Back at ya crooks, my pet pup is home - Bloxwich dad's mission in the dead of night to rescue stolen dog

That is the message from seven-year-old Ellie-May Walton after a video of her sobbing over the theft of her puppy went viral on social media and resulted in a heart-warming reunion.

But it was not an easy task to bring Simba home, with her dad having to go out in the dead of the night to rescue to the 16-month-old Pomeranian after acting on a tip-off and following clues which led to a travellers' site.

He returned home with a shaken Simba yesterday at 4am.

Wife Jessica, 25, who is pregnant with the couple's fourth child, said: "My husband had to walk a few miles through fields and went crawling on his hands and knees between caravans in the middle of the night.

"He saw a fire in the distance and heard Simba barking. When he found him he had a big metal chain around his neck.

"He had to take off the collar to free Simba.

"He was in a bad condition, with no water or no food, and he was really nervous.

"He had been barking but when my husband called his name he came up and just started licking him.

"He must have just been so relieved because he didn't make any more noise.

"My husband picked him up and hid him in his jacket and got him over a fence."

As soon as Mr Walton returned, he woke up Ellie-May to reunite her with Simba.

The family have since posted another video on Facebook showing the delighted youngster holding her pet. And they have delivered a defiant message to the thieves – 'back at ya'.

Mrs Walton added: "Simba has been a bit nervous and worried.

"But he has been home a little while now and is getting his confidence back.

"We are just so happy and grateful that he's back and relieved that he's safe.

"We woke Ellie-May up at four o'clock in the morning and she was up and hugging him. I thought we would do another video to show she's a happy child again for all the people who were heartbroken by what she was going through."

When Mr Walton, 26, watched the video he said it reduced him to tears. When Simba went missing, he told the Express & Star: "I would give my kids anything in the world but all they are asking for is to have Simba back.

"It's really upsetting."

West Midlands Police said it had no record of the incident.

However, Mrs Walton said she reported the dog stolen at Walsall police station on Saturday but was told there was nothing officers could do.

Following Simba's rescue and safe return home, the family said they are just relieved he is home safe and well and have decided that they do not wish to pursue the matter any further with the police.

Mrs Walton added: "We are back to a happy household today.

"I have had all the family round just wanting to see Simba and to make sure we were all happy again.

"It has just been so depressing in my house the last few days.

"I had a cancer scare earlier this year and had to have laser surgery. The children were upset and we just wanted him home. It was a lot of stress."

She believe Ellie-May's tearful message led to the return of Simba. She said: "I think Ellie-May's video definitely helped, it got around quite a lot."

Young Ellie-May and her brothers Phillip, aged nine, and Jacob, three, was left devastated when the dog disappeared from outside their house in Central Drive, Dudley Fields, Bloxwich, last Friday afternoon.

The Busill Jones primary school pupil was so upset that she made a heart-wrenching video appealing for the return of pet. Through her sobs, young Ellie-May said: "I can't sleep without him, I want him back in his spot where he sits with me, sleeps with me."

The moving video was posted on Facebook and watched more than 27,000 times. As a result of the post being shared on Facebook and Twitter, the family received a tip-off about the theft by a man in a van.