How CCTV of 'dognapping' went viral on Facebook and led to stolen pet's return!

8:00pm Wednesday 29th May 2013 in News Exclusive By Hannah Lilley

FUDGE safely back home with her family after being dognapped

SHOCKING CCTV footage showing an apparent ‘dognapping’ went viral on Facebook and led to the pet being reunited with its owners one week later.

Security cameras from a nearby community centre captured the moments chocolate Labrador Fudge was snatched from the back garden of a house on Marion Road, Haydock.

It showed a brazen woman calmly getting out a car before walking into the front garden, opening a gate and then stealing the dog from the back yard.

She then shamelessly leads the dog into the back of a car and drives away.

Fudge’s owner Samantha Porter, 27, was stunned when she went through the CCTV that was recorded at by Cetra (Church Estate Tenants Residents Association, Haydock) at about 9pm on Tuesday, May 21.

She then posted the footage on Facebook – sparking an incredible response, which led to the family being reunited with Fudge on Tuesday, a week after she had been taken Samantha, who is married to Mark 29, told the Star: “The video was shared 11,000 times and I had more than 100 messages with information.

“Some were saying it was disgraceful, some joked they would pass it on to MI5, and two or three gave me direct information that I could follow up.

“It was remarkable because so many people were talking about it – we went to Earlestown market and a couple of strangers were discussing it as we walked by.

“Word was getting around and I spoke to the Dogs Lost website and a woman there took on the detective work following the leads from Facebook.

“It ended with us being given a name and an address. The police went around to a woman’s house – and though it wasn’t there she directed them to a place Fudge was being kept.”

Fudge was returned home on Tuesday afternoon, to the delight of the family, including the couple’s three-year-old Dylan and twin boys Harry and Charlie.

Samantha added: “Up until the morning before we got her back, I was still angry. My little boy Dylan was asking about Fudge and it was hard to know what to tell him.

“When I first saw the CCTV I was in disbelief. I felt like I had been watched – and more than anything I was annoyed because my three boys were in bed at the time of it happening.”

It is believed the ‘thief’ will not face court action, instead police are likely to pursue a course of restorative justice, which will involve a letter of apology being written to the Porters.

Samantha and Mark, an office worker for haulage form Eddie Stobart, are just happy to have Fudge home.

She added: “The woman has said she’s sorry and we won’t be holding a grudge. We’re not going to press charges.”

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