Heartfelt Moment As Couple Is Reunited With Their Cocker Spaniel After She Was Stolen Six Years Ago

Nov 25, 2020

A couple from Durham went through terrible heartbreak six years ago when their beloved cocker spaniel was stolen from their home. Simon and Caroline Hall did their best to find Bonnie but had essentially given up hope of ever seeing her. They were overjoyed when they received a call telling them that Bonnie had finally been found on November 19th. This video of the couple reuniting with their lost dog is sure to tug at your heartstrings. 

In 2014, Simon and Caroline Hall went through one of the most devastating experiences when their cocker spaniel Bonnie was stolen from their home in Durham. According to Cambs Times, the couple mounted a huge publicity campaign including posters and social media appeals when Bonnie was stolen but had no luck with any leads. They were also frequently checking all lost dogs sites on the internet up until 2 years ago.

On November 19th, an unexpected call from a dog warden gave them joyous news: Bonnie had finally been found 200 miles away from Durham in the city of Norfolk. Amazingly, she had been found and reunited with the Halls just one day shy of her 10th birthday, reports Unilad. 

According to Unilad, Caroline Hall said:

'We just can't believe it. It was only a couple of years ago that I gave up hope but I was still checking all the lost dog sites. It's all a bit surreal." She also added, "I'd prepared myself for the fact she might look in a bad way but actually she's looking quite well. I know the vets have taken wonderful care of her."

The reunion was possible thanks to Fenland District Council dog warden Caroline Trigg, who also runs Ravenswood Pet Rescue in Wisbech in the UK. She was found wandering a park and did not look very well, reports Lynn News. Bonnie was thankfully microchipped, which helped Triggs to trace her owners and give them the good news. While speaking of the reunion, Triggs said, "With missing dogs, sometimes they go in the morning and are back in the afternoon – or a couple of days at most. I've never known a dog to have been gone this long before."

It is believed that Bonnie was stolen for breeding purposes. According to Unilad, Trigg said, "I think Bonnie’s had a hard time with the breeding side. Someone has made a lot of money out of her, which is very sad. And she has clearly never been to a vet’s over those six-and-a-half years or her chip would have been read. But being able to get her back to her loving home is wonderful – just the good news we need this year." The vet who treated Bonnie said that her most recent litter was born only two months ago. Since then, it is reported that Bonnie has had a hysterectomy. 

Upon finding Bonnie, Simon Hall said, "We got the phone call on Thursday afternoon and amazed she had been found, we still can’t come to terms with it. God knows what she has been through these past few years and give her a couple more years and a loving family home.” Simon Hall also added they had two other cocker spaniels at home but were in “total shock” to have Bonnie returned to them.

The couple added that despite the hard few years that Bonnie has gone through, "she’s a happy loving girl." Before she was stolen, Caroline Hall said that Bonnie had a “beautiful character” and would sit pitchside until their young son Robbie had finished playing rugby. “The other little children would take her for a walk. She was a pleasure to have, “ she told Lynn News. 

As for her 10th birthday celebrations, Simon and Caroline say they have planned a "quiet night in by the fire." The video below shows the touching moment when they were finally able to see and hug Bonnie once again, and it certainly looks like Bonnie is also happy to be back with her true and loving family. 

All of this was possible because Bonnie had been micro-chipped, as it would have been near impossible to track down the owners without it. We cannot imagine how difficult it must have been for this couple to have gone through losing their pet in this manner, but it is truly a miraculous event that they are reunited with Bonnie. 

“Today is quite simply joyous, fabulous, really great news,” said Simon Hall. We wish this family the very best!

Have you ever lost a pet and been reunited with it again? Let us know your stories below, and be sure to share this post with your friends to make their day a little brighter!