A Melbourne family is rejoicing after discovering the thief who stole their beloved eight-week-old labrador returned the dog to their backyard overnight.
Eight-week-old Sasha was taken during a burglary in Croydon Hills on Monday, while Elena Sardi and her daughter Maia, 4, were out of the house.
A laptop, iPad and jewellery were also stolen.
The family made a public appeal for help yesterday, pleading with whoever took the dog to return it.
Ms Sardi said she was "heartbroken" over the dog-napping, and Maia had become "inseparable" from the puppy, who had only lived with the family for a week.
Ms Sardi's husband, Ryan Hood, told Channel Nine the family was "ecstatic" when Sasha was returned.
"This morning my wife got up to make herself a coffee, walked past the sliding door and noticed there was a figure moving by the kennel and started thinking, "Is it Sasha? is it Sasha?" and started screaming out and it was," he said.
"We think that whoever took her has either had a conscience or got scared and has dropped her over the fence."
Maia spent part of the morning playing with her beloved pet.
Police are still investigating the break-in, and looking for the other stolen items.
They say it is likely the burglary took place between 9:30am and 11:30am on Monday.
