Community Helps Reunite 6-Month-Old Stolen Puppy With Family

BOLINGBROOK, IL — In a show of community spirit, residents and the police department of Bolingbrook banded together to reunite a dog with her family.

Cuddly and lazy six-month-old Nova, an American bully, somehow managed to escape from the backyard while she was left alone for just 15 minutes on Monday, June 8, her owner Laryssa Hines said.

"Late Monday night we received a tip that someone was selling Nova on their Snapchat," Hines said. "We got a recording of the Snapchat. There were numerous people helping us research who this person is, and where they live. We got quite a bit of information on them Monday night, but not enough."

On the morning of Tuesday, June 9, she said she received another tip from someone "that had come in contact with the man who had Nova, and he offered to sell her."

"This person gave me his contact into and name. They also were able to send me a photo of Nova in this man's house," she said. "With this information I was able to provide the Bolingbrook police with some vital information, and they were able to locate this person's residence."

Hines said Nova is extremely smart, with "a big personality and you can feel her love and loyalty every single day."

"She listens well and her eyes express her feelings unlike any dog I've ever met," she said. "When I realized she was missing, my first thought was 'where is she going to sleep?' Nova always sleeps in the bed and has to be right up against you. I couldn't bear the thought of her sleeping alone, or outside."

A resident, Deb Linden, who had previously helped locate other missing dogs suggested that Hines should "make Nova famous so that everyone knows her name and face."

By Tuesday morning, her post had over 3,000 shares on Facebook and people started sending in information about the missing canine. With the help of the Bolingbrook Police Department, Nova was finally found Tuesday evening.

"The police were able to get in direct contact with the man who had her," Hines said. "They informed him that he would be going to jail for theft if Nova was not returned. The man had already sold Nova, but he was able to give the money back and return Nova to us."

She said relief at being reunited with the pup was "unexplainable."

"I could not have been happier," she said. "Every horrible scenario ran through my head for over 24 hours, I was truly heartbroken. Nova was excited, she could hardly control herself when I saw her. She seemed a bit on edge for a day or two, but she quickly returned to her loving, playful self."

Lt. Anthony Columbus of the Bolingbrook Police Department said something like this is extremely rare and according to Bolingbrook Animal Control, "it has been several years since the last theft."

"This should not be a concern of the residents of Bolingbrook since these incidents are so rare," Columbus said. "Pet owners should keep recent photographs of their pets, keep a collar on the pet with owner information, and have them microchipped. This would assist in locating the owner if the pet becomes lost or stolen."

He also mentioned that since taking someone's pet is considered theft, the offender can be prosecuted.

Hines said Nova has since been microchipped, and she is no longer being left unattended in the backyard.

"We have taken extra measures on our gate to ensure she cannot open it again," Hines said.