It’s always heartbreaking when a dog goes missing, but if you’re lucky, you have the support of your community to look for it. That was the case for a family devastated after their black lab puppy was stolen from their home. But after a three-day search, the little dog is safely back home.

The Nissenbaum family of Wellesley, Massachusetts owns an eight-month-old black Lab puppy named Ember. They told the Boston Globe that the dog is famous in their city, recognized and loved by all the neighbors.

But the family was very concerned when their dog disappeared from their home. She ember herself had been tied outside her house to dry off after swimming and she suddenly disappeared without a trace.

The family was concerned that it was unusual for Ember to run away like this: “She will never go out,” her mother Illana Nissenbaum told the Boston Globe. “The only way to get loose is if she runs out the door.”

“We were heartbroken and we just wanted to know that she was okay,” Illana told CBS Boston.

Wellesley Police Department officers investigated the case … and concluded that the dog had been abducted.

“Since the leash was missing and the dog lock tied in front of the house was still intact, officers determined that the dog was being taken,” said Wellesley Police Chief Jack Pilecki.

While a stolen dog is a very worrying situation, the family is also relieved that the police are taking their case seriously.

“They were so calm and reassuring and they kept our hopes up,” said Illana. “We really felt in good hands.”

“They didn’t think we were crazy when we thought the dog was stolen,” Illana’s husband, Neil Nissenbaum, told WCVB. “They agreed with us that it didn’t feel right.”

They started searching frantically to bring Ember home, putting up signs all over the neighborhood. They were heartened to see that many of their neighbors, who also loved the dog, were eager to help.

“Everyone has come forward,” Neil told the Boston Globe. “I think my wife told me this morning that the postman, UPS driver, and the police were looking for Ember.”

After three days of searching, Wellesley Police managed to crack the case. According to the WCVB, they used security footage from neighbors to identify vehicles that were seen driving around the neighborhood at the time of the abduction.

They tracked down a Framingham resident’s license plate and, after surveying the suspect’s home, they saw they brought a dog out – it was Ember.

They apprehend the suspects and find the puppy, eventually reuniting Ember with her family: