Thankfully this story has a happy ending.
Taking to social media is the 21st century way to find a missing pet, gone are the days of the 'have you seen me?' poster stuck to lamp posts around local streets.
So you can imagine this woman's surprise when she went to create a post for her boyfriend's missing pooch... only to discover someone actually trying to sell the dog she was searching for.
Writing on Facebook, the unnamed US woman posted a description of the dog, explaining that she escaped from their garden during the 4 July celebrations by jumping the fence.
The woman's plea for information (Image: Facebook)Thankfully, someone had found the dog.
Unfortunately, that same person decided they were going to make some quick cash from their discovery.
But as luck would have it, Facebook users spotted the ad and, recognising the dog from the woman's missing dog post, urged the seller to hand the dog back to her rightful owners.
The ad. (Source:Facebook)''You cannot sell this dog,'' wrote one Facebook user.
''WTH... you find a dog, then sell it without first posting for the owners??'' Wrote another.
''Oh for the love of handcuffs, WHERE IS THE DOG BEFORE THE POLICE ARREST YOU?'' A third added.
Yet despite the calls for the dog to be returned to its owners, the status of the ad was later switched to "sold".
Happy ending.
Thankfully a later post from the owner's boyfriend revealed that the story had a happy ending.
The woman wrote: "Martin was asking people around the neighbourhood and an amazing little boy led him to the house that had her. If it wasn't for that little boy she would have been sold."
It looked like someone had bought the illegally acquired dog. (Source: facebook)While the posts have since been deleted, the story has been widely shared.
Others were quick to weigh in on the thief's actions, describing her as a "scumbag".
One response offered some sage advice, writing: "Microchip your pets! Stolen pets have been reunited with owners when people end up bringing the dog to the vet after buying from a thief!"
