DOG owners Elsie and Peter Hammond thought they would never see their beloved pet Labrador again when he was stolen with their truck.For two days and three nights they searched desperately but there was no trace of Bruce, and Mr and Mrs Hammond, of Great Livermere, near Bury St Edmunds, began to fear the worst.

DOG owners Elsie and Peter Hammond thought they would never see their beloved pet Labrador again when he was stolen with their truck.

For two days and three nights they searched desperately but there was no trace of Bruce, and Mr and Mrs Hammond, of Great Livermere, near Bury St Edmunds, began to fear the worst.

But Bruce has been reunited with the couple and they believe they have the thieves who took their van with the dog inside to thank for his safe return.

The gundog was found still in his wooden box from the truck, in the rain close to kennels more than 20 miles from his home.

Mrs Hammond is convinced the thieves who took the Mitsubishi from her drive left him there deliberately so he would be quickly discovered.

She said: "They must have put him down there on purpose – it shows they did have hearts after all. They knew he would be all right if they left him there."

Mrs Hammond, who runs a shoot and game farm with her husband, was yesterday still searching around Woolpit after yet more sightings of a black dog in the area when she had a call from a family member telling her Bruce was thought to be at the kennels at Freckenham, near Mildenhall.

She said the woman who found Bruce, Joan Melville, spotted him on Wednesday and took him to the boarding kennels straight away. But the dog remained there until yesterday because it was believed the Hammond's dog had been found.

Only when the EADT reported the Hammond's heartrending appeal for his return did his carers realise they had the missing dog.

Mrs Melville, from Badlingham, near Freckenham, said: "It was lovely to be able to help. I was just driving along the road and saw the dog sitting in his box in the pouring rain."

Mrs Hammond said the reunion was an emotional event.

"We were laughing and crying at the same time. Bruce looked at Peter and didn't react straight away but when he realised who it was his tail started to go and he was jumping up at us. It was a lovely moment."

Now he has been returned Mr Hammond, whose truck was taken while he was taking brief phone call at his Great Livermere Hall home, will not be leaving Bruce alone in the truck – even for a minute.

Anyone with information about the green and silver truck which was stolen on Tuesday should call police on 01284 774100.