Homeless man’s stolen dog returned after Facebook campaign

James Bryan and his dog Handover (photo via Facebook)
James Bryan and his dog Handover (photo via Facebook)

A dog stolen from a homeless man has been found and returned after a Facebook campaign helped track down the pooch.

The pit bull, Handover, was stolen from James Bryan on May 8 in Hudson, Fla. Bryan had been sleeping at the time of the theft.

"Handover is my best friend. He's my heart and soul," Bryan told ABC Action News last week after the theft. “If anybody sees him, please bring him home.”

Friends of Bryan set up a Facebook page asking for help and, once word spread, reward money was raised. And then, the good news: Handover was found and returned. According to the Facebook page, the couple that returned him did not accept the $1,000 reward. Instead, they asked that the money be used to help Bryan and his best friend.

The dog was taken to a vet for a checkup (he's fine), and a microchip was implanted in case he goes missing.

Handover was a gift from Bryan's late wife. ABC Action News explained that when Bryan's wife presented him with the dog and asked what he would name him, an excited Bryan responded, "Hand him over." The name stuck.