Boy with muscular dystrophy reunited with beloved dog after disappearance

Updated ; Posted
Jacob Rodriguez, 8, with Brownie the Shih Tzu. A neighbor found the dog and returned it to the boy, who has muscular dystrophy.
Jacob Rodriguez, 8, with Brownie the Shih Tzu. A neighbor found the dog and returned it to the boy, who has muscular dystrophy. (File photo)

By Anthony G. Attrino

tattrino@njadvancemedia.com,

NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

A good Samaritan has returned a dog to a little boy with muscular dystrophy.

Jacob Rodriguez, 8, of Paterson was reunited with "Brownie," his beloved Shih Tzu on Wednesday - four days after the dog went missing, according to John DeCando, Paterson's chief animal control officer.

Adrianne Trastoy, a 22-year-old Montclair State College student, found the dog around the corner from the family's home on Tuesday, DeCando said.

"The dog had been shaved down," DeCando said. "Someone obviously knew we were looking for the dog and shaved it down. Then they let it go."

Trastoy brought Brownie to Jacob's home but when the family wasn't there, she took it back home overnight.

On Wednesday, the boy was reunited with the pup, DeCando said.

Trastoy received a $500 reward, he added.

"The dog went right up to Jacob," DeCando said. "It was one beautiful happy ending."

Boy with muscular dystrophy heartbroken after his puppy goes missing

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.