Nan reunited with dog ‘stolen’ from pram on bus after ECHO appeal

“Everyone was nervous just in case it wasn't him”

A nan left “distraught” after her Pomeranian was stolen from Queen Square bus station has been reunited with her precious pet. Sharon McCall, 60, was on the phone to emergency services when it is believed an opportunistic thief sneaked behind her and snatched the beloved dog.

Sharon, a nan-of-two, had called 999 after a woman began acting strangely and repeatedly falling over on the X2 bus from Southport to Liverpool on Monday, April 7.

She told the ECHO she noticed a man enter the parked bus, where her Pomeranians Joey and Woody were sitting in a pram, and thought he was trying to help the distressed woman.

But when she got on the bus a few minutes later, after ending the 999 call, she discovered Joey had disappeared. After shouting and searching for him, she was approached by a member of security staff who told her he had seen a man boarding the number 53 bus with the dog in his arms.

Sharon and her daughter Gabrielle made a desperate appeal for the dog's return, and posted about the suspected pet-napping on Facebook. They also reported the incident to Merseyside Police.

They feared five-year-old Joey was gone for good. But they received the incredible news that he had been found safe and well, 24 hours after he was first reported stolen.

Gabrielle told the ECHO that Joey was found at the North Liverpool Probation Centre in Old Swan. She said: “One of the girls in the office had seen Joey's story and messaged me saying they had him, and we went and picked him up.

“We feel very relieved and very lucky. My mum is relieved more than anything. We just want to say thank you to everybody who shared and commented on his story and got it out as far as it did. If one of the girls in the probation office didn't see it, he probably would still be gone now.”

Merseyside Police confirmed officers had been called to the probation centre and that Joey had been found and returned to his owner.

Gabrielle said: “It was very difficult driving from Southport to Old Swan to pick him up. Everyone was nervous just in case it wasn't him. My nine-year-old son was with us in the car and he was very excited.

“Joey ran right up to my mum and started licking her face. I think he was very happy. He seems fine; he slept all night, though he had a bit of an accident in the bedroom, which he has never done before.”

She added: “When this happens you do fear the worst. The family was split between thinking we were never going to get him back, and some thought we would. We're just lucky he was taken by someone daft enough to turn up to their probation meeting with a stolen dog.”

Merseyside Police said the details of the suspected theft were still under investigation. A police spokesman said: “We were contacted at around 10pm on Monday April 7, following reports a woman had her dog stolen in Queen Square in Liverpool.

“The woman had been on the X2 Stagecoach service with her two Pomeranian dogs in a pram when she went to the assistance of another passenger.

“It is believed that a male approached the pram and took one of the dogs before boarding another bus. CCTV and witness enquiries are in the process of being carried out.”

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to DM @MerPolCC, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting 25000285726.