An Adelaide family has been reunited with their Maremma, Alfredo, following his alleged theft and a subsequent community search for the dog. 

The three-year-old pooch was taken from his backyard, with CCTV footage showing a woman visiting Alfredo regularly in the weeks leading up to his disappearance. 

“(She) spent at least two weeks, came here regularly every day at lunchtime… spent the time, 30 minutes every day with him,” Ettore Bertonati, Alfredo’s owner, said.

Alfredo went missing on Tuesday morning, before last night a neighbour reported seeing a dog resembling the Maremma in the Trinity Gardens area. 

This sighting led to the discovery of a vehicle matching the one seen in the CCTV footage parked in a driveway in a neighbouring suburb, and Alfredo was found in the front garden.

Bertonati quickly called the police after he said the woman at that home became violent.

“She’s tried to assault me… she grabbed a stick from her garden and tried to take me out from her gate,” he alleged.

Police arrested a 53-year-old woman and charged her with possession of a stolen dog.

The family will now install their own security system and will have the fence replaced on Monday with one that’s much higher and more secure.

Bertonati said he was relieved at Alfredo’s return, and promised the returned pooch a special treat.

“(It) was one of the most horrible times of my life, honestly… tonight, he will have a nice bolognese pasta for dinner,” he said.