We all love a Christmas reunited story – and let’s face it – there have been plenty in the last few days, but the one we loved the most was young Doug the Whippet.

Doug was stolen from outside his home in Hertfordshire in February, and an undercover investigator from DogLost soon came across a whippet they hoped was Doug. He was traced from location to location whilst Doug’s anxious owners were helped by DogLost’s local co-ordinator, Hazel.

Last week the little whippet was dumped 20 miles from where he was first stolen and taken to a place of safety, where he was scanned by the Halo scanner and indeed found to be Doug.

Louise, Doug’s owner told us: “We have been given the best Christmas present ever. Hazel has been an absolute diamond and I can’t thank her enough for all the work she has done and made me believe I should never give up hope.”

Said co-ordinator, Hazel: “It was a lengthy trail, but I hoped we would get there in the end. I’d really like to thank everyone who was involved – a great piece of DogLost teamwork.”

DogLost was given the opportunity to address the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare this evening.

The organisation was able to explain its work and demonstrate the challenges it faces, from a lack of scanning and variable dog warden services to dog theft and limited police resources.

The Group – an all party committee of MPs chaired by Neil Parish MP – meets about six times a year and has associate members from organisations across the sphere of animal welfare.

Speaking for the organisation, spokesperson Nik Oakley said: The rapid growth in dog theft is an urgent issue that politicians need to address and we welcomed their interest in the problem.

Although time was limited, DogLost was able to explain why setting up the the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance is so important. Trying to push forward reforms on scanning and pet theft, Vets Get Scanning. Dog Union, Dog Theft Action and Pet Theft Awareness were also there.

This evening’s meeting was devoted entirely to dog welfare and the recently set-up dog subgroup, chaired by Robert Flellio MP, presented its strategy concentrating on responsible ownership and breeding.

Photo shows Alliance members Richard Jordan from Pet Theft Awareness and Debbie Matthews from Vets Get Scanning at the House of Commons

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The January issue will also feature a piece on DogLost.

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Two Surrey lads’ smart action meant that the two stolen Cocker Spaniels from Cranleigh earlier yesterday were reunited with their owners Simon and  Tina Drayson.

Nelson and Brock were found in the early hours of this morning by Jamal Betts and his friend Matt Kipping. The 16 year olds were making their way home from a party when they noticed the two dogs following them.

After contacting the RSPCA and Surrey dog wardens, the boys stayed with the dogs for and hour whilst they waited for the Police.  Jamal’s mum Tara came to their aid and told DogLost: “Nelson was very anxious but was coaxed into my car with Brock, who was
quick to jump in because he knew he was going home.”

The dogs were kept in the car for their own safety from passing traffic until the Police arrived. Continued Tara: “The Police took one look at the dogs and said ‘Yep, that’s them’. They informed the boys that the dogs they had rescued were in fact the stolen working dogs from Cranleigh.”

The dogs, who were stolen earlier in the day by thieves caught on cctv, were shared thousands of times by the DogLost social media team and other dog lovers.

Owner Simon Drayson told DogLost : “We’re absolutely thrilled to have the boys home. Thanks you so much for everyone who shared the CCTV footage on social media.”

Photos show Jamal and Matt, and Nelson being collected by a police officer.

A badly injured little Jack Russell Cross has been reunited with her owners after being found lying by the roadside near Newbury Showground, Chieveley.

Lushious, a white and light tan dog, was stolen from a farm near Faringdon in Oxfordshire 10 days before. Her finder took her to a local vets who scanned her and was able to contact her owners.

Her relieved owner told DogLost: “It looks to me as if she has been used for dog-fighting and although she looks a bit grim in the photo she is alive and on the road to recovery.”

Grateful for the help and publicity from DogLost, her owner continued: “Some of the stories posted on your site about dogs being found were very encouraging in giving us hope that we would get her back.”

Although the tabloid media like to highlight dog fighting as a key reason for dog theft, in reality it only accounts for a very small proportion of thefts.

DogLost founder, Jayne Hayes, was on ITV’s Good Morning Britain this morning with Louise Marsh the owner of the border terrier reunited after a reconstruction and a media campaign which include an aeroplane banner.

Both expected to appear on the programme to talk about dog theft and to make an appeal for Toby’s return, but as Good Morning Britain were putting the show together yesterday afternoon, news of Toby being found filtered through.

Toby – and a Jack Russell who had been missing for a year – had been found by a woman more than 50 miles away in Kent who took them to a vet for scanning.

Toby, who ran off from his home in Woking two weeks ago had been found by a local man who was knocking door to door to find his owner when he was approached by a man in a car. In an often repeated scenerio, the driver offered to take Toby to the vets to be scanned. And that was the last anyone saw of Toby until a chance sighting yesterday.

Said a spokesperson for DogLost: “Significant media campaigns means that a dog is so well-known that it is impossible for a him to be sold on and he is dumped. But we would warn people who find a dog and try to find where he lives, that claims by people in cars that they are the owner or that they are taking him to the vet are rarely true. If in any doubt, contact the dog warden or us.”

DogLost have partnered with Dog Friendly, the UK’s largest online database of dog friendly places and businesses, and are delighted to offer all our members a year’s free membership worth £5.99

Dogfriendly has 21 online databases with more than 30,000 listings, including hotels, pubs, self-catering, camping and caravan sites, days out and beaches where your dogs will be made as welcome as you.

To claim your free membership, simply send an email to Dog Friendly , write DogLost Special Offer in the subject line and provide your address and phone number. DogFriendly will send your log-in details for one year’s free full membership.

Owners are being urged to keep their dogs safe as the fireworks season starts.

Said DogLost founder, Jayne Hayes: “This time of year is one of the busiest as dogs get frightened by fireworks and bolt.”

Whilst many return home on their own, or are found locally, others are often found deceased as they are involved in a road traffic collision or are hit by a train.

Said a DogLost spokesperson: “We have a few simple suggestions for owners to ensure they keep their dogs safe:”

• Never take your dog for a walk after dark – even if you think he isn’t nervous
• If you have to take him out in the back garden use a lead – dogs have been known to leap fences out of fear
• Make sure he’s registered with DogLost should the worst happen

Follow more advice from the Dogs Trust

When dog owners Manie and Heather’s young Clumber Spaniel passed away earlier this year, they decided to do something to honour young Bracken.

They decided to create a calendar and give the profits to DogLost and the Working Clumber Spaniel Society. As two of the founding members of Facebook group, Working Clumber Spaniels UK they asked their 400 members to submit pictures of their dogs to use in the calendar.

Heather is the artist and she has composed what the group think is a fantastic calendar of this rare breed.  Said Heather: “We went back to our members to ask where the profits from calendar sales should go.  Many of us are members of the Working Clumber Spaniel Society  and it was agreed that 50% of profits would go to this organisation to continue their work.  The members of our Facebook group overwhelmingly agreed that the other 50% of profits should go to DogLost.”

Calendars are £9.50 each plus £2.00 postage and packing. If you order 5 or more calendars then the calendars are £8.50 each plus £3.50 postage. Orders should be sent to Working Clumber Spaniel Calendar and payment to PayPal to that e mail address.

The time has come for the last of DogLost’s big outings of the year: Paws in the Park in Kent.

This year the Kent team will be checking dogs’ microchips and advising owners on how to keep their dogs safe.

Alongside will be Kent Police, and for those who need to have their dogs chipped, Maidstone Borough Council’s dog warden will be providing an on-site service.

Dogs missing in the area will be screened, with visitors getting the opportunity to see the video made by the students of Pauline Quirke Academy, Romford on dogs and theft.

The local team will also be fundraising with a tombola.

Visitors to the show at the Kent Showground in Detling won’t miss the Kent team: A great big DogLost sail will mark their presence by the marquee.

Other activities over the weekend include a companion dog shows and loads of ‘have a go’ fun events including agility, flyball and K9 Aquazone.

Paws in the Park runs on Saturday and Sunday 20th & 21st September.