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Dog stolen from NJ shelter on Christmas Eve reunited with owners

Published December 30, 2017 12:23pm EST

U.S.

FOX 29 Philadelphia

EATONTOWN, N.J. (AP) -- A dog stolen from a New Jersey animal shelter on Christmas Eve is now with his rightful owners.

Dominique Searight and her 5-year-old twin daughters picked up Tub Tub on Friday at the Monmouth County SPCA shelter in Eatontown.

Searight had planned to give the dog to her children as a Christmas present. But when she went to get him, shelter officials discovered he was missing along with his microchip.

Authorities say a former shelter volunteer has admitted stealing the dog because she didn't have any money to adopt him. Eatontown police say 63-year-old Susan Bajew, of Neptune, is charged with theft.

The dog was found unharmed and returned to the shelter on Wednesday.

It's not known if Bajew has retained an attorney.

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