A dog was reunited with its family Monday morning after a thief stole a sport utility vehicle it was in.
Jim Seeton and his two boys stopped at a gas station in Wheat Ridge off Interstate 70 on their way to a camping trip. The car was left alone for a few seconds when it was stolen along with Ute, a Labrador retriever described by his teenage owner as “friendly” and “overweight.”
Police said the dog was found Saturday afternoon near Rocky Mountain Lake Park. Police said he is in good shape and the family has picked him up. Police hadn’t found the vehicle yet. It is a gray-silver 2000 Lexus 470-XL.
“I’d feel pretty much just as bad if we didn’t get him back as much as any other family member,” said Sam Seeton, 14. “We would have much rather had the dog back than the car.”
The Seetons have lots of pets. Sam recently raised a couple of turkeys. He has a cat, a pet rat, hundreds of fish and even salamanders. But Ute is his favorite.
Sam said the 6-year-old pooch even won over Wheat Ridge police officers.
“Everyone at the police station really liked him,” he said. “They didn’t want to give him up.”
