Five-year-old Isabella Buckle is smiling again after being reunited with her pet Pixie, three days after the Chihuahua was stolen from the back of her dad’s van.

Thieves smashed into the vehicle to nick Pixie from the car park of Tesco in Purley on Monday afternoon, and also attacked the family’s boxer dog Duke.

The devastated family, including Isabella and her two brothers Freddie, two, and Joshua, 12, pleaded for the return of one-year-old Pixie.

And after coverage in the Croydon Guardian, and a massive social media campaign, she has been returned.

Police saw the pooch which had been dumped near a park in Wimbledon yesterday afternoon and then reunited her with the Buckle family.

Isabella’s mum Nicola, 34, said: “It was amazing.

“My husband Mark was out yesterday and got a call and he thought it was a wind up at first. He couldn’t believe it.

“He didn’t want to tell us until he was sure and he went down there and then phoned and asked to speak to Isabella.

“She started screaming on the phone and I said ‘What’s happened? What’s happened?’ And Mark said ‘I have got Pixie. I have got her, it’s definitely her. She’s on me, it’s definitely her.’

“I think I sobbed all the way to get her and it felt like forever before we got there.”

The family, from Selsdon, had a much more restful night’s sleep than they have had over the past few nights.

And their other dog Duke is also relieved his friend is back in the house.

Mrs Buckle said: “He was just so sad.”

“[After she was stolen] he was always moping in the corner but now he is back to his old self and back to rolling around on the carpet."

And this morning the family took Pixie in to her Isabella’s school to let everyone know she was safe.

The nursing student added: “What a week.

“Pixie is like a famous dog now.”

When Pixie was stolen Mrs Buckle said she thought she would never see her again and was amazed at how far the online campaign went.

People were sharing the pictures and story as far afield as Thailand and the police in Wimbledon recognised the pooch from seeing the picture of the dog in Isabella’s lap online.

The nursing student added: “To be honest my first thought was that she was gone and I phoned you guys [the Croydon Guardian] first and thought that’s all I’m going to have to do is get it out there.

“I think we got her back because of the paper and Twitter and Facebook.

“It was like losing a family member and you try everything you can to get them back.

“I heard even someone in Thailand was sharing pictures of her.

“I’m just hoping somehow it got to the people who had her.

“I think yesterday they saw the police car and thought if they dumped her now then the police would see her.”

How the story unfolded:

Thieves steal heartbroken Selsdon child's pet Chihuahua puppy and attack boxer dog in Purley Tesco car park

Police officers buy surprise gifts for five-year-old girl heartbroken by theft of pet Chihuahua