Couple reunited with puppy after van stolen with dog inside

It was a late Christmas miracle for Brandi West and her husband Brian Hampton.

On Wednesday, West and Hampton were reunited with their 7-month-old Chihuahua mix named Scrappy after their stolen minivan was recovered with the puppy in the back seat.

Police say the theft happened around 12:30 am Sunday in the parking lot of St. Johns Regional Medical Center.

The couple drove from Colorado so West could be treated at the hospital for seizures.

“He (Brian) went down there around 12:30 and everything was gone,” said West. “I thought he was making a bad joke, but he wasn’t.”

The day after Christmas, Oxnard Police recovered the abandoned car in Port Hueneme. Everything was stripped from the mini van and all of their personal belonging were taken, expect for Scrappy.

“They called back and said the dog was in the van,” said West. “What more can you ask for?”

To West, Scrappy is not just a companion, but also a potentially life-saving partner.

She is training him to be a service dog to help detect her seizures.

“They could of kept our van, I don’t care,” said West. “We got our precious back.”

West says the car is still usable but it will cost a few thousand dollars to replace the contents inside.

Oxnard Police are still searching for the van thief.