HAPPY ENDING: Rickmansworth family overjoyed as stolen dog is returned home

An English Springer Spaniel who was stolen from a garden in Maple Cross last August has been reunited with his family after eight months.

The dog, called Trigger, was found in North London on Sunday, April 18 and handed into Harlesden Police Station where the owners were contacted via the dogs microchip.

The Rickmansworth family, Katy, partner Dean and two sons George, 11 and Frankie 7 were over the moon to be reunited with their furry friend, who has become a local celebrity.

Katy told RICKYNews: “I still have to pinch myself that he’s home. Everyone has been absolutely amazing in Maple Cross, handing out posters, people were looking out for him every single day he was missing.”

Missing dog charity DogLost helped spread the word and Triggers appeal accumulated over 50,000 shares on social media and was even featured on BBC News.

Karen Harding, DogsLost coordinator said: “Triggers owners worked tirelessly with locals, friends and the DogLost team to raise awareness of their missing boy. Everyone was absolutely over the moon to hear that after eight months, beautiful Trigger was home!”

Rickmansworth residents were delighted to hear of Triggers return and a Facebook post sharing the good news received thousands of likes and hundreds of comments of support.

Trigger was stolen from the garden on August 21 last year, moments after Katy and Dean saw two people with a pole and hook acting suspiciously around their garden fence where the dog was roaming.

The family suspect their Springer Spaniel may have been stolen for breeding, although this is not confirmed and they may never know.

Katy, Dean, George and Frankie are all overjoyed to have him home safely after eight months without him.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by RickyNews to Hertfordshire Police found that Trigger is not the only dog stolen from the area in the past year.

Two dog thefts were reported in Rickmansworth Town Ward between March 2020 and March 2021. Chorleywood South and Maple Cross and Penn and Mill End both had one dog theft in the same period.