The couple returned the animal to me outside (7)
I believe the answer is:
twosome
'the couple' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'returned the animal to me outside' is the wordplay.
'returned' is a reversal indicator.
'the animal' becomes 'sow' ().
'outside' indicates putting letters inside.
'sow' reversed gives 'wos'.
'to'+'me'='tome'
'wos' going inside 'tome' is 'TWOSOME'.
(Other definitions for twosome that I've seen before include "Pair, duo" , "Couple" , "game of golf" , "Item" , "match" .)