Homeless man's stolen dog found chained up 124 miles away (From The Oxford Times)

Homeless man's stolen dog found chained up 124 miles away

7:00pm Tuesday 12th February 2013 in News By Katriona Ormiston, Reporter. Call me on (01865) 425426

A DOG stolen from a homeless man as he slept in Oxford has been found 124 miles away in Dorset chained to railings.

A national search was launched after four-year-old Australian Kelpie Scooby was snatched from Carl McDonald in St Giles’ Church porch in December.

The microchipped dog was spotted by a council dog warden at Weymouth train station earlier this month and traced to her owner.

But Mr McDonald is now too worried his beloved pet will be snatched again and will not take her back until he has found a place to live.

Until then, Scooby will live with friend Lucy Barwick-Ward, 32, in Yorkshire.

Mr McDonald, 43, said: “I’m just too terrified someone might take her again. I don’t want to live on the street with her so I am trying to find space at a shelter with room for a dog.

“It was horrible without her. I can’t believe it I am just over the moon that she has been found.”

He said: “I am so happy she is safe. She has lost a stone in weight and has worms, an ear infection, and fleas, but she’s okay.”

He said he owes Scooby his life after she pulled him out of a flat fire last year and does not know what he would do without her.

Ms Barwick-Ward also owns Scooby’s brother Leonydus and Mr McDonald said: “Scooby was so happy to see her. She was so excited and started barking straight away.”

Scooby was recovered with the help of Dog Lost, which keeps a database of microchipped dogs.

Spokesman Shereem Lloyd said: “We are so glad she has been found. She was really pleased to see someone she recognised.

“Someone obviously decided she was too hot to handle because of all the media attention and everybody trying to find her.

“That was probably why she was left tied to railings.”

Thames Valley Police spokesman Antonia Bairstow said no-one had been charged over the theft of Scooby.