HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY
Hawaiian humane society
Keoni, the terrier mix taken from the Humane Society on Wednesday, was recovered Friday.
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Keoni, the terrier mix dog to be featured in an upcoming television ad to raise awareness about the Hawaiian Humane Society, is back in custody.
Jacque LeBlanc, director of community relations at the Hawaiian Humane Society, said the dog — who had been chosen by someone for adoption — was stolen between noon and 1:30 p.m. Wednesday from the adoptions department.
Keoni Vaughn, director of operations for the Humane Society, said a woman in Nanakuli called the agency’s dispatcher Friday morning and said she had a white dog matching the missing dog’s description.
She said a neighbor had given her the dog and that she called after seeing reports of the missing dog on television Thursday night. Humane Society investigators were dispatched and verified Keoni’s identity by scanning his implanted microchip.
LeBlanc said the Waialae facility was extremely busy Wednesday afternoon and that the office was filled with people, including a school tour group, when the dog vanished.
She said there are three entrances to the area. "It was just impossible to know how he was taken," LeBlanc said.
Vaughn said the Nanakuli woman is eligible for a $500 award. Humane Society President and Chief Executive Officer Pamela Burns said she put up the money for the return of the dog.