WEST LOOP — A West Highland white terrier that was stolen from a West Loop apartment earlier this month has returned home safely, his owner said Wednesday.
After news got out that 6½-year-old Barnaby was stolen from a West Loop apartment last week, the dog was eventually dropped off at PAWS Chicago, 1997 N. Clybourn Ave. in Lincoln Park. By Wednesday, the dog was home safe, owner Adam Johnston said.
"It's amazing to have him back," Johnston said. "It's the best feeling on earth. It's such a relief after the stress from the last two weeks."
On Wednesday, Johnston received a message on Barnaby's Facebook page alerting him that a person who looked like the man on the surveillance footage was spotted at a nearby Petco, 440 N. Orleans St.
Johnston was passing out fliers in River North when he received a call alerting him that Barnaby had been brought in to PAWS in Lincoln Park.
"We still don't know what happened, I'm still very confused about it, but I'm happy to have him back," Johnston said.
After searching his apartment in the 100 block of North Canal Street when his dog went missing May 18, Johnston found his door had been pried open. Johnston was overcome with fear, wondering whether Barnaby, whom he has owned since he was 4 months old, was OK.
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Surveillance footage posted on YouTube by Johnston shows a man wearing a baseball hat and black clothing walking into the building through a garage door around 1:23 p.m. then walking out with the dog at 1:35 p.m.
"It sounds cliche, but he's my best friend," Johnston said this week. "He's who I come home to at night. Every weekend, I spend the whole day with him. I don't care what happened, I just want him back."
Johnston previously offered a $5,000 reward for his dog's safe return.
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