by Hayley Robinson

A man has been reunited with his dog 11 days after he was stolen.

Martin Wakely thought he would never see his beloved black Labrador Mac again after he and six other dogs were taken from a kennels at Culnells Farm, Iwade, on November 2.

But on Saturday Mr Wakely received a call from a girl working at stables in Rochester, saying she thought she had seen his dog wandering around in nearby fields.

The 62-year-old set off from his Bobbing home and drove there, but despite searching the area while calling Mac’s name and sounding his whistle, the dog never showed. He left the area a couple of hours later due to it getting dark.

The following night the girl sent a text to him saying a Medway Council warden had picked up the dog in Cuxton village and he was being taken to Jasmil Kennels in Lower Halstow.

The kennels was shut so Mr Wakely had to wait until the following day to drive down there to see if it was Mac.

A microchip scanning device proved it was.

He said: "He wasn’t himself, I suppose he was frightened. He’s a bit skinny and down in the mouth but I will soon get him back. He looked quite well really considering he’d been out in the wild for 10 days.

"I think he was probably dumped because he was a boy, they usually want girls to breed and sell their puppies."

There is still no news on the whereabouts of the other missing dogs, including a springer spaniel called Millie, which belonged to Mr Wakely’s friend Peter Collins.

The 68-year-old Hertfordshire resident is devastated by the theft of his beloved pet as he bought her for company following the death of his wife Hazel last year.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 01622 690690, quoting crime reference number CY/17212/11. Alternatively call Dog Lost, in confidence, on 0844 800 3220 or visit www.doglost.co.uk