Blind senior who walked 400 miles door-to-door looking for lost dog gets the news he was desperate to hear

In Chicago, 58-year-old Angel Santiago, who is legally blind due to glaucoma, has been reunited with his 14-year-old service dog, Bam Bam, nearly three months after the dachshund was stolen from his yard. According to PEOPLE, Bam Bam was taken on June 5 in the early morning hours, when two men came through his backyard gate after the dog went outside for a bathroom break. He tried to intervene and even grabbed one of the suspects, noting that one of them sounded like a teenager. But he couldn’t keep hold. "I heard Bam Bam barking in distress, and the bark began to fade away."

Santiago, who also manages type 2 diabetes, said he immediately began searching. "Bam Bam means the world to me, and I feel my body draining away," he told Fox 32 Chicago, "I promise that I will keep walking and walking and walking, yelling his name out. But if you can just help me, see if you can spot him for me, let your eyes be mine and look out for Bam Bam for me. Please, I beg of you to help me." For weeks, he followed through on that promise and walked up to seven miles every day, handing out flyers, calling out for his dog, and asking his community for help.

A GoFundMe campaign organized by Amy Pasalich raised more than $20,000 to support the search with reward money, printing flyers, arranging volunteer groups, and even hiring pet detective services. On the night of August 19, his prayers were answered. An unidentified man and woman brought Bam Bam to Chicago’s 16th District police station. Thanks to Bam Bam being microchipped, authorities were able to promptly confirm his identity. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), microchipping dogs dramatically improves the chances of reunion. About 52% of dogs with microchips are returned to their owners, compared to just 22% of those without. "He is my lifesaver. I just wish I could hug everybody who thought of Bam Bam," he told the Chicago Tribune.

Organizer Pasalich wrote in an update that the reunion was possible only because of widespread community support. "Out of respect for their privacy, we won’t be sharing every detail, but what matters most is that Angel and Bam Bam are safe and together again," she said. Animal rescue experts called the case unusual. Michael Davis of Best Furry Friend Pet Rescue said stolen pet cases are especially difficult because dogs may be taken far away or used for profit. "Everybody was looking for that dog at that point," he said. "If anybody thought they could hold onto that dog and not have a friend, family member, or a neighbor spot it and make a call, they would be naive." 

Veterinarians said Bam Bam had lost weight and developed minor heart and liver issues during his time away, but otherwise gave him a clean bill of health. Santiago said his dog now struggles to sleep with the lights off and isn’t as lively as before, but that he’s just grateful to have him back. "It’s his time," Santiago said, cradling his dog. "He needs to be home and secure and loved."

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