A German Pointer has been reunited with his original breeder after she spotted him on Tv during a BBC news story filmed at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, about the theft of dogs belonging to Bruce Forsyth’s daughter.

The Pointer, Frederick, only appeared on the screen for a couple of seconds, but his breeder was certain that she recognised him as a dog she had bred. She contacted the Home and confirmed his identity, and immediately applied to rehome him.

Frederick had arrived at the Home as a stray on 10 March, having been picked up by Animal Wardens in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. He was transferred to Battersea’s site at Old Windsor to wait for a suitable country home, and was still in our kennels on 10 May when Bruce Forsyth made a national appeal for the return of his daughter’s dogs. The BBC news crew visited Battersea at Old Windsor on their way to film Bruce at his home nearby, and interviewed staff about how to prevent dog theft.

His breeder recognised Frederick from the passing glimpse of him in his kennel. She had already become concerned after losing contact with the people who had homed Frederick from her, so when she saw him in our kennels she was determined to get him back, explaining: "I couldn’t believe it when I saw him on the news and I just couldn’t bear the thought of one of my dogs sitting in a kennel, waiting for a home".

As soon as Frederick’s identity was confirmed, an interview and a home visit were arranged, and Frederick has now gone back to live with his mother and two other dogs in the home where he was born.

Kaye Mughal, manager of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home at Old Windsor, said ‘it is so wonderful that Frederick found a home in this way – it just goes to show the power of the television.’