12-Year-Old in Georgia Reunites With Beloved Therapy Dogs That Disappeared

Genny Glassman
·2 min read
4

A family in Dekalb County, Georgia has a lot to celebrate today. Weeks after their two 5-month-old therapy dogs disappeared from their porch, the Dekalb County police say their nightmare is over. And now the two Siberian Huskies have been returned home.

Dawn Anderson said she originally got the dogs for her 12-year-old son Sulaiman Anderson.

The preteen suffered from depression, was dealing with bullies at school, and had anxiety, WSB-TV reports. It was recommended that he get the therapy pups to help him deal with his issues.

Related: Stolen Dog Miraculously Returned To Family After One Year in Heartwarming Story

"The puppies understood that they have an assignment, I believe, and that assignment was to bond with Sulaiman," the mom told the news outlet. "Which they did, and, in turn, Sulaiman loved them."

The plan was going smoothly, that is until January 28 when the mom put the dogs outside for only a moment so she could clean their enclosure. It was during that short amount of time that the dogs vanished.

“I opened the door. The puppies were gone. The food was still there,” Anderson recalled.

At first the family and authorities suspected someone had stolen the Siberian Husky pups.

“People really wanted to get a pet for their house, and they couldn’t really afford it,” American Kennel Club Reunite President and CEO Tom Sharp told WSB-TV earlier this week. Sharp said the phenomena got even worse during the pandemic . Siberian Huskies were amongst the top five breeds that tended to get snatched.

Thankfully, police said the truth was much less nefarious. On Friday, they said that two people saw the story on the news and called in with information.

“Our detectives responded to the area and were able to locate both dogs, who were with different people," police said in a statement. "After speaking with all parties involved, it appears someone found them wandering in the area several days ago and took them in."

“Our investigation indicated there was no malicious intent by either party in possession of the puppies and we do not anticipate any charges being filed," they added.

Ways to Protect Your Dog From Getting Stolen

If you're concerned about your dog getting stolen, Sharp told WSB-TV that pet owners should microchip their pets and register them with the Reunite program. He said the program allows vets, police and shelters to be able to locate an animal's owner with just a few clicks.

It's also best not to leave your dogs alone outside or to post them on social media. Strangers might be able to use your posts to locate your home and steal your pet.

"We know that can be difficult," Sharp said. "But, you really just have to watch your surroundings and be cognizant that people might be looking to take your pet."

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.