Chicago police reunite dog missing since 2012 with family
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Chihuahua named Chiquito, who has been missing since 2012, was reunited with his family Tuesday night.
Chicago police officers were flagged down by people who found the animal wandering the streets in the city's West Pullman neighborhood around 9:30 p.m. Officers took the dog to the Animal Welfare League in the 10300-block of Southwest Highway, where it was determined that he had a microchip that helped identify the owners.
Police called Chiquito's family, who were reunited with the Chihuahua at the 5th District Station. He appears to be in good health. Now he's catching up on all the back scratches and tummy rubs he missed in the past four years.
Chiquito disappeared from the Martinez family home in South Deering.
"I still had a little bit of home. I heard amazing stories of people finding their dogs after 10 years," sadi Gloria Martinez.
The officers who responded to the call, Eric Taylor and his partner Nicholas Spacek, were glad to be able to spark such a joyful reunion but also a little sad to part with their new furry friend.
"I didn't want to give him up, but he needed to go home. It's been too long," Officer Spacek said.
The Martinez family brought Chiquito home where he's been getting to know a younger brother, 3-year-old Milo. Gloria wonders what the past four years were like.
"I hope he didn't have a hard time out there," she said.
Gloria advises other dog owners to keep their pets on a leash, something her family will do from now on.
