HUNTINGTON STATION, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- A dog with epilepsy who was stolen from a Long Island yard more than a month ago was reunited with his owner Monday after the pup was found wandering in New Jersey, rescuers said Tuesday.
The heartwarming update came hours after Lisa Nguyen told 1010 WINS she was offering a $10,000 reward for Bandit, the shih tzu-poodle mix snatched from her yard in Huntington Station on the night of June 21.
Video posted to the Facebook page of Long Island Lost Dog Search & Rescue shows Bandit and Nguyen's reunion on Monday night.
Bandit was found walking on a street in Carteret, New Jersey, about 65 miles southwest of Huntington Station.
Rescuers credited the family's "relentless" efforts—including a "blitzing" of flyers—as well as Bandit's microchip with helping to bring the "little warrior" home after "40 long agonizing days." They said a scan of the microchip quickly showed Bandit was missing.
No one was with Bandit at the time he was found, so he was apparently abandoned by whoever stole him. No arrests have been reported in the case.
Surveillance video from Nguyen's neighborhood showed a man snatching Bandit right from her front yard after she let the dog outside to go potty.
To make matters worse, Bandit is a senior dog with epilepsy who requires five different medications, seven times a day.
"He needs medical attention," Nguyen said shortly after he was stolen. In an update this week, she said a $10,000 reward for his return was at the ready, "no questions asked."
Video of the reunion posted to Facebook shows a police officer bringing Bandit, his tail wagging, out to Nguyen.
"Bandit!" Nguyen says. "Hi baby, do you remember mommy? Oh, he's so scared."
"He's happy," the officer says.
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