MIAMI LAKES, Fla. — A homeless man from South Florida was reunited with his dog over the weekend, several days after the Chihuahua mix was stolen.
The 5-year-old dog, named Sky Dim, was dropped off late Saturday in the care of the man, who is from the Miami suburb of Miami Lakes, WTVJ reported. Several members of the community worked together to find the dog and return him to Pedro Carrion, the television station reported.
“It’s like when someone loses their child,” Carrion, 71, told WTVJ. “My life was bad and this has not been the first time they have tried taking him from me.”
Carrion said the person who returned his dog left immediately after putting Sky Dim down next to him.
The dog was stolen from his leash at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, according to WTVJ. The dog, which was microchipped, and Carrion generally resided near the Palmetto Expressway in northwest Miami-Dade County, according to WSVN. Although homeless, Carrion has managed to keep the dog up to date with his vaccinations.
“If you have a heart, please return my service dog,” Carrion told WSVN through a translator earlier this week. “I need him psychologically.”
Carrion filed a police report, WFOR reported. He was thrilled when the dog was returned. So were the people in the neighborhood.
“I’m super happy,” Lourdes Leyva-Hernandez told WTVJ. “He’s been devastated without the dog, and he takes really good care of it -- better than himself.”
Members of the community said they now want to find a safe home for Carrion and Sky Dim.