A family's dog which was stolen five years ago from outside their home has come home on a number 37 bus.
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| Pat Oates, Tony Wellington and 9 year old Grandson Tay Wellington with their dog T-Bone Photo: CATERS |
Pat Oates, 48, took a call saying her Staffordshire bull terrier had been found safe and well riding the Birmingham City Centre to Solihull route.
Mrs Oates and her three children had all but given up any hope of ever seeing their red Staffordshire bull terrier, T-Bone, after he was taken from their drive in September 2006 during a powercut.
They feared he had been stolen to order by gangs looking to use the good-natured dog as a weapon.
But after the 12-year-old dog was dumped after he developed a cyst, he got onto the No. 37 bus undetected.
It was only when the bus driver spotted him in his rear view mirror that he was taken to a bus depot, before being checked over by a local vet.
After his micro-chip was scanned, staff were able to reunite T-Bone with his owners.
Mrs Oates, a mother-of-three, from Solihull, West Midlands, said she wasn't surprised that T-Bone was found on a bus as he loves to travel.
Mrs Oates, who works as a cleaner, added: "He always loved going on car journeys and would come along with us on long journeys all the time.
"He could sit gazing out of the window all day long."
The family now have to pay expensive veterinary bills after T-Bone was badly neglected by the thieves who stole him.
He has developed a large, painful cyst on his leg as well as severe hearing problems.
Leigh Fisher, from 608 Vets where T-Bone was first taken, said: "This case highlights the importance of getting your dog microchipped.”
Article by Andy Bloxham
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