Stolen Dog Bam Bam Reunited With Ecstatic Owner: ‘The Entire City Has Been Searching For This Dog’

Credibility:

  • Original Reporting
  • Sources Cited
Original Reporting This article contains new, firsthand information uncovered by its reporter(s). This includes directly interviewing sources and research/analysis of primary source documents.
Sources Cited As a news piece, this article cites verifiable, third-party sources which have all been thoroughly fact-checked and deemed credible by the Newsroom.
Stolen Dog Bam Bam Reunited With Ecstatic Owner: 'The Entire City Has Been Searching For This Dog'
Angel Santiago and Bam Bam were reunited Aug. 19, 2025 at the Jefferson Park police station. Credit: Provided/GoFundMe

LOGAN SQUARE — Bam Bam, a beloved 14-year-old dachshund stolen from his Logan Square yard two months ago, is finally back home.

The dog was dropped off Tuesday night at the 16th Police District station in Jefferson Park by a man and a woman who refused to give any information to the officers and left, said a police spokesperson.

Officers noted the dog appeared to be in good health. Bam Bam’s owner, Angel Santiago, picked up the pooch at 9:30 p.m., a spokesperson said.

“What matters most is that Angel and Bam Bam are safe and together again,” a spokesperson for Santiago said.

Stolen Dog Bam Bam Reunited With Ecstatic Owner: 'The Entire City Has Been Searching For This Dog'
Bam Bam was dropped off at the 16th District Police station Aug. 19 in good health, as seen at the Jefferson Park station before he went back home. Credit: Provided

Bam Bam has been with the family for 13 years and is Santiago’s service and emotional support dog. Santiago, 58, is legally blind and has glaucoma and Type 2 diabetes.

There is no one in custody, and detectives are investigating, police said.

John Garrido, a former police officer who has long run the Garrido Stray Rescue Foundation and helps animals dropped off at the Jefferson Park station, said he was notified about a dog at the station Tuesday. As with any stray dog that comes into the station, the foundation posted information on its Facebook page about Bam Bam in search for its owner, not realizing it was the service and emotional support dog that has captured the news and hearts of many Chicagoans in recent weeks.

Garrido was told by officers that the two people who brought in Bam Bam found him near the station in the 5600 block of North Milwaukee Avenue, though details are still murky, he said.

Once owner information was found through Bam Bam’s chip, Santiago was contacted and picked up Bam Bam. Garrido was not there for the reunion but was told Santiago was ecstatic.

“The entire city has been searching for this dog,” Garrido said. “He is safe and sound. … I am told it was a happy reunion.”

Santiago did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Bam Bam united the city in a desperate search for the pup, with hundreds of people donating their time and money to rescue him.

Organizers helping Santiago organized two flyer events over the weekend and canvassed parts of Logan Square, Humboldt Park and Lincoln Park.

Nearly $20,000 has been raised through a fundraiser for Santiago and Bam Bam’s search efforts, and a $5,000 reward was attached to Bam Bam’s safe return, though it’s unclear if the people who dropped off the dog will be rewarded as they did not identify themselves.

Animal advocacy group PETA — which had offered the $5,000 reward — said it will update its billboards about Bam Bam to inform people the pup is now safely home and to thank those who helped search for him.

“Working for this reunion brought out the best in the community, and it reminds us all to never be silent, as speaking up when an animal is in danger can save a life,” a PETA spokesperson said.

Check out more photos from the reunion here:

Stolen Dog Bam Bam Reunited With Ecstatic Owner: 'The Entire City Has Been Searching For This Dog'
Angel Santiago was reunited with his support dog Bam Bam Tuesday at the Jefferson Park District police station. Credit: Chicago Police Department
Stolen Dog Bam Bam Reunited With Ecstatic Owner: 'The Entire City Has Been Searching For This Dog'
Angel Santiago was reunited with his support dog Bam Bam Tuesday at the Jefferson Park District police station. Credit: Chicago Police Department
Stolen Dog Bam Bam Reunited With Ecstatic Owner: 'The Entire City Has Been Searching For This Dog'
Angel Santiago was reunited with his support dog Bam Bam Tuesday at the Jefferson Park District police station. Credit: Chicago Police Department

Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:

 

Related Posts

🚨 BOMBSHELL: Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is under heavy fire as rival executives blame the franchise’s leadership structure for years of inconsistency — Miami now faces massive pressure in the middle of a rebuild! Controversial power distribution and long-standing loyalty to past leadership are being questioned like never before. Is this finally the turning point, or just another reset waiting to fail?👇👇

Miami Dolphiпs owпer Stepheп Ross | Kirby Lee-Imagп Images Video blocked. Yoυ mυst allow cookies to view this video. Maпage Prefereпces The Miami Dolphiпs have completely rebooted…

“Dodgers vs Guardians Game 3: Series Tied 1–1, Updated Start Time, Pitching Battle and How to Watch the High-Stakes Rubber Match at Dodger Stadium”..ll 👇👇👇

⚾ Dodgers vs Guardians Game 3: Updated Start Time, Series Recap, Pitching Outlook and How to Watch the Rubber Match at Dodger Stadium The series finale between…

🚨BREAKING: KANSAS CITY JUST PROTECTED A LEGACY — Tаmbа Hаlі hаѕ won а crucіаl lаwѕuіt thаt could hаve ѕhаken hіѕ entіre reрutаtіon, аnd the Chіefѕ ѕtood fіrmly behіnd theіr legend. Thіѕ іѕn’t juѕt а legаl vіctory… іt’ѕ а рowerful ѕtаtement аbout loyаlty, truth, аnd legаcy. 👀🔥👇👇

Kаnѕаѕ Cіty, MO — For more thаn а decаde, Tаmbа Hаlі wаѕ one of the defіnіng defenѕіve leаderѕ of the Kаnѕаѕ Cіty Chіefѕ. аfter beіng drаfted іn 2006, Hаlі quіckly becаme…

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: COWBOYS FRONT OFFICE QUIETLY BUILT A DRAFT MACHINE THAT HAS THE LEAGUE ON EDGE AS BRIAN SCHOTTENHEIMER DROPS A CONFIDENT WARNING — this isn’t the same Dallas approach, it’s a calculated system designed to strike with precision when the moment hits. Behind the scenes, preparation has reached another level with deeper scouting layers and sharper decision making already setting them apart from rivals. What looks like confidence might actually be a signal that the Cowboys are about to control the entire draft narrative from start to finish..ll 👇👇👇

The Dallas Cowboys are entering a defining offseason after a turbulent 2025 campaign, and while the results fell short of expectations, there are emerging signs that the…

🚨BREAKING NEWS: CUBS MAUL MARINERS, BUT EVERYONE STAYS COOL IN 7-1 LOSS! Despite a tough 7-1 defeat, the Cubs maintained their composure and kept their focus. Fans are impressed with the team’s resilience, even in the face of a challenging loss, as they continue to look ahead to the rest of the season.

Cubs Maul Mariners, But Everyone Stays Cool in 7-1 Loss: A Spring Training Reality Check A Rocky Start for George Kirby, but There’s Hope for the Mariners…

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS BLOCKBUSTER TRADE PROPOSAL: Heliot Ramos + Premium Prospects Headed Out for the Player Widely Regarded as Having the ABSOLUTE BEST TOOLS in All of Baseball — Fans Are Already Split

The San Francisco Giants have made some changes throughout the offseason and are looking to play much better in 2026. However, there are still some things the…