Good Samaritans recognized him after seeing ABC7's story and found him at a grocery store in Uptown, the owners said.
The 5-year-old dog, Charlie, was last seen by his owner was when she tied him up outside a day care in Lincoln Park to rush in to get her kids. Erin Franzblau initially spoke with ABC7 on Saturday, hoping a trail of videos could help lead to the person who may have took him. Now, the family has been reunited with their beloved dog.
Chicago police said the theft happened just before 6 p.m. Friday near Armitage and Clifton avenues in Lincoln Park.
"We messed up in that I was running from a long day at work. My husband was out of town in Denver. I was alone picking up three kids: two toddlers and a baby. And, I was rushing," Franzblau said. "I tied him up outside the day care where there's a window, where everyone can see him."
When she came back out, Charlie was gone.
"Usually, he jumps up to greet us. He's so excited to greet us, and we both see that he's not there," Franzblau said. "I start freaking out, asking people where he is."
Franzblau says home surveillance video showed her dog with someone in a dark hoodie shortly after the pet was taken.
"She was asking people, 'Whose dog is this? Whose dog is this?,'" Franzblau said. "She did unleash the dog, and take the dog, and walk west of Racine... "She was kind to him, but he was shaking."
Charlie's owners say they plan to give the man that found him a $5,000 reward.
Chicago police are still investigating the case.