Pepper home at last

STEPHEN FORBES

TOGETHER AGAIN: Jeanette Kapa greets Pepper in the Massey Rugby Club carpark moments after a much-appreciated phone call from police.

OVERJOYED Jeanette Kapa is reunited with her beloved dog Pepper.

The Massey resident doubted she’d ever see the little border terrier again when it was stolen along with Mrs Kapa’s car, earlier this week. But a phone call from police soon after 11am quickly put her mind to rest.

The car had been found abandoned at the Massey Rugby Club with Pepper inside. The windows were wound up tight but the dog was in good shape – albeit very thirsty. ‘‘I’m so glad to get them back,’’ Mrs Kapa says. Car and dog were taken from outside the Massey Library on Tuesday afternoon.

Mrs Kapa discovered them missing at around 2.15am and phoned police straight away. Family members joined her on a fruitless search around the neighbouring Westgate shopping complex.

Mrs Kapa also took out a newspaper advert in a bid to find her missing four-legged friend. ‘‘It was a nightmare wondering where she was,’’ Mrs Kapa says. Massey Rugby Football Club spokesman Michael Jones spotted the vehicle in the carpark on Wednesday afternoon and didn’t think anything of it. But he was surprised to see it still there on Thursday morning and went for a closer look. ‘‘When I saw the dog I thought something wasn’t right,’’ he says.

Mr Jones called the police who in turn contacted Mrs Kapa with the good news. All that remains missing is Mrs Kapa’s driver’s licence and house keys. ‘‘I’ll have to get the locks changed now,’’ she says. Constable Ryan Bunting says police will review the camera footage from the Massey Library to see if they can identify the culprit.

Call him on 839-0600 at the Waitakere police station if you have any information.

- © Fairfax NZ News