A Scots man whose beloved dog was stolen from outside a McDonald's store has been reunited with his pet after 10 days of endless searching.
Alasdair Crawford had left pup Link outside the fast food restaurant in Trongate, Glasgow in the early hours of April 16 to buy him some chicken nuggets for being a "good boy". However, while he was waiting to be served, Link was snatched by a callous dog thief.
A distraught Alasdair spent the next few days tirelessly searching for his furry companion, who he describes as his "everything". He previously told Glasgow Live : "He has been my rock for seven years. I've looked after him through sickness and in health.
"He has a rare genetic condition that requires a lot of medical care, and without question, he has gotten the care he needed every single time. I’m worried sick, he’s such a big personality and my life revolves around him."
Link was later found by police and kept in their care until the SSPCA were contacted, at which point he was transferred to their Hamilton centre. Thankfully, Link has since been reunited with Alasdair after an SSPCA worker spotted his social media appeal for the missing pup.
Speaking to Glasgow Live, SSPCA animal care assistant, Lauren McLeish, said: "I had seen Link's appeals online, so when I saw him in our kennels I looked at him and thought 'Oh, he kind of looks the same'. I recognised his face'. The man who took Link gave him the name Joseph, but obviously by his chip, we discovered his name was Link.
"During her lunch break, one of my colleagues was scrolling on her phone when she came across another appeal for Link. We stopped what we were doing and had to contact his owner immediately."
She continued: "We just had to contact this poor man, these cases are what makes the job so worth it. It's a really great story and shows the power of social media - it shows that if the owner is as persistent as Link's was there will be a good outcome.
"It proves what can happen when everyone comes together. Link was a real sweetheart and we were so happy to see them reunited, he was an honour to look after, he was an absolute delight."
Alasdair, who lives in the city centre, shared several urgent appeals to help trace his four-legged friend. Thanking police, Alasdair said: "They have done more than they ever could have."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 2.30am on Sunday, 16 April, we received a report of the theft of a dog in the Trongate area of Glasgow. The dog has since been recovered and reunited with its owner. Enquiries remain ongoing."
Since being reunited with his owner, Link has been treated to his favourite snack, pizza, a long walk in the park and lots of cuddles from his best friend. Alasdair said: "Hopefully this will send out a message to people who think they can abduct a dog and have nothing done about it."
He was left overwhelmed by the kind words and support he received from the local community throughout the nightmare ordeal, saying: "The people of Glasgow are amazing. Thank you so much for the support, I can't believe he is home."
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