Sick Puppy Returned to Joliet Animal Rescue

An 8-week-old puppy in need of medication was turned over to Joliet police on Wednesday, two days after being stolen from an animal rescue.

The dog, which has not yet been named, was stolen from a quarantine area for sick pets at Hopeful Tails Animal Rescue, 251 Republic Ave., at around noon on Monday, according to the rescue.

A rep for Hopeful Tails said the puppy needs medication for an upper respiratory infection, and volunteers were worried about her health.

On Wednesday morning, the rescue posted on Facebook that they’d received word that the pooch was dropped off at the Joliet police station.

“We will be picking her up shortly and taking her to our vet for an examination. We will update everyone as soon as we have her and have more details. THANK YOU ALL for all of your support and getting the word out there! We are overwhelmed by everyone’s kindness and support AND that she is safe!,” a post on the Hopeful Tails page said.

Joliet Deputy Police Chief Al Roechner said a woman brought the puppy, described by the rescue as a Shih tzu mix, in to the police station at around 7 a.m. Wednesday.

The woman told police her daughter had received the puppy on Tuesday as a Valentine’s Day present from her boyfriend. Roechner said the woman recognized the puppy after spotting it on TV and brought it in to the police station.

The woman said her daughter’s boyfriend claimed he’d gotten the puppy from a friend — and that the friend had obtained the pet from a man in Elwood, according to Roechner. No arrests have been made in connection with the case, but police said detectives continue to investigate.

On Tuesday, the case of the missing puppy hit the media, with area newspapers and TV stations publishing the pooch’s picture.

“It was good that it was put out there,” Roechner said, adding that the puppy appeared to be in good health. “The dog is cute, and it’s fine,” he said.

Roechner said staff from Hopeful Tails picked the puppy up from the police station around 10 a.m.

Hopeful Tails board member Chris Ulreich said she took the pooch to the vet on Wednesday morning, and it does not appear that her respiratory infection has worsened.

“She’s doing pretty well,” Ulreich said.

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