Many of us know the panic that sets in when your beloved family pet goes missing.

But few know what it feels like to have your furry family member stolen from your backyard.

That’s what happened to a family in Western Sydney last weekend after their 14-week-old Labrador puppy Charlie was plucked from their Doonside home.

Hayley Goddard-Brown was terrified she’d never see her precious puppy again, but thanks to a quick-thinking taxi driver she’s been reunited with Charlie.

The taxi driver, Sayed, was working when a woman climbed into his cab.

He started to get suspicious when the cream-coloured pup in her arms wouldn’t stop whimpering.

Sayed listened to his gut and offered to buy the puppy off the woman for $100 and a pair of glasses, an offer she accepted.

The next day, Sayed took the puppy to the vet in the hope of finding the real owner.

“That’s how we were reunited,” Hayley tells Deborah Knight.

Click PLAY below to hear from Hayley Goddard-Brown

Hayley tells Deborah she’s over the moon to have Charlie back and has reimbursed Sayed.

“We’re very thankful to him.”

Sayed has humbly talked down the praise, telling Deborah if it hadn’t been for the help of a family friend he may never have found the distraught family.

Click PLAY below to hear from local hero Sayed