Chicago Police Department Dog Finds His Way Home

By Anthonia Akitunde in News on May 18, 2009 2:40PM

Details on the return of Bear, a Chicago Police K9 who was found Sunday morning after close to four days of searching, were shared at a press conference yesterday afternoon. Howard Overton spotted the 2 1/2 years old German shepherd "near a cemetery on the border between Evergreen Park and Chicago," according to Chicago Breaking News. Realizing the tan and black K9 looked like "the dog on the news," Overton got the attention of a nearby police car.

Within minutes the officer had found the police dog, but Bear needed a little coaxing. Once he heard his name, Officer Ann Jaros said, he approached her. Jaros said Bear recognized the squad car and "jumped right in." Using a scan of the microchip in his neck confirmed that the dog was indeed Bear. The 74-pound dog was reunited with his handler Canine Unit Officer Rick King Sunday afternoon, "dirty" and "shaggy" but no worse for the wear, King said at the press conference.

While there were a few reports of Bear sightings, no one is sure what the beloved dog was up to during his four-day adventure. King speculated the dog was probably hunting for small animals in the woods of the Far Southwest Side. King said he had slept little since the dog ran way after a clap of thunder Wednesday evening spooked him. We're glad the duo has been reunited, especially our intern.