Waco, Texas - Police Officer's Van Stolen with Police Dogs Inside - Police Drug/Bomb Dogs Found Later Abandoned on Road

Stolen Police Dogs Returned Safely

Last Edited: Thursday, 08 Mar 2007, 6:19 PM CST
Created: Thursday, 08 Mar 2007, 6:18 PM CST

Sam-I-Am, one of the stolen police dogs safely recovered in Kaufman County. KAUFMAN COUNTY --
Two stolen police dogs were back with their owner Thursday night, hours after they disappeared from a Mesquite motel parking lot.

The dogs, which can sniff out drugs and bombs, were in their owner's van when someone stole the vehicle from the La Quinta off LBJ Freeway and Highway 80.
Sometime overnight, the car thief appartently dumped the dogs on County Rd. 305
 

Someone spotted the animals in Kaufman County, and animal control officers realized right away who the missing animals belonged to.

"There was a nearby creek, and that's why they're all muddy," said Deputy Bradley Moody with the Kaufman County Sheriff's office.
"I'm ecstatic, of course," said owner Nancy Bidwell, who is in town from Waco for a school anti-drug seminar. "We're so grateful."

One of the animals has a  injury to its eye, but is expected to recover.

Training for dogs like this runs into the tens of thousands of dollars. The 1999 Chevy Astro Van,  is still missing tonight. It’s pewter in color, with Texas license plate G62-BNT.

Mesquite police will continue to scrutinize surveillance video from the motel, hoping to identify the thief.

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