Rusty is safe... Family dog found almost 50km from where he was taken in owner's stolen 4x4

A dog owner says she is "thrilled" after being reunited with her cherished pet, who was in the back of the family jeep when it was stolen.

Barbara Dillon has thanked the power of social media which caused a woman in Meath to recognise the stray dog and alert gardai.

'Rusty' the five year old collie was in the back of the Toyota Landcruiser when it was taken from a car park at Kingscourt, Co. Cavan on Thursday afternoon.

Her husband Theo parked his jeep and trailer to go to Kingscourt Mart at midday and when he returned, the jeep and Rusty were gone.

The thieves had unhitched the trailer before taking the vehicle, which was picked up on CCTV the Nobber Road an hour later.

A second jeep was also taken at the time.

Barbara launched a search for her dog on social media as well as putting posters up in the Kingscourt area and hoped the thieves would dump Rusty out of the car

Thankfully she and her family were reunited with Rusty who was found over 40km away, between Duleek and Ashbourne.

"Im just thrilled," said Barbara, who lives in Lobinstown, Co Meath.

"A lady living near Duleek had seen my appeal on social media and when she spotted Rusty, she took a picture and rang Gardai.

"Rusty ran off but she saw him again on Saturday morning and her son used sausages to get closer and secure him until we arrived.

"He is shaken but delighted to be home and I'm so thankful to that lady and to everyone for their help and support in the last few days."

The jeep is still missing and anyone who may have noticed the grey vehicle 211 LD 15 is asked to contact gardai.

Cllr Paddy Meade said that having Rusty back home and reunited with his family was fantastic news but said more needed tp be done to tackle car thefts

"The other part of this story is that vehicle was stolen in Kingscourt and somehow found its way to Kilmoon and we're asking anyone out there with cameras from Kingscourt from Kingscourt through Nobber to Beaurparc, Slane and Navan and up the N2 to look at them, if they have any information as to the whereabouts of the Landcruiser to contact Gardai.

"Today is a great day with the dog being found but we have an epidemic now with jeeps being stolen and we need to catch the people that are doign this to put an end to it. There is only a number of gangs out there doing this and Gardai are doing a great job investigating it but do they have enough resources, that's what we need to ensure? For too long this has been a blight on rural Ireland."