HOUSTON — An emotional support dog that was stolen from its owner's car at the beginning of the month is now back home.
Dulce was reunited with its owner, Rob Trevino, after two men returned the dog to a Houston police substation on Friday. They received the $1,000 reward from Trevino, no questions asked.
Before Dulce was found, police were looking for a person of interest linked to the dog's disappearance. That person spoke to detectives, telling KHOU 11 that he had nothing to hide and wanted to help.
"I don’t want no reward," he said. "I just want to give his dog back and y'all can have the reward."
The man said he came forward because he wanted to clear his name and prove he had nothing to do with taking Dulce. He actually helped Dulce get home.
Trevino is grateful for everyone who stepped up to look for his dog.
"I can't even express it," he said. "She's home now. She is home. Thank you everyone for helping me find her."
Dulce was taken from Trevino's car on the evening of Jan. 3. Trevino was parked along Dunlavy Street near Westheimer in the Montrose area and went inside a business. When he returned, his Jeep and several other vehicles had been broken into and Dulce was gone.
"My heart just sunk," Trevino told us.
He rescued the 3-year-old American bully after finding her under 288 near Bellfort in the summer of 2022.
"I am a foster fail. She grew on me," Trevino said.
Since then, Dulce has become an unofficial emotional support dog for Revision Houston, an organization that helps at-risk kids. Trevino said the kids adore her and look forward to her visits.
"That calmness, that peace she offers," he explained. "She sits at a spot, all the kids gravitate toward her. We've had a few kids afraid of her at first, within minutes she's won them over. She's just a major part of what we do."
Other staff members at Revision Houston agree.
"... What she does is bring a sense of kindness and warmth they might not experience from people around them," Jordan Czichos explained.
Community members helped Trevino raise a $1,000 reward for Dulce's safe return.