft. The writer also made sure to mention that they had looked after the dog, making sure he was fed and watered.
The family was incredibly relieved to find Blanco safely back home. The reunion was deeply emotional. On social media, his owners expressed their heartfelt thanks to everyone who had shared the appeals and supported them. We are absolutely thrilled that Blanco is finally back where he belongs, safe with his loving family.