Emotional support dog went missing in vehicle theft — now she’s finally home

Many people rely on emotional support dogs. These animals can provide invaluable service and companionship to people in need.

Which makes it especially hard when these pets go missing. That was the case recently, after an emotional support dog named Luna was stolen in a vehicle theft.

But now, the story has a happy ending.

Luna, a one-year-old pit bull mix, is an emotional service dog to a girl in Middletown, Connecticut. But while the family was out making deliveries this weekend, their Chevrolet SUV was stolen — with Luna still inside.

According to FOX 61, police were able to use the vehicle’s OnStar tracking system to locate the car. The suspect, 19-year-old Malik Awuah, tried to flee on foot but was apprehended by the police.

But while the car was recovered, Luna was still missing: Awuah told police he had dumped the dog from the SUV shortly after taking off.

A search began for Luna. The family searched everywhere and shared flyers on social media, even offering a reward with no questions asked, hoping to get their beloved service dog back home as soon as possible.

Thankfully, the story has a happy ending: according to NBC Connecticut, Luna was found in a garage in Middletown. Her owners went to get her, and the dog jumped right into the car.

“She’s in good health and receiving lots of love!” the Middletown Police Department wrote on Instagram, thanking everyone who helped in the search. “It’s always great when the community comes together and the end result is happy!”