An Auckland owner has been happily reunited with her dog three months after it was stolen outside a shop.
Bowie the cavoodle was scooped up by a stranger outside Burgerfuel New Lynn on Wednesday April 18 and despite police releasing video of the incident the culprit had not been found.
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Somehow Bowie ended up wandering the streets of Manurewa and a family took her into the Auckland Council Manukau shelter.
She was checked for a chip while she was there and thankfully her owner Jo Hodge was able to be contacted from her microchip registration.
Ms Hodge had an emotional reunion with Bowie on Wednesday morning, three months to the day after she went missing.
Auckland Council says events like this show it's important owners remember to microchip their pets.
"There were lots of tears of joy and smiles from the staff," a spokesperson wrote on Facebook.
"Again this proves that microchipping is critical for every dog to have, it helps reunite dogs with owners in all situations even when having been stolen."
Members of the public were overjoyed to see Ms Hodge reunited with her pet, many remarking they were crying tears of joy to see them together.
"I am crying at my desk. This is the best news," one person commented on Facebook.
"I am so over joyed for you I couldn't think of anything worse than having your dog stolen," another said.
Newshub.