An Adelaide family says it’s "overjoyed" after the return of Labrador Uggie more than five days after he went missing.
The highly-trained assistance dog went missing from his owner's Frewville business last Thursday, prompting fears he had been stolen.
Uggie's owner Sarah Sheppard said the eight-year-old black Labrador went missing from the yard of the Adelaide Phobia Clinic during her lunchbreak at about 1.30pm.
It prompted a public outcall for the black Labrador to be returned, with SA Police also getting involved in the search.
On Tuesday afternoon, Ms Sheppard said she received a call from the Royal Society for the Blind with good news.
"Uggie had been taken to a vet in Para Vista and his microchip had been scanned," she said.
"We drove out there straight away and he was very happy to see us."
Ms Sheppard said the vet told her Uggie had been returned by someone who didn't want to leave any details.
But the family had already decided not to pursue anything further with police.
"We were just so grateful that somebody had brought him in, and we were thrilled to see him," she said.
"He had no injuries, no broken bones and was just very, very happy to see us."
The Para Vista vet where Uggie was dropped off is almost 20 kilometres north of Ms Sheppard's Frewville business — confirming Ms Sheppard's suspicions that he had been stolen.
"It's a really long way, there's no way he could've walked," she said.
"[But] we didn't want to pursue that, we were just happy to have him back."
'He brings so much warmth to so many people'
The Lab has been a valued member of the team at Sheppard Psychology for four years, helping clients with dog phobias to become comfortable around canines.
Ms Sheppard said he was such an important part of their family at the clinic.
"We just could not believe it, we were overjoyed … he's just such a valued member of our psychology practice," she said.
"He brings so much warmth to a lot of people, not just clients, he's such a special and important part of our family."
She also thanked the Adelaide community for helping to track him down and said they would now enjoy a stress-free Christmas together.
"We were just overwhelmed with the support and well wishes that were shared by everyone," she said.
"We just couldn't believe how far and wide the word got out.
"He's just sinking back into his usual routines now and we're about to take him for a walk."
