Reunited!

Little boy who asked Santa to find his stolen dog gets beloved pet back at last

WHEN Morse the dog was stolen 12 days before Christmas, this little boy was desperate to have his best friend back.

Three- year- old Edward Latter even wrote to Santa pleading for him to find his border terrier.

His appeal captured the nation’s hearts and prompted Simon Cowell to offer a £10,000 reward for the dog’s return.

But after weeks of no news, his parents, Richard Latter and Amanda Hopkins, had given up hope of reuniting their son with his ten-month-old pet.

That is, until last week, when they received a phone call to say the dog had been discovered 20 miles from their home in Marden, Kent – having apparently escaped his captors.

Edward said: ‘I can’t believe it, I have my best friend back. It’s too late for Christmas but this is the best present ever.’

Morse was believed to have been snatched as he wandered from home by a couple who wanted to use him as a stud. A local who saw the dog running along the street said the couple told her they ‘knew the owner’.

A distraught Edward helped his parents put up ‘missing’ posters. And when that and a Plea: Edward put up posters in the hunt for Morse, right social media campaign failed, he put pen to paper, writing: ‘Dear Father Christmas, I just want one present for Christmas this year, my dog Morse back. I’ve been a very good boy.’ On Friday night, the family were phoned by a couple in Meopham who said they had found a muddy dog on their street who looked like Morse. Mr Latter, a carpenter, 40, said: ‘Edward saw him and recognised him straight away. He just said “Is that Morse, is Morse coming home with us?” He was absolutely over the moon.’

It is not known if Cowell will hand over the reward as Mr Latter hasn’t spoken to him yet.