Stolen Dog Found After Facebook Tip From Accused Thieves' Son

MOLINE, IL — A dog that was stolen from a Moline family's backyard six months ago was recently found and returned thanks to a social media tip. Now, the owners are thinking about pressing charges against the couple accused of swiping the pet.

Briana Martin told WQAD-TV that she reported her family's Siberian Husky, Feather, stolen in September. She had left the dog alone for about a half hour in the backyard, and when she returned, Feather had been taken.

The Martins searched for their pet and were on the verge of giving up hope when Martin received a Facebook message from an unlikely source: a relative of the individuals who allegedly stole Feather. Martin told WQAD that the son of the accused dog-nappers contacted her from a mechanic shop in Davenport, Iowa, and admitted that his parents had stolen Feather.

"I was very shocked. I just kind of stared at my phone for a second and said what? Once I got my bearings, I said okay, what's their name, what's their address. Where can I find them?"

The son told Martin that Feather was at home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, more than 80 miles from where the dog was taken. The tip paid off: Police found Feather at the address, and pet and family were reunited.

"I wish I could know what's going on with her in the past six months, where she's been, what she's done, how she liked her first snow, but she'll just be with us forever," Martin told WQAD.

WATCH: Check out Feather's return to the Martins from WQAD-TV:

Martin says she now intends to file criminal charges against the alleged thieves and is working with local authorities.

"You are looking at grand theft in some cases," she told WQAD. "Animals are not cheap, and you could go to jail. Be willing to pay that price if you want to take an animal."

More via WQAD-TV

Photo via Shutterstock