The woman who helped launch a campaign to find a German shepherd that was reported stolen has broken her silence after it was found dead.

The woman who launched a campaign to help find a stolen German shepherd has broken her silence after its owner was charged.

Queensland Police had been investigating the alleged theft of a vehicle and of Arnie the German shepherd, who was in the back of the ute, from Wynnum on Saturday, November 8.

The owner of the vehicle, Nathan McKeown, 43, who had been assisting police and appealing to the public to help find the dog, has now been charged, and police will allege that the car was not stolen.

Appearing on Friday’s A Current Affair, Emily Mitchell revealed how she became involved in the desperate hunt to find Arnie.

Emily Mitchell created a Facebook group to help find and reunite Arnie with his owner. Picture: Nine

“I think I was at work when I heard on the radio about a lost German shepherd in Brisbane that pulled a heart string having one myself,” Mitchell told ACA.

Mitchell lives in Melbourne with her three dogs including her own German shepherd, Bear.

“I reached out to the owner to say ‘So sorry this has happened’,” she shared, revealing that it was then that she decided to launch a campaign to help find Arnie. She established the Arnie Lost Dog Facebook page which was immediately inundated with queries and offers from concerned members of the community.

“We were at 10 million views in seven or eight days. It was amazing and heartwarming.”

She said people offered the use of their drones to help locate the missing dog and their time to print out and distribute flyers.

She was in contact with Mr McKeown during the frantic search, relaying the most useful tips and messages from people who reached out to her Facebook page.

Nathan McKeown the owner 7-year-old German shepherd Arnie has been charged with the Arnie’s death after claiming his car had been stolen with Arnie in it. Picture: Facebook

Mitchell went on to share her heartbreak about what would have been Arnie’s terrifying final moments before he tragically died alone in his owner’s car.

“My heart sunk thinking about the last moments of that dog and what he felt.

“They love you, they protect you. They’re known to protect us, but at the end of the day we have to protect them too. I hope the truth comes out. I hope the millions people who were looking for this dog get to know the truth.”

Police allege Mr McKeown drove the vehicle into Fortitude Valley at about 10:30pm on November 7 and left the vehicle on foot, with Arnie inside.

McKeown had previously claimed that his car had been stolen with the dog inside. Picture: Facebook.

The next morning he allegedly told his partner the vehicle had been stolen from Wynnum.

The woman, who police say was not aware her partner had allegedly taken the vehicle, reported the car and dog as stolen to police.

The car was found on Amelia St on November 17 by a member of the public, with Arnie found dead inside.

Mr McKeown was arrested on Thursday night and charged with one count of breach of duty of care of animal by failing to provide under the Animal Protection Act.

A Queensland Police spokesperson asked that the public be respectful of the matter’s progression through the courts.

“The QPS takes animal care seriously,” the spokesperson said.

“Any reports of a breach of a duty of care towards animals will be taken seriously and fully investigated.”