Maggie the English bulldog was stolen during a burglary at the Hancocks' home in May. They'd only had her for a week and soon gave up on her ever coming home.
"Our only hope was whoever took her took care of her because I didn't want to see her be hurt,” said Scott Hancock, the pet’s owner.
But Thursday, Arlington police made a traffic stop and in the car they found Scott Hancock’s iPad. They got a warrant to search the driver's apartment, believing they’d find more stolen items there.
That’s where they found Maggie the bulldog.
"Oh, it just fills my heart with joy being with her," said Scott’s son Kyle, while petting his dog in their home Sunday morning.
The Hancocks picked up their pet at the Arlington Police Department around 1 Friday morning. They say the chief even showed up. Everyone was moved when Maggie bolted toward her best friend, Kyle.
"It was suprising,” said Kyle Hancock. “After 4 and a half months being with somebody else and only being with me for a week, I didn't think it was possible that she could even remember me. So I was real happy that she still knew me."
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The Hancock’s knew her as a 12-week old puppy. She's still a puppy; a healthy one, but a lot bigger.
"I took her to the vet the next day and she weighs almost 50 lbs and I'm like, 'So, you went from 15 to 50 in four and a half months,’ but there's no doubt when you look into her eyes and she looks at you, I knew that it was her and she knew she was home," said Scott Hancock.
After just two days this surprise homecoming is still sinking in for the Hancocks. It's also soaking in.
"My face is soaking wet now. You got my face soaking wet," Kyle Hancock told his dog, after she repeatedly licked his face.
Thinking they lost their dog forever, the Hancocks adopted another English bulldog puppy in July named Lilly. Lilly and Maggie are still getting acquainted.
