{"id":82447,"date":"2025-08-24T02:43:40","date_gmt":"2025-08-24T02:43:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=82447"},"modified":"2025-08-24T02:43:40","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T02:43:40","slug":"stolen-dog-bam-bam-reunited-with-ecstatic-owner-the-entire-city-has-been-searching-for-this-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=82447","title":{"rendered":"Stolen Dog Bam Bam Reunited With Ecstatic Owner: ‘The Entire City Has Been Searching For This Dog’"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n

Credibility:<\/h4>\n
    \n
  • Original Reporting<\/li>\n
  • Sources Cited<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
    \n\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\nOriginal Reporting<\/td>\nThis article contains new, firsthand information uncovered by its reporter(s). This includes directly interviewing sources and research\/analysis of primary source documents.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    <\/td>\nSources Cited<\/td>\nAs a news piece, this article cites verifiable, third-party sources which have all been thoroughly fact-checked and deemed credible by the Newsroom.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
    \"Stolen
    Angel Santiago and Bam Bam were reunited Aug. 19, 2025 at the Jefferson Park police station. Credit: Provided\/GoFundMe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
    \n
    \n

    LOGAN SQUARE \u2014 Bam Bam, a beloved 14-year-old dachshund stolen from his Logan Square yard two months ago, is finally back home.<\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    Officers noted the dog appeared to be in good health. Bam Bam\u2019s owner, Angel Santiago, picked up the pooch at 9:30 p.m., a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWhat matters most is that Angel and Bam Bam are safe and together again,\u201d a spokesperson for Santiago said.<\/p>\n

    \n
    \"Stolen
    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<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

    Bam Bam has been with the family for 13 years and is Santiago\u2019s service and emotional support dog. Santiago, 58, is legally blind and has glaucoma and Type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n

    There is no one in custody, and detectives are investigating, police said.<\/p>\n

    John Garrido, a former police officer who has long run the Garrido Stray Rescue Foundation\u00a0and 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.<\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    Once owner information was found through Bam Bam\u2019s chip, Santiago was contacted and picked up Bam Bam. Garrido was not there for the reunion but was told Santiago was ecstatic.<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe entire city has been searching for this dog,\u201d Garrido said. \u201cHe is safe and sound. \u2026 I am told it was a happy reunion.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Santiago did not immediately reply to a request for comment.<\/p>\n

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

    Organizers helping Santiago organized two flyer events over the weekend and canvassed parts of Logan Square, Humboldt Park and Lincoln Park.<\/p>\n

    Nearly $20,000 has been raised through a fundraiser for Santiago and Bam Bam\u2019s search efforts, and a $5,000 reward was attached to Bam Bam\u2019s safe return, though it\u2019s unclear if the people who dropped off the dog will be rewarded as they did not identify themselves.<\/p>\n

    Animal advocacy group PETA \u2014 which had offered the $5,000 reward \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWorking 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,\u201d a PETA spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

    Check out more photos from the reunion here: <\/strong><\/p>\n

    \"Stolen
    Angel Santiago was reunited with his support dog Bam Bam Tuesday at the Jefferson Park District police station. Credit: Chicago Police Department<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
    \"Stolen
    Angel Santiago was reunited with his support dog Bam Bam Tuesday at the Jefferson Park District police station. Credit: Chicago Police Department<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
    \"Stolen
    Angel Santiago was reunited with his support dog Bam Bam Tuesday at the Jefferson Park District police station. Credit: Chicago Police Department<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
    \n

    Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    \n

     <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n