On June 5, an elderly dachshund named Bam Bam was stolen from a backyard in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago.
“His owner, Angel Santiago, is legally blind due to glaucoma and now walks seven miles every day looking for his beloved service dog and handing out flyers,” Amy Pasalich, Santiago’s friend and advocate, wrote on a GoFundMe page — which has since accrued over $20,000 in donations.
“Chicagoland people, please keep an eye out for Bam Bam,” Pasalich advised. “And to anyone who considers donating, Mister Rogers' mom said it best: When there are scary things in the news to ‘look for the helpers.’ Let's be helpers!”
Santiago himself took to multiple news stations to spread the word.
“Let your eyes be mine and look out for Bam Bam for me, please. I beg of you to help me,” Santiago said.
A harrowing 72 days passed, as the story gained national — and global — attention. A reward of up to $6,000 was offered for the safe return of Bam Bam, with PETA contributing $5,000 to the efforts.
Then, finally, there was a breakthrough in the case.
On Tuesday, August 20, former police officer John Garrido, who runs the Garrido Stray Rescue Foundation, said he was notified about two unnamed people dropping off a dog at the 16th District Chicago Police Department.
Initially, the foundation had shared information about the missing animal as they do with any dog that comes through its doors, not knowing that the 14-year-old dachshund was the talk of the town (or rather, the entire Chicago area).
“The entire city has been searching for this dog,” Garrido said, after Bam Bam’s microchip confirmed his identity. “He is safe and sound. … I am told it was a happy reunion.”
When Santiago and Bam Bam were reunited, Garrido was quick to share the good news.
“Microchips save lives! Please microchip your pets!” The rescue wrote on their Facebook page on August 21. “Great work [to the] 16th District Chicago Police Department and all the volunteers that worked so hard to bring Bam Bam home. Team work makes the dream work!”
On August 20, Pasalich posted the long-awaited update.
“Bam Bam and Angel are REUNITED!!”
“After a long and emotional nearly three months, Angel has finally been reunited with Bam Bam. The reunion took place on the evening of August 19th, and both are now safely back together.”
“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.”
“Thank you to everyone who offered tips, support, and love during this difficult time,” she continued. “Your care and concern have meant so much.”
The news update soon went viral, matching the staggering response of the initial search.
“Finally, some happy news being shared,” one person replied to an ABC 7 Chicago headline on the matter.
“This is the greatest news! I spoke to Angel outside of Tony's on Fullerton right after Bam Bam went missing,” a local Chicagoan wrote on Instagram. “It was very clear he loves Bam Bam so much.”
Many comments pointed to how far the story had traveled.
“This has reached Greece,” one person wrote after NBC Chicago shared the news on TikTok. “It’s 5 a.m. and I’m crying for these two.”
PETA celebrated in turn with an announcement:
“The billboards reminding everyone of our $5,000 reward for Bam Bam’s return will now thank everyone who came together to hand out flyers, contribute to the reward, and pound the pavement in search of this beloved little dog.”
In tandem with the billboard update, PETA also sent a “Welcome Home” basket filled with toys and treats.
The organization added: “Working for this reunion brought out the best in the community, and it reminds us all to never be silent, as speaking up when an animal is in danger can save a life.”
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Header image via GoFundMe / Angel Santiago
