WILMINGTON, Del. (CBS) – A Delaware dog owner received a “Christmas miracle” this year.

Aptly-named “Noel” the Shih Tzu was stolen, along with the owner’s vehicle, on Friday night after the victim left her car with the keys in the ignition and briefly stepped into St. Anthony’s Church in the 900 block of N DuPont Street.

A family living near W 29th and Jefferson Streets found Noel on Friday evening and turned her over to Wilmington Police on Monday following news coverage of the incident.

Happily, Noel and her owner were reunited on Christmas Eve around 6 p.m., thanks to the kind actions of Wilmington residents.