LONDON -- This story may start with the tragic, drunken theft of a beloved porcelain dog, but you'll be pleased to hear it has a happy ending.
It all started last November, when Belfast's Sweet Afton Bar & Kitchen took to Facebook to report the disappearance of Cedric -- one of the two porcelain dog statues that have pride of place in the establishment.
Sweet Afton issued a description of Cedric and offered a reward for any information on his whereabouts.
They waited weeks, but no one came forward. Cedric's porcelain pal Cecil was left sitting on the shelf alone. There was a yawing hole in the pub that couldn't quite be filled.
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Finally, after it became clear that Cedric was gone and the staff couldn't bear Cecil's loneliness any longer, they decided to buy a replacement.
"Only two months ago Cedric was heart-achingly replaced with a new porcelain canine, Frederick," a Sweet Afton spokesperson told Mashable.
"Trepidatiously the staff began to warm to this new arrival, letting their hearts open again after being so brutally ripped apart by Cedric's disappearance."
But last Saturday night disaster struck once more. This time, though, it was Cecil that was taken.
"I'm sure you can understand the sadness felt throughout the building as we realised late Saturday night that our dearest Cecil had been snatched from beneath our noses!" the spokesperson continued.
"Thankfully before the search dogs, police and FBI began their search our beloved porcelain pooch was returned in one piece and found on our doorstep alongside this apologetic letter and a delicious treat for her troubles."
Yep, that's right -- the thief actually returned Cecil along with a typed apology and a Cadbury Creme Egg.
Here's the apology letter in full.
"Cecil is back to where she belongs and loving life once again!" the Sweet Afton spokesperson finished.
It seems the world might not be such a bad place after all.