THE owner of a springer spaniel allegedly stolen from a car in Bournemouth has spoken of her relief after being reunited with her pet more than 33 hours after he disappeared.

Four-year-old Max was reported missing on Tuesday by distraught Fiona Merritt after being left for around 45 minutes in a grey Fiat Punto parked in Beechey Road, Charminster.

Desperate to find the much-loved pet, interior designer Fiona posted Max’s disappearance on Facebook and other social networking sites.

And yesterday morning Max mysteriously turned up at her in-laws’ home in East Avenue, Talbot Woods. She said: “I’m convinced that those responsible let Max go because they knew we were searching for him.”

The mum-of-one added: “It’s a mystery how Max got to Talbot Woods but my son Dexter is so relieved that Max is back with us.

“He’s a pedigree but we could never put a value on him. We are just so grateful to everyone who helped us find Max.”

There were fears that the family might never see their pet again following a spate of dognappings in Hampshire, involving three cocker spaniels snatched from separate properties, in the space of 24 hours.

There were also suspicious sightings of intruders and cars near kennels over the county, leading to fears that an organised gang was at work.

But a Dorset police spokesman said there was no link between’s Max’s reported disappearance and the Hampshire dognappings.