CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Chelsea is a member of Barbara Foy’s family, and the 15-pound blue-eyed Shih Tzu has helped them to overcome sickness and death.
On Tuesday afternoon someone stole the dog out of her owner’s parked car at the Central Avenue shopping center.
“I got to the car and it wouldn’t unlock and no Chelsea and I just went to pieces," said Foy.
The disappearance set off a frantic search by Foy, who was aided by a family friend.
By Wednesday afternoon she printed up fliers and was in the process of posting them when NewsChannel 36 told her Chelsea had been found.
Larry Herdon scooped up the dog Tuesday, worried that she might get hit by a car. He didn’t know the owner, but he came back to the shopping center Wednesday and left his information.
"I said to a fella, ‘Well the dog was kept so nice, I believe somebody is missing this dog,’" said Herdon.
The reunion took place at Herdon’s east Charlotte home Wednesday afternoon.
Tears of sorrow were replaced by tears of joy.
"To see this, this is joy,” Herdon said. “One word covers it—joy.”
“I'm so glad. listen this is like a child it is," Foy added.
Chelsea was more than just a dog to Ms. Foy. She helped lift her spirits while she took care of her mother who died from Alzheimer’s.
"I couldn’t have done it without her. All the love that she gives me and all the love she gave my mother and my mother loved her dearly," said Foy.
