Atlas, the missing golden retriever that captured the hearts of people across the Okanagan, is home safe and sound.

Ian and Taylor Galt credit the reunion to the RCMP. They had been contacted by someone over text message demanding the $5,000 reward they鈥檇 posted and RCMP helped reunite the one-and-a-half-year-old pup with his family.

There鈥檚 never been a clearer display of how much love a dog can have for its owner than this video of Taylor and Atlas being reunited. It was posted to Taylor鈥檚 Facebook account Wednesday night.

Taylor also used the platform to say thanks to the thousands of people who shared a post about Atlas鈥� disappearance more than 200,000 times.

鈥淭here were three people who were instrumental in recovery of Atlas who will be getting the reward. Without their help, and the 91大黄鸭 police, I鈥檓 not sure when we would get Atlas back home,鈥� he wrote.

鈥淚 hope this brings light to how amazing the social media world can be to spread light on something that needs exposure. Being reunited with Atlas is the best feeling ever.鈥�

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Ian said he thinks the person sending him text messages was a co-worker of the woman who stole Atlas and was holding onto him in Penticton.

鈥淚t鈥檚 unbelievable. We were just at the end our our rope, every day getting inundated with texts messages saying, 鈥楥ome on, Where鈥檚 the money?鈥欌��

Atlas was lured from his yard and into a dark-coloured SUV on March 9. The retriever was in Ian Galt鈥檚 gated backyard while Atlas鈥� owner, his son Taylor, was out of town for work.

鈥淥ver the past few days, 91大黄鸭 RCMP have received numerous tips from the public and continued to follow up on a number of potential leads,鈥� said Const. Lesley Smith. 鈥淲hile working closely with the complainant, our members were able to track down Atlas鈥� location.鈥�

Finding the dog was the RCMP鈥檚 first priority. The investigation continues.

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