An officer is celebrating being reunited with his dog, Hemingway, who was stolen from him in an armed burglary. Thanks to members of the community, the pair were brought together again after a teenager broke into the officer’s home, assaulted him, and stole his pickup truck with Hemingway inside. The 14-year-old was arrested after he crashed the truck while trying to get away from police, but Hemingway was nowhere to be found.
When news of the missing dog reached the officer’s neighbors, they gathered at a nearby church to organize a search party and spread flyers. Thanks to dozens of volunteers rallying to the cause, Hemingway was found only an hour later less than a mile from home. At first the pup was skittish, but his rescuers were able to give him some treats and put a leash on him.
The volunteers declines the $1,000 reward the officer offered for finding the pup, which he says he will instead donate to charity. Hemingway was treated for a minor bullet injury for free by Affiliated Veterinary Specialists in Orange Park. As for the criminal, since he assaulted an officer, he may be prosecuted as an adult, and this was not his first time stealing a car. Luckily, this story has a happy ending, as the officer and his dog are back together again, thanks to a caring community. It’s amazing to see so many people rallying to help a dog find his way back home.
Would you help your neighbors find their dog? What do you think should happen to the burglar? Let us know in the comments below!
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