GREAT NEWS! Dog Stolen by Children is HOME Safe and Sound!
The five-year-old Jack Russell that was stolen from its owners’ property in Roodepoort, South Africa, on Tuesday has been safely reunited on Sunday evening with its owners, Daleen van Niekerk and her husband. Daleen had issued an urgent plea for help in finding their beloved dog, Lara, after she was stolen by a gang of […]
The five-year-old Jack Russell that was stolen from its owners’ property in Roodepoort, South Africa, on Tuesday has been safely reunited on Sunday evening with its owners, Daleen van Niekerk and her husband.
Daleen had issued an urgent plea for help in finding their beloved dog, Lara, after she was stolen by a gang of children; and there were fears that Lara would be sold to criminals who use the little dogs as ‘bait’ in illegal dog fights, a practice that is unfortunately too common in parts of SA.
Tonight a delighted Daleen sent SAPeople a message to say Lara is “home safe and sound”.
On social media Daleen said: “Lara is back home safe. Please share far and wide. Thank you to all for the love and support in these dark days.”
She said: “Thank you to the world. We have Lara back. Cannot give info as this is an ongoing investigation. But PLEASE celebrate with us tonight❤❤❤”
The heartbreak of losing their “fur baby” was especially acute for Daleen and her husband who are unable to have children themselves.
“Lara and her two puppies Teddy and Bullet are the kids we could never have,” the 48-year-old had earlier said when Lara went missing.
“For these youngsters to steal one of what we see as our children is just devastating and it makes it far worse to know she may end up with criminals to be used as bait for dog fighting.”
Video footage showed the dog being stolen by one of the teenagers – watch here.