A Central Otago couple are "beyond relieved" after their two dogs, who went missing after their ute was stolen on Saturday, were found.
The dogs were located after locals scrambled to search while others called in sightings of the taken vehicle.
Jake Nolan said he was out of his vehicle for only a few minutes to visit a friend in the town of Ōmakau when he saw a man jump in and drive off.
The white Holden Colorado and his dogs – 9-year-old Huntaway-cross Jock and 5-year-old blue heeler Nala – were gone.
"It's not a very good way to start the year, it's pretty devastating. I've had them since they were eight weeks old," Nolan told 1News at the weekend.
"I'm not worried about the truck. I just want my dogs back."
Police confirmed the vehicle was stolen from the area around 1pm on Saturday.
Sergeant Regan Price said police believed the vehicle was connected to an earlier burglary in Alexandra on January 3.
In a social media post today, Nolan's partner said the couple were "beyond relieved" after the dogs were found by a member of the public.
She said the pets were taken to a vet and were "in good shape considering what they’ve been through".
The ute was also found, and police had arrested a man alleged to be responsible for the incident, she said.
"We couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome and are so beyond relieved.
"We can’t thank people enough today. From the three people who dropped what they were doing to go out relentlessly searching, down to every single person who called the police to report sightings. We are so incredibly grateful."
She added that it would be a "big day ahead" for Nolan, who will "pick up our babies and salvage what we can".
"Honestly, speechless this morning."
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