Mochi Happy To Be Home After Not-So-Excellent Adventure In Stolen Doggy Day Care Van

Caption: Mochi the miniature schnauzer asleep in her favorite chair after her not-so-excellent adventure of getting stolen in a doggy day care van along with five other dogs in Chicago’s River West neighborhood.

All’s well that ends well for Mochi, Busy, Brad Pitt, Jadyn, Kayla and Scarlet -- the six pups who found themselves accidentally dognapped while being dropped off at their homes after doggy day care late Wednesday afternoon.

Chicago police are looking for two men who drove off in a running van in the 800 block of West Superior Street while an employee of Urban Out Sitters was dropped off a canine charge and had left the silver Chrysler van unattended in the River West neighborhood.

After a harrowing night of sub zero temperatures and their owners fearing the worst -- their beloved dogs freezing to death, being used as bait for dog fighters or released into the streets -- a good Samaritan found the pooches on the Near South Side in the Chinatown neighborhood.

“We were out canvassing the streets on West Side where we heard the van was possibly seen,” said Heather Ballard, whose miniature Schnauzer Mochi was among the six dogs inside the van when it was stolen. “Somebody posted on Facebook and my husbands aunt said the van was found and it might have the dogs.”

A reporter told Ballard and her husband, Tad Tomita, that the dogs were found alive. The couple hurried to the 2100 block of South Wabash Street where police had secured the van.

When the couple arrived at the scene, the other owners were collecting their dogs, but Ballard and Tomita did not see their little Mochi.

“A police officer had grabbed our dog and took her into his squad car to warm her up,” Ballard said. “They were cuddling together. She was really happy to see us.”

Except for being cold, hungry and needing to pee, Ballard said that Mochi appears to be okay. The rest of the kidnapped dogs, who had become overnight celebrities along with Mochi, are also in good condition.

“Now that we’ve taken care of all that she’s sleeping in her favorite chair,” Ballard said. “She got her fifteen minutes of fame. She’s happy to be a regular dog again.”

Good Samaritan Daisy Bowers spotted one of the dogs sitting in the front seat of the van staring out the window. After watching the van for an hour or, Bowers called police,ABC 7 Chicago reported.

Ballard said that she and the other owners, as well as Joseph Giannini, the owner of Urban Out Sitters, decided Wednesday night that they would offer a reward for the dogs’ safe return.

“We’re giving it to Daisy,” she said.

Ballard doesn’t know if the dogs were outside or inside the van the whole time.

“It’s been awhile since Mochi had a haircut. She’s a little shaggy so that probably saved her,” Mochi’s owner said. “I think having her friends there helped too. She’s a tough girl.”

Chicago Police released surveillance video of the two suspects stealing the doggy day care van. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Area Central detectives at 312-747-8380.