A beloved pet dog which was stolen from a property in Stirling over the weekend has been tracked down in Manchester.
Four-year-old Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross Minnie, who is pregnant, was snatched from the garden of a property in Scott Street in Raploch around 2pm on Saturday.
A Husky puppy was then stolen by a man matching the same description short time later at the Balhaldie filling station near Dunblane.
Police launched an appeal to trace the pets and a suspected culprit who was driving a blue Land Rover.
The Husky puppy was found in Stirling on Tuesday, police say.
And Minnie was discovered by a member of the public wandering about the Denton area yesterday (Wednesday. March 31).
The member of the public then called police and took Minnie in after suspecting that she may be a missing dog.
Minnie's owner Catlin McKenna posted her reaction to the news on Facebook, saying: "Thank you to each and every single person out of the THOUSANDS that shared this status and the others, it just shows the power of social media.
"She was found in Manchester which is crazy. I hope every single person who has lost or had there animal taken gets there babies back too!"
Police confirmed in their last update that enquiries were still ongoing around both cases, with the description of a man believed to be involved issued to the public.
He is described as white and in his mid 30s, heavy built, around 5’10, and with mousy brown, shaggy long hair.
He also is reported as having a long brown beard and was wearing a yellow high-vis waistcoat and jeans.
Police say he may have been accompanied by a white male child, aged between 10 and 11.
Detective Sergeant Jo Moffat of Stirling’s Priority Crime Team said: “I am delighted that both dogs have been recovered safe and well and have now been reunited with their owners.
“Although it was initially thought both incidents could be linked I would like to reassure the public that following extensive enquiries to locate both animals we can confirm they were not.
“I would like to thank the public for their overwhelming response to our appeal and the dedicated officers who worked around the clock to ensure both dogs made it home safe.
“Enquiries into the circumstances of both incidents remain ongoing."
Call police on 101 with information.
