By Kirsty Topping
Julia with her Husky Aldo
A HUSKY stolen from outside a supermarket yesterday (Mon) has been reunited with its delighted owner.
Three-year-old white Siberian Husky, Aldo, worth 1,000, was taken after owner Julia Svetska left him tied up outside the store in Livingston, West Lothian, on Sunday afternoon.
Police recovered the dog last night in the nearby village of West Calder, after he was found by a member of the public and looked after.
The force said in a statement:
“Officers went to a property in Harburn Drive, West Calder around 7.30pm yesterday and collected the animal that was being cared for by a member of the public before reuniting him with his owner. “
Police said they are following a positive line of enquiry to identify the thieves and repeated their appeal for information about the theft.
A delighted Julia said today:
“I’m really happy – he’s come back to me. “
Julia said she got the good news at about 8 last night.
“I was really happy and I couldn’t believe he had been found.
“I went to the police station to pick him up. When they opened the door I saw Aldo and he was howling and dancing about. He was happy and running around me.”
Aldo as a puppy
Now she has her dog back Julia says she is too afraid to let Aldo out of her sight.
She said: “I’m really glad to have him back but I’m scared to let him off the lead because I don’t want someone to take him.
“I’ll never leave him outside a shop again, he’ll stay with me always.”
Julia said she had heard that neighbours had reported a local man who had suddenly acquired a dog.
She said: “The neighbours called the police because he had a dog all of a sudden. “
“I’d like to thank the people who called the police, they were a big help.”
She also worried about what the thieves did during the time they had him.
She said: “I’m still angry with the people who stole Aldo because he has problems with his stomach and I don’t think they fed him the right food.
“I’m going to have to take him to the vet for a check up. I’m worried because I don’t know what they’ve done to him.
“Aldo’s been sleeping a lot because he’s been very nervous but he’s getting back normal.”
A police spokesman said: “We are delighted with the assistance of the local community in returning Aldo to his owner and would like to thank the member of the public who looked after him until he was collected and taken home.
“Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information that can assist us in tracing those responsible for the dog’s theft is asked to contact police immediately. “
The Morrisons in Livingston
The theft happened at the Morrisons store in the Carmondean area of the town.
Yesterday, a heartbroken Julia told how the thieves had
“ruined’ her life by taking Aldo.
She said:
“I was shopping and when I came outside he was gone.
“I started crying and I couldn’t think, I just ran until I found a man who told me a pregnant woman and a man in a blue jacket had taken my dog. “
Witnesses described a man and woman approaching the dog and petting it, before untying its lead and making off towards Raeburn Rigg.
Police are now appealing for anyone who was in the area and witnessed the theft to come forward.
The male suspect is described as white, around 26-years-old, between 5ft and 5ft 11ins tall with a skinny build and short cropped black hair that was brushed over to the right.
He was wearing a blue coat with a green emblem on the shoulder, grey t-shirt, blue jeans and white trainers.
The female suspect is described as white, around 26-years-old, between 5ft and 5ft 2ins tall with a heavy build, possibly pregnant and dark ginger hair. She was wearing black trousers, a cream top and a black cardigan.
Dognapping is thought to be one of the fastest growing crimes in the UK.
Last year a pet insurance company claimed 128,000 dogs and cats are stolen each year and that more than a third of pets that disappear are never seen again.
