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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.
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:
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