Leeds couple reunited with missing dog Vixen after van theft

A couple who have been reunited with their dog after their van was stolen with their beloved pet inside have said their "family is complete again".

Vixen, a five-year-old cocker spaniel, was with four other dogs inside the van owned by Davina and James Wiles when it was taken in Leeds on 23 January.

The other dogs were later found, but Vixen remained missing for two weeks.

She was finally rescued by a member of the public who was approached by two men trying to sell her, Mrs Wiles said.

Mr and Mrs Wiles, dog trainers who live in Thorpe on the Hill in Leeds, received a phone call on Tuesday from the person who knew about the search for Vixen and had been approached by someone claiming to have a dog for sale.

Mrs Wiles said: "He arranged to meet to look at the dog and as soon as he saw Vixen, he said something to them about it being her.

"At that point, the pair ran off and the man grabbed Vixen's lead and just got hold of her."

Mrs Wiles said when they got the call to say Vixen had been found, the drive to pick her up "was the longest eight minutes of our life".

"When we got there, James was the first to see her because he can run faster them me. She just ran over to him and jumped into his arms," she added.

"We are absolutely over the moon. We had begin to think we would never see her again, so to have her back, our family is complete again."

Mrs Wiles said Vixen looked "a bit skinny" but was otherwise healthy and happy to be home with the couple's other dogs Pi, Kes, Finn and Chief.

She added: "She had some toast and cuddles last night and is getting all the attention, that's for sure."

Mrs Wiles thanked members of the local community for their response in helping find Vixen, describing the support they had shown as "absolutely amazing".

"So many people have helped out with searches, messages of support and spreading the word about Vixen," she said.

"We had a message from one mum who said she couldn't wait to wake up her three-year-old girl in the morning and tell her Vixen had been found. She had been asking constantly asking about her.

"We feel so lucky to have her back."

West Yorkshire Police said the couple's white Ford Transit van with an "08" plate was thought to have been driven off towards Wakefield and was still missing.

Officers urged anyone with information to get in touch.

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