After having their puppy stolen, the Belzer family thought they would never see their adopted puppy again. However, the thief returned the puppy himself and this Portland family was able to have their "Best Christmas ever," according to Lauren Belzer.

What would have been a sad Christmas for one Camas, Wash., family turned into a day of celebration after the tiny, golden puppy they had sought to adopt was finally returned to them.

The 3-month-old Chihuahua Pomeranian mix named John was recovered Monday after being stolen from the Oregon Humane Society that weekend.

The Belzer family went to adopt John on Saturday, when they turned up at the shelter, paid the $400 adoption fee, filled out the paperwork, and waited for staff to fetch him.

ut John was gone.

"We spent 30 or 40 minutes and couldn't find the dog," said Ken Wells, a longtime society volunteer. "So we figured he'd been stolen."

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