A St. Paul man enjoyed a happy reunion Thursday after the safe return of his bullmastiff puppy that was in his car when it was stolen more than a week ago, police said.
Matt Thoreen had placed 4-month-old Kua in a kennel Jan. 17 and loaded it into his parked car in the 1700 block of James Avenue in the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood. With the car running, Thoreen went back inside his home for his work boots. When he returned about a minute later, the car and dog were gone.
"We don't have the details on where Kua was found," police spokeswoman Natalie Davis said. "The investigator confirmed that Kua was returned to the owner, but police didn't assist with the recovery or return of the dog."
The car was recovered in Minneapolis and was being processed for evidence, Davis said. No arrests have been announced.
Thoreen had offered a $5,000 reward for the dog's return.
"I have no children, and my dog means more to me than anything else in the world," Thoreen said soon after the puppy was taken. "Kua is pretty much the only thing that brings any type of happiness to my life these days."
Messages were left Thursday afternoon with Thoreen in hopes of learning about how Kua was recovered and whether the reward was paid.
