Moon the baby donkey missing for weeks is returned to Hampshire owners | Animals

A countryside abduction has come to a tail-wagging end after a baby donkey that was stolen from a farm has been reunited with her mother and her “ecstatic” owners after a police investigation.

On 15 May, the 12-week-old donkey, named Moon, was taken from Miller’s Ark Animals in Hook, Hampshire some time before 5pm. Missing for more than two weeks, Moon was recovered and returned to the farm on Wednesday evening.

The farm posted a video on its Facebook page showing owner Elizabeth Miller hugging and kissing Moon, who is wagging her tail.

“We are beyond thrilled and mum and foal are finally back together,” the Facebook post said.

“Moon appears to be in good health, thank heavens, and we will make sure that Moon and her mum, Astra, get lots of love and care as they rediscover each other.”

Officers were sent to an address in White House Lane in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire on Wednesday evening.

At about 8.15pm, the stolen donkey was found and returned to her mother, Astra, and staff at Miller’s Ark Animals.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight constabulary said appeals for information had attracted “countless calls and online reports from members of the public”.

A GoFundMe page was launched on behalf of Miller’s Ark Animals to install security and surveillance cameras at the farm at the time Moon was stolen. It has since raised more than £6,000 from public donations.

Commenting on Moon’s safe return, Pamela Jessopp, who works at Miller’s Ark Animals, said: “We are beyond excited – ecstatic.

“You always hold out hope, but as the timeframe and the time window got larger, you do wonder if she would be found or not.”

Jessopp added: “It is so much down to members of the public, our supporters that have got the word out there and spread it on social media. It’s been a heartfelt story that has caught people’s emotions.

“We are very grateful to Hampshire and Isle of Wight constabulary, Surrey police and Thames Valley police for their support and investigation and for the speedy action last night.”

In a statement, Hampshire police sergeant Stuart Ross said: “This was a fantastic piece of joint working from Countrywatch and Thames Valley police’s rural taskforce team.

“Our appeals to find Moon attracted countless calls and online reports from members of the public with possible sightings and potential lines of inquiry, and we want to thank everyone who shared these appeals and got in touch with us.

“We have worked tirelessly to locate Moon, scouring CCTV footage to see if we could find her, so we are absolutely delighted about this positive outcome.

“Hampshire and Isle of Wight constabulary’s Countrywatch team will continue with an investigation into the circumstances of the theft of this donkey.”