A Waukegan therapy dog and best friend to a 79-year-old woman with dementia has returned home after allegedly being stolen late last week, family members said.
Bella, a shih-tzu therapy dog, returned safe and sound to her Waukegan home Thursday, said daughter Prinses Hemphill.
The family is ecstatic to have her back though remain quizzical on how she wound up miles away in Vernon Hills, Hemphill said.
“We don’t know how Bella made her way to Vernon Hills, but we’re very happy to have her back,” Hemphill said.
The plight of Bella over the last week was like something out of a movie, Hemhpill said.
Bella managed to escape her yard while the family was away June 7, Hemphill said.
From there, a neighbor found Bella and attempted to find the proper home to return Bella.
However, Bella was handed off to a person who falsely claimed to be Bella’s owner, Hemphill said.
In response, the family posted flyers around their Waukegan neighborhood that said “Stolen Dog” with a picture of Bella.
The flyer also offered a $500 reward for her safe return and promised no questions would be asked, Hemphill said.
“Bella is a part of our family,” Hemphill said. “She’s not just a pet, she’s a therapy dog for my mom.”
Doris Hemphill is suffering from dementia, and her daughter said the 79-year-old mom is always happiest when Bella is sitting in her lap.
Prinses Hemphill also said Doris seemed less happy each day Bella was missing.
The break came when a person from Vernon Hills called Prinses Hemphill earlier this week claiming she had Bella and was seeking the reward.
“The caller said she asked someone for a light for a cigarette and, in return, they handed over Bella,” Hemphill said.
Per the flyer, Hemphill rewarded the woman with $500 and didn’t ask any additional questions about how Bella wound up several towns away.
“We’re just grateful Bella is back home,” Prinses Hemphill said. “My mom is so happy to see her again. Our whole family is attached to her, she’s like our child.”