Stolen Puppy Returned to Austin Humane Society

Chico, a 4-month-old puppy, was stolen from the Austin Humane Society on Tuesday evening. He weighs 7 pounds and has not yet received his vaccinations.

A puppy stolen from the Austin Humane Society Tuesday was returned Thursday afternoon, shelter officials said.

Chico, a 4-month-old puppy, was safely returned to the shelter "by a friend of the individual involved" along with a handwritten note with an apology.

The shelter originally said a woman came into their building at 124 W Anderson Lane around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and inquired about adopting a puppy named Chico. Shelter staff gave her information about the puppy, and she filled out an adoption application. Shortly after being set up in a visitation room with the 4-month-old puppy, the woman put the dog in her purse and left the facility out of a volunteer- and staff- only entrance, the shelter said. The shelter said she used an unverified name and Dallas address on the application, and shelter staff were not able to contact her.

Chico "seems well," the shelter said, other than some reported vomiting and appearing "a little overwhelmed."

"We’d like to thank the Austin community and our media partners for helping spread the word about Chico’s story," said Frances Jonon, President and CEO of the Austin Humane Society, "Chico is back with us safely today thanks to the public response to this story, and we believe that was what prompted this individual to make the right decision and bring Chico back to us."

The shelter veterinary team will evaluate him, and shelter staff will monitor him before he’s made available for adoption.