Chicago Man Says Someone In Midlothian Has His Lost Dog

MIDLOTHIAN, IL — A man from Chicago's Gage Park neighborhood says his nearly 2-year-old husky that bolted when he opened his door has been found and is being held by someone who is not her rightful owner, in or near Midlothian.

Leo Quiterio, 20, has owned "Blacky" and her four littermates since their births. Three of the five escaped on August 11, and two were returned shortly afterward. Blacky has remained missing, but after a series of social media posts, Quiterio and friend Susan Donner, who is assisting in his search, have learned that the dog has been taken in and handed off between several parties.

"I raised her, she’s very smart, she just likes to play a lot," Quiterio said. "She’s very smart. She’s sneaky, she finds a way to get out."

Blacky's travels since her escape are a bit murky, but Donner said it seems several people have held the dog for a short time, passing them between other parties stating that the dog's owner no longer wanted her. First located not too far from her home, Blacky was handed off to several other people corresponding with Donner via social media, eventually making her way to Markham Animal Clinic, where staff told Donner she had been cared for.

Somewhere in her travels, Blacky was given a rabies shot, and the number associated with the tag was not that of her true owner, Donner said.

Donner said she has corresponded with several people over the time the dog has been missing, all confirming that she matches Blacky's description.

The dog was then turned over to Midlothian Police, who posted that she had been recovered near 143rd and Kostner. Police called the number associated with the rabies tag, and she wound up back with someone who was not her owner, Donner said. Donner saw the police department's social media post about the dog, and urged Quiterio to get to the department quickly. Quiterio had not yet filed a theft report with Chicago Police, but rushed to the department to find the dog had been released to the people denoted on the tag, Donner said. He has since filed a report with Chicago Police.

Blacky was listed as being with Midlothian Police as recently as Aug. 31, when they said she was released to the owner as registered on the rabies tag.

Quiterio acknowledged that Blacky was not previously microchipped, but it is a step he will take as soon as she's back with him. He is offering a $500 reward for her safe return.

"Please give me my dog back," he told Patch. "We put a reward out, but they seem to not want to give her back."