An Adelaide family has joyfully welcomed back their Maremma dog, Alfredo, after he was reportedly stolen and a community effort helped locate him. The three-year-old dog disappeared from his backyard, with CCTV footage revealing that a woman had been visiting Alfredo daily for weeks prior to his theft. Ettore Bertonati, Alfredo’s owner, stated that the woman spent around thirty minutes each day interacting with the dog.
Alfredo went missing on a Tuesday morning. The following evening, a neighbour reported spotting a dog resembling Alfredo in the Trinity Gardens neighbourhood. This sighting led to the discovery of a vehicle, which matched one seen in the CCTV footage, parked nearby. The search resulted in finding Alfredo in the front garden of a home associated with the vehicle. When Bertonati approached to retrieve his pet, the woman allegedly acted violently, even attempting to harm him with a stick.
Police promptly responded and arrested a 53-year-old woman on charges of possessing a stolen dog. In light of the event, Bertonati and his family have decided to enhance their home security by installing a new, taller fence and a security system.
Relieved at Alfredo’s return, Bertonati promised the beloved dog a special treat — a bolognese pasta dinner to celebrate their reunion, reflecting the distressful ordeal they had experienced during his absence. Bertonati described the situation as one of the most challenging times of his life, but he is grateful to have Alfredo back home.