Published August 20, 2025 4:51am CDT
CHICAGO – After more than two months of heartbreak and searching, Bam Bam, a service dog stolen from his blind owner in Logan Square, has been reunited with his family.
Bam Bam reunited with owner
What we know:
Chicago police said an unidentified man and woman dropped off a white-and-yellow dachshund mix at the 16th District police station Tuesday evening. Officers confirmed it was Bam Bam, the 14-year-old service dog taken from Angel Santiago’s backyard on June 5.
Santiago, who is legally blind due to glaucoma and Type 2 diabetes, rushed to the station and was reunited with Bam Bam around 9:30 p.m.
The moment Bam Bam and his owner reunited after spending months apart | Provided
Since Bam Bam’s disappearance, Santiago’s story sparked a wave of compassion across the country. Strangers raised more than $10,000 through GoFundMe, while volunteers passed out flyers, organized searches, and shared updates online to help bring the dog home.
Bam Bam appeared to be in good health when he was recovered, police said. No one is in custody.
After being evaluated by Niles Animal Hospital, Bam Bam received a clean bill of health overall. His nails were long and needed trimming, and he has some cardiac enlargement, but veterinarians said it could be a condition common to his breed.
PETA contributed a $5,000 reward to help bring Bam Bam home, and the group will now celebrate the reunion by putting up billboards across Chicago.
What’s next:
Five detectives continue to investigate how the dog ended up at the station. The pair who dropped off the dog refused to give any information to police before leaving.
The Source: The information in this article came from the Chicago Police Department along with previous FOX 32 reporting about Bam Bam and Angel Santiago.