After 12 days, a frantic search and the offer of a $1,000 reward, Diego, a 10-pound Chihuahua stolen along with his owner’s truck from the parking lot of a Huntington Beach hotel, was returned home on Christmas Eve.
Diego’s owner, Scott Hern of Long Beach, said the dog was dirty, three pounds lighter and appeared dehydrated, but was good as new after “some food, water, a warm bath, shampoo and lots of hugs.”
Hern and his girlfriend, Manya Wren, peppered entire neighborhoods in the city with fliers initially offering a reward of $500 and later upping it to $1,000. Hern said he was “heartbroken” to lose Diego, who doubled as his pet and service dog. Hern said he is partially blind and Diego helped guide him, especially at night.
“Last night (Christmas Eve), I decided to drive out and see some Christmas lights because I’d been so obsessed with looking for Diego,” he said. “When I came back, I got a call from a man saying he had my dog.”
Around 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve, the man showed up at Hern’s home and left with his $1,000 reward.
“When I was desperately looking for my dog, I told everyone all I wanted was my dog back — no questions asked,” he said. “I’m just happy Diego is home safe.”
The man told Hern some of his friends had found the dog wandering along the Santa Ana riverbed.
“I knew it was my dog when the man showed him to me on Facetime because he had his red service dog vest on, responded to his name and had those long claws because he wouldn’t let anyone cut his nails,” he said.
Hern said he and his girlfriend got Diego about four years ago when the dog’s owner died and no one could care for the animal.
“I became attached to him because he has been so caring and affectionate,” he said. “He’d sit with me all the time and lick my face. He’d lay on my chest and put his head on my shoulder when I watched TV.”
He attributes Diego’s safe return to the care and concern showed by so many not just in Orange County, but across the world, and a search that was widely publicized on social media.
“There were people praying for his return as far away as New York, Yorkshire and Thailand,” he said. “I’m just so grateful he’s back with us. I’m still in shock.”
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