Early on Saturday morning thieves broke into the organisation's Launceston shelter and stole the three-year-old pooch,  but when animal care attendant Katherine Woolford arrived for duty yesterday morning, Thomas was lurking around.

Shelter manager Lorraine Hamilton said the offenders must have hoisted Thomas over the fence in the same fashion they got him out.

``It is a real concern for us that people are out here at night breaking in and damaging property,'' Ms Hamilton said.

``They didn't attach $150 to his collar and help us pay for the damage  they caused. It is also a concern when people steal dogs because we don't know if they are going to do the right thing for them.

``The main thing is that he has come back to us in good shape.''

Ms Hamilton said Thomas would be adopted out in the next few days.