by Rachel Hovenden

rhovenden@thekmgroup.co.uk

A dog snatched from an elderly couple’s garden has been returned to them eight months later - but it’s now skin and bone.

Ellie, the three-year-old shih-tzu, went missing from the garden of retired couple Jean, 71, and John Chapman, 79 at the beginning of November last year.

The Chapmans maintained their pet, then just two years old, had probably wandered into the garden at Keary Road, Swanscombe when opportunist thieves struck.

But last week the Chapmans were overjoyed when they received a call from a London salon saying that a woman had brought their pet in.

They had found Ellie’s microchip and traced her back to the Chapmans, who then raced up to London.

They expected to meet the woman, but she had left, leaving their dog behind.
The salon had needed to shave Ellie, because she was so infested with flees, leaving just her head covered in fur.

The salon allowed them to ring the woman, who told them she had bought their pet for £50 from a woman in Longfield and said its name was Ellie.

The woman, who refused to tell the couple her name, then asked them to pay her the £50 she allegedly paid for Ellie, which they refused.

The salon then asked the Chapmans to pay £40 to cover their costs.
The couple now have Ellie safely back with them, and have been told by Police not to pay the salon.

Mr Chapman, said: “She had been bred from while she was away from us.
“And she’s now in a terrible condition.
“She’s absolutely skin and bone.

“My shirt was soaked through when she left because my wife was crying so much.”
And Mrs Chapman added: “It’s absolutely dreadful.

“She’s had a litter of puppies since they stole her, and after that it seems they tried to starve her to death. We’re having to gradually increase her food.

“I couldn’t stop crying when she was gone. I stayed up all night and my husband went out searching for her. But now she’s back and she knows exactly where she is. It’s clear she’s very happy to be back with us.”

The Chapmans immediately took her to the Shrubbery Veterinary Centre in Perry Street, Northfleet where they removed grass flies which had buried deep into her paws.
Kent Police are investigating.