A Chinese guide dog stolen from a blind masseur has been returned by the dognappers with a note of apology that said: "Please forgive us."

Qiaoqiao, an seven-year-old black Labrador, was taken by a gang of men in a grey van while being taken on a walk outside Beijing.

She was found on Tuesday with a letter in a plastic bag attached to her collar which said: "We were wrong...we beg pardon."

Her blind owner, Tian Fengbo told the New York Times after she returned home: "She is doing well, last night she was a bit low spirited, but now she’s fine.

"She’s right beside me, bouncing and vivacious."

Mr Fengbo said he could "barely eat or sleep" after her kidnapping, BBC reports.

Qiaoqiao had been living with him for the last five years before the abduction.

It is not known who the dognappers are or what their motive was.