A dog which went missing in Whitstable is back home with his family – but his owner had to pay £200 for his safe return and is warning people of pet thefts in the area.

Joe and Kelly Catt launched a Facebook campaign after their Jack Russell chihuahua cross called Dave went missing.

They believed he was stolen from Joe's van parked in Grasmere Road while the 32-year-old was at work on January 27.

After searching Whitstable for two weeks with the help of local people, leaving posters and offering a cash reward for his return, Joe received a call from a group of people in Maidstone.

He said: "Dave was stolen and I paid the reward money for his safe return.

"People need to be aware that dog theft is an issue in this area – I asked Dogs Lost UK who said they receive around 300 calls per month exactly like ours.

"It was the worst two weeks of my life and I wouldn’t want my worst enemy to go through what we did as a family."

The fawn white-chested dog has now made it home safely to Joe, Kelly and their seven-year-old son Alfie, who live in East Sussex.

Kelly, 27, expressed her delight on the Facebook page, which gained more than 1,500 likes as people attempted to help.

She said: "We are so excited and overwhelmed to tell you DAVE IS BACK!!!

"We can't thank you all enough for your hard work. You did make him too hot to handle.

"He is doing really well and getting spoilt rotten!

"Alfie is so happy his little brother is back!"

Kelly explained that she wasn't completely sure of his journey from Whitstable to Maidstone.

She posted: "We still aren't clear on all the details and we don't think we will ever know what Dave went through.

"We know Dave was stolen from Whitstable and then either sold on or passed on to someone living in Maidstone to be hidden.

"We had spoken to different people and had phone calls over the last weekend to say someone knew where he was and could get him for us but only for a reward.

"Joe had to pay and walked away with our Dave in his arms!"