Dog Stolen From New York Found in Lavonia

This Husky was turned in by to the NE GA Animal Shelter by man claiming the dog was his.

This Husky was surrendered to the NE GA Animal Shelter by man claiming the dog was his.

A dog, turned in by a man to a local animal shelter recently, was found to be stolen from upstate New York.

It happened last week at the Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter in Lavonia.

The shelter normally works with dozens of no-kill animal rescue groups around the country and this time appeared to be no different when, according to Shelter director Tammi Jordanais last Monday a man showed up at the shelter and wanted to turn in his Husky.

The Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter on Bear Creek Road in Lavonia is normally closed on Mondays, but workers who were there tending to the animals took the dog in.

It was then that Jordanias said something amazing happened.

“We had a four-year old Husky that was owner surrendered to the shelter. So I sent a photo of the dog to a (no-kill) rescue in New York that typically takes those kinds of breeds from us,” Jordanais said. “She instantly called me back crying and said, ‘Tammi, I know that dog. It was stolen from our neighbor down the street three years ago!’”

Jordanais said after sending more photos and discussing it further with the rescue in New York, they determined it was the same dog.

“Once we started going over different markings on the dog, we determined it was in fact the same dog that had been stolen,” she said. “We then began arranging transport of the dog to Upstate New York.”

Despite being missing for three years, the dog appeared to be in good health, but Jordanais said the rescue in New York noticed the dog was still wearing the same collar he had on when he was taken from his owner.

According to Jordanais, the dog, named Lakota by the man who turned him in, was actually named Dakota by his original owner and had been stolen while the owner was at a car show with his dog in Upstate New York in September 2013.

But there needed to be some definite way to know for sure the dog was really the one that had been stolen.

Jordanais said confirmation came once the dog got to the rescue group in New York and was taken to a local vet for a special test.

After three years, Dakota leaps for joy at the sight of his real owner.

After three years, Dakota leaps for joy at the sight of his real owner.

“The dog arrived in Upstate New York and luckily, the original owner had had DNA tests done on him when they first got him as a puppy. Once the dog was in the hands of the rescue group, they took him to their local vet for another DNA test and the test came back an absolute match. Dakota has now been reunited with his owner and it was a very joyful reunion,” Jordanais said.

She said they have tried to find the man who turned the dog in, but he gave a false name on the owner surrender form.

However, she said they do have his description and authorities in New York will be on the lookout for the man should he return for this year’s car show there, which is scheduled for September 17th.