"Duke," an 11-week-old Shih Tzu dognapped from a Windham pet store last week, has been returned safe and sound because of an NBC Connecticut report.
A woman walked into All Pets Club on Boston Post Road around 9:30 a.m. on March 17, strolled right past employees, went to the pen and quickly walked out with Duke, store employees said.
Employees weren't sure if they would ever see the little guy again, but on Sunday he returned. A couple who said they had bought Duke on the street in West Hartford brought him back. The couple told employees that a woman had approached them and asked if they wanted to buy Duke for $30, far less than the $1,000 he would have commanded at the pet store.
The couple paid cash for the puppy and took him home, but after showing him off to friends, they realized Duke was stolen. They watched the report of Duke's dognapping on NBCConnecticut.com and said they knew they had to do the right thing. So they returned Duke to All Pets on Sunday.
"They walked into the store and said 'Oh, are you looking for a dog?' and they said 'We have a surprise for you,'" Sam Conovor, of All Pets Clubs, said.
Duke's microchip checked out and the missing Shih Tzu was soon back with his friends, making for a happy dog and a happy store.
"Our hearts go out to them because they did such a fantastic job taking care of him and did the right thing," Conovor said.
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The couple who returned Duke in will get a $200 reward and the All Pets Club said they might work out a discount so that Duke could be theirs permanently.
State police said they are still investigating the dognapping but do not have any leads on a suspect. However, they will be talking with the couple to get an accurate description of the woman who sold them Duke.
