Hilton family reunites with pet

A Hilton family have been reunited with their dog after she was stolen outside their property a week ago.

Melissa Wessels, who lives with her mother and sister said they were distraught after realising that their small dog named Potjies had disappeared last Tuesday after a light rain storm.

Wessels said the dog might have gotten a fright from the storm and ran outside of the gate, which is where she may have been stolen.

She described Potjies as a fragile, shy and a very scared dog.

She said they resorted to social media and started printing out posters, pleading with people to assist them in finding Potjies.

After they received no responses, their gardener advised them to translate the posters to isiZulu so he could take them to Sweetwaters, where he lives.

Wessels said on Monday afternoon, her mother received a call from a man who lives in Sweetwaters, who said he had seen a man from his township with their dog.

The man told Wessels mother that he had approached the man and told him to return the dog, but that he said he wanted to feed Potjies and sell her for more money.

Wessels said they met with the man at the Hilton Quarry yesterday and went to the police station to ask the police to accompany them to the house he directed them to.

The family managed to retrieve their dog with help from the police.

The family said they were grateful to the man and the Hilton police officers for helping them reunite with their pet.