Piper, a border terrier

Stolen dog reunited with his family
by Lizzie Struthers, Irvine Herald

Sep 4 2009

Piper is back home

A STOLEN dog has been reunited with his family after his disappearance caused a STINK.

Pedigree pooch Piper, who suffers from the bowel disorder colitis, was snatched from outside his home in Livingstone Terrace, Irvine, three months ago.

The thieves could not cope with the Border Terrier’s non-stop pooing caused by the stress of being dognapped.

Piper, who needs a special diet of organic food, was sold on twice through the popular classifieds website Gumtree because of his messy condition.

The Gorman family feared they would never be able to trace their beloved five-year-old dog, who is worth £500.

After a three month hunt, Piper was reunited with owners Tracy and Gus Gorman and their children Kieran, 16, Amy, 11, and Emma, nine.

Piper’s new owner, who stays in Kirkcaldy, had spotted the Gorman family’s appeal for the dog on the Gumstree website.

Tracy, a hairdresser, said: “The woman did not know the dog she had bought was stolen. She was as much a victim in this as we were. I paid her what she had spent on him. I did not see why she should be out of pocket. She had taken good care of Piper, who she called Freddie.”

Tracy added: “My family has been through hell and back for the past 12 weeks but I never gave up hope that we were going to get him back.”

The 36-year-old spent hours putting appeals on the internet and enlisted help from the charity, Dog Lost. “It is such a relief to have Piper back where he belongs,” said Tracy. “The kids are absolutely delighted and Piper is happy too.”

Source:

http://www.irvineherald.co.uk/ayrshire-news/local-news-ayrshire/local-news-irvine/2009/09/04/stolen-dog-reunited-with-his-family-75485-24583928/