JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A puppy that was stolen during a home burglary last week was safely returned to his family Monday night.
Earlier in the day, heartbroken family members told News4Jax that burglars swiped Bentley, a 4-month-old purebred pit bull, from their Northwest Jacksonville home on Clyde Drive Friday afternoon.
The thieves also got away with the puppy's cage, several TVs, jewelry and even tore through a little girl's closet, taking all of her shoes, the family said.
The dog's owner, Benita Claridy, said she had searched relentlessly to find little Bentley -- the one thing the family couldn't replace.
"I got pictures on light poles, wherever. I put pictures of him in mailboxes," Claridy said.
Claridy said they were devastated that part of their family was missing.
"Because when you get an animal, and you bring them into your house -- your kids, your husband, including you, get attached. You end up treating that dog like a child," she said.
But Bentley was reunited with his owners after a report on the stolen puppy aired on Channel 4 News at 5 p.m. Monday.
WATCH: Family searching for puppy stolen from home
Claridy said a woman who saw the story on News4Jax contacted her, telling the Claridys where to meet her to get Bentley back.
She doesn't know the stranger who called her, and never even got the woman's name. But Claridy said they just drove to the Jacksonville location that the caller gave her.
When they arrived at the meeting place, Claridy said that the woman apologized when she handed over Bentley, saying, "I didn't know."
PHOTOS: Pit bull puppy named Bentley
"She saw me on the news, and she just contacted me. I don't know if she's responsible. I don't know. I really don't care. I'm just excited that she was brave enough to call me and say, 'I have your dog,'" Claridy said.
Bentley, who loves affection, has been a bright spot for her family during an otherwise stressful time.
"With everything that I was going through, he brought joy," Claridy said.
Claridy said she doesn't believe the woman who returned Bentley was responsible, because when the woman called, children could be heard in the background. Claridy has children and she thinks that might have been the winning connection.