AN appeal to help find a Cocker Spaniel and her five pups has been a success thanks to "the great British public".

Thieves stole the dogs, mother Dora and her offspring, from a property near Yarm, Teesside on Tuesday.

They were taken from their kennels leaving owner, Craig Vaughan "devastated".

The pups are three weeks old and not ready to be weaned for a further three weeks.

After news of the theft spread on Facebook, thousands of people set about publicising the incident. The appeal was shared more than 3,000 times.

The Northern Echo:

The dogs pictured before they were stolen. Picture: Craig Vaughan

On Wednesday night, Mr Vaughan reported Dora and her pups had been found and returned to him.

He said a third party had seen the story and managed to get the dogs back on his behalf.

Mr Vaughan, who was milking cows when they were stolen, said: "Someone has done me a massive favour and he wouldn't take any money from me for them.

"The dogs are fine, they don't look any worse for what has happened. They have been fed and they are fine.

"I cannot believe I have got them back, it just goes to show you cannot beat the Great British Public.

"Whoever took them must have seen all the publicity and thought 'we'll never get rid of them'.

"They are back safe and they are in the house, they are not in the kennels, and they are staying here."

Responding on Facebook, Diane Clarke wrote: "So pleased they are back safe and well. Bout time we had some happy news, brilliant feel happy for you."

Stephen Ian Alecock wrote: "Pleased they are back safe. Dog theft is more common than people realise."

While Wendy Hall wrote: "So pleased for you and bless the people that found them and brought them home to you."

North Yorkshire Police is investigating the theft of the dogs.