Update: Dogs found safe after carjackers steal dog day care van

(Chicago) Seven dogs inside a van that was carjacked Wednesday afternoon from the River West neighborhood have been found safe, police confirmed Thursday morning.

The van was found in the 2100 block of South Wabash a few minutes before 11 a.m., according to Chicago Police.

An anonymous citizen called police to report a dog sitting inside a gray van on that block, and that it had been there for at least an hour, according to a police source. She was concerned for the dog’s safety.

Officers responded, ran the van’s plate and discovered it was the stolen vehicle, according to police. All seven dogs were inside the van and appeared to be fine.

Authorities are waiting for the owners and Animal Care and Control to respond to the scene, police said.

Two armed men stole the van about 3:50 p.m. in the 800 block of West Superior and pointed a gun at someone who tried to stop them, police said.

Joseph Giannini, owner of Urban Out Sitters, said a driver was getting ready to take the dogs home when one of the armed men approached and told him to get out of the van. He complied and the men drove away.

“Fifteen years in business and this is probably the most devastating thing I’ve had to deal with,” Giannini said.

Giannini added that because the van was not marked with the company’s logo, he thinks the carjackers just wanted the vehicle and were not targeting the dogs.