The puppy had just arrived at the Austin Humane Society shelter in Texas, USA, when he sadly had a traumatic experience.
In early April, a woman visited the shelter and asked to meet Chico.
A shocking theft
The puppy had only arrived at the shelter the previous day. The woman filled out some paperwork at the reception and then went into a room to meet Chico. She arrived at the shelter at 5:30 PM.
However, at around 6:20 PM, CCTV footage revealed the woman's cruel and serious act. She can be seen leaving the shelter, clutching her handbag to her chest. Tucked inside was tiny Chico, stolen just 24 hours after he had arrived...
The power of community
The shelter staff posted the video on Facebook, asking their community for help in finding the puppy. And thanks to the incredible public response, it worked! On Thursday, 9th April, someone dropped Chico back at the shelter with a note of apology. The person who returned him said they were a friend of the woman who had stolen him.
For the first 24 hours after his return, Chico was vomiting and seemed very shaken. However, he is in good physical condition and is being closely monitored by the shelter's veterinary team. He is now slowly recovering from his terrible ordeal, and we wish him all the best for the future.
