Labrador Retriever Stolen From Yard 7 Years Ago Is Finally Home—Watch the Heartwarming Reunion!
One fateful day in November of 2017, Rita and Philip Potter of Norfolk, UK had their lives turned upside down. Daisy—their six-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever—was playing alone in their garden when the unthinkable happened: someone abducted her.
@easterndailypress She was stolen SEVEN years ago 😲 Watch the moment Daisy the Labrador reunites with her family after she was stolen in 2017. #cutedogs#happyending#stolendog#emotionalmoments ♬ original sound – EDP24
Witnesses had seen someone enter the Potter’s garden and then exit with Daisy who was promptly stuffed into a truck and driven away. Police guessed the suspects were backyard breeders looking for purebred dogs to breed for profit. Despite the witnesses, no leads were discovered and the vehicle that took Daisy could never be traced.
Rita and Philip were devastated and spoke publicly with the press and on social media about the ordeal. The trauma of losing their dog to abduction even motivated the Potters to petition the government to pay more attention to pet theft, collecting 100,000 signatures and helping to push for the passing of the 2024 Pet Abduction Act which recognizes animals as sentient beings rather than just property. Under the new bill, people found guilty of abducting animals could serve up to five years in prison and pay hefty fines.
Though it appeared there was no hope for Rita and Philip to be reunited with Daisy, the couple never forgot her, keeping a picture of her on the mantle and thinking of her often. Years passed with no news until suddenly, a miracle happened.
A Chance Discovery: Learning Daisy’s Fate
Kim Walters, an inspector from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), had been called to a home in Somerset for a routine assessment in early February 2025. Upon arrival, Walters discovered a senior Labrador Retriever in poor condition, so poor that she feared the animal needed immediate veterinary care. The owner of the dog said they had only had the dog for a few years, but agreed to sign her over to the RSPCA.
Walters quickly brought the dog to the charity’s veterinarians who found clear evidence of backyard breeding including hip dysplasia, masses on her mammary glands, and other signs of neglect.
“She really is the sweetest girl and will wag her tail whenever she sees you, but since she was stolen it is clear she has had a hard life,” said behavioral welfare advisor for the RSPCA, Andy Cook in an interview with the BBC.
Cases of backyard breeding are unfortunately not uncommon, but during the examination of this particular dog, vets found something they never expected.
When the dog’s microchip was scanned, the Potters’ information popped up: this dog was Daisy who had now been missing for seven years!
Reunited with Daisy After Years of Separation
When the Potters got the call, they were overjoyed to hear that Daisy had been found. Though she had spent half her lifetime 200 miles away from her family, the Potters were thrilled at the chance to care for her in her golden years.
“We know she is elderly now and has health issues, but whatever time she has left she will now be surrounded by lots of love and attention,” said Mrs. Potter to the BBC.
On the day of Daisy’s return home, the Potters, their children, and their grandchildren were waiting to greet her. Surrounded by humans who loved her, Daisy took the reunion in stride, tail wagging furiously as she accepted her much-deserved pets. Because the Potters never gave up and thanks to the diligence of the RSPCA, Daisy is right back where she belongs, and the Potters have helped other pet owners work towards getting justice for their stolen pets.
