Alfie home fifteen months after being stolen

Alfie settles back in at home

Christmas has come early for a Middleton family because Alfie, their treasured family pet, has been returned after being dog-napped fifteen months ago.

Alfie, a six-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was taken on 12 September 2009 when builder Gary Perry had his van stolen.

Mr Perry said: “I was working in Denton building a wall. It was a boiling hot day and I’d taken my jacket off with the keys to my van still in the pocket. The thieves grabbed the jacket while I was working and the first thing I knew my van was disappearing down the road at 100mph with Alfie in the front seat.

“It was bad enough that my van and all my tools were stolen but what really broke our hearts was that Alfie was taken too.”

The Perrys reported Alfie stolen to the police and Manchester Dogs’ Home and then scoured Denton, Bredbury and Stockport to try and find him, putting posters up in local shops and takeaways as well as offering a substantial reward.

“It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. To be honest, as the months went by I did give up hope, as did my wife, but not my two boys. They kept his bed, blanket and bowls in the loft. My youngest always said, ‘He’ll be back!’,” said Mr Perry.

That hope has now been rewarded as Alfie was found in Rochdale on Bury Road, where a kind resident took him in and told Rochdale Borough Council’s stray dog service about him.

Rochdale Borough Council’s Public Protection Manager, Andy Glover said:
“When we find lost dogs we always check whether they have been microchipped. If they have, we can quickly identify owners when their contact details have been kept up to date.

“Alfie’s microchip and the Perry’s report that he had been stolen made it easy for us to find them when he turned up.

“We are all pleased he was in great shape, amazed that we were able to help after all this time and thrilled to be able to return him in time for Christmas.”

Mr Perry is delighted to have Alfie home, he said: “The Rochdale Dog Warden had warned us that Alfie might be a bit wary of us at first but as soon as we opened the door Alfie tore in, ran up to my son’s bedroom and then into mine to grab my slippers – since then he’s settled right back in.

“It’s the best Christmas present we could have wished for.”