London, Nov 14: A couple have paid a dog kidnapper a ransom of 750 pounds to get their stolen pet back.

Buddy, a lurcher, was taken from outside a Co-op supermarket in Saltford near Bristol seven weeks ago.

His owners, David and Mareth Cornock, received a ransom demand from the kidnapper and agreed to meet him in a car park to take Buddy back.

Avon and Somerset Police asked the couple to contact them instead of surrendering to blackmailers.

They criticised the Cornocks for giving in to the ransom demand, saying it made their work "difficult".

Initially the thief had demanded 900 pounds but settled for 750 ultimately.

The couple said they did not think twice about paying the ransom, however, Mareth said the handover was a frightening experience.

"It was a dark and rainy night and we met him by a roundabout. I was frightened. But Buddy recognised me straight away. I just burst into tears of relief. We had to be brave but we knew this was the only way to get him back, ” the Telegraph quoted Mareth, as saying.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary urged victims to contact the police rather than give in to blackmailers, which they said made catching thieves more difficult.

"Fortunately, dognapping is not a common occurrence in Avon and Somerset, " a police spokesman said.

"While we can understand that an owner's number one priority is the safe return of their pet, if the ransom is paid, then the offenders will simply move on to their next victim, ” he added. (ANI)