Puppy back with owner after vehicle theft

A puppy taken by a car thief when they stole his owner’s vehicle has been reunited with his family after children spotted him wandering in a field.

Billy, a five-month-old labrador puppy, pictured, had been missing since Friday when his owner’s car was stolen from outside a Bay of Plenty motel.

Lawnmower man Barry Riley was tidying up the lawns of Tauranga’s Academy Motor Inn when a car thief made off with the work vehicle his puppy was sitting in.

A distraught Riley enlisted the help of police and Tauranga City Council, while his family and the motel owner, Caroline Driessens, called out to the local community to help in the search. A woman in Matapihi contacted the family yesterday to say her children had seen the dog, Driessens said.

‘‘He was wandering around in Matapihi. A lady and her kids recognised him and so contacted the police saying they had him safe. He’s now been picked up by Barry’s son and they’ve taken him back to Barry, who is so happy.’’

The children’s mother said they found Billy in a field and brought him to their house to give him water.

Riley was so relieved that Billy was found and wanted to thank the community for their help.

‘‘I think half of Tauranga has been looking for Billy and we are so grateful,’’ Riley told