A HEARTBROKEN disabled woman has been reunited with her dog that went missing a month ago thanks to the kindness of a stranger.

Prized pet Freddie, a four-year-old silver Yorkshire terrier, disappeared from outside the Co-operative in Cheney Manor Road, Rodbourne Cheney, on October 22.

Severely disabled owner Sally Bickford, 35, of Akers Way, Moredon, was left crying and calling for him.

He was returned after he was found wandering in West Swindon on Tuesday night and someone recognised his photograph, which had appeared in the Adver.

Chris Bickford, 61, Sally’s mother, said: “It’s a happy ending. We can't believe it.

“Sally doesn’t stop laughing and crying.

“It’s a bit overpowering for her, she’s really happy."

The mystery good Samaritan did not want to be identified or want the £100 reward that had been offered for Freddie’s safe return.

Mrs Bickford said: “She said ‘I don’t want that [the money], the look on that little girl’s face is enough’.”

Sally was born with athetoid cerebral palsy in four limbs, which means she cannot speak, move her legs or arms or sit up without help and remains in a chair.

The one thing she was able to do was grip with her left hand and therefore hold Freddie’s lead when they went out.

Although Sally has many animals, including a cat, two budgies, a tortoise, three gerbils and a hamster, to stimulate her, Freddie was the only one that belonged to her.

The dog, who has been with Sally three years, also slept on her bed every night.

Mrs Bickford had feared Sally would end up in hospital she was so upset about the loss of the dog.

“After two weeks I was starting to think he’s never going to come back, after three I started telling Sally he wouldn’t, then out of the blue we got the call and by 9pm he was home,” she said.

Mrs Bickford said she had always suspected someone had taken the dog as Freddie was not the type of dog to run away.

But she said she had believed Freddie was probably dead.

Two weeks ago one of Sally’s carers came across a dead Yorkshire terrier in woodland and Mrs Bickford had said the similarity was so great she had really thought it could be Freddie.

Although the dog appears to be in good health Mrs Bickford said judging by the length of his fur she thought he might have been shaved.

She added: “I’m over the moon – we were beginning to think he was never coming home.

“He’s not going anywhere from now on. The only one who is not so happy about it is the cat.”