Dog takes 1,000-mile flight home

OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A 5-year-old miniature schnauzer an Oklahoma woman said was stolen in April took a plane ride of more than 1,000 miles to return home from California.

Marla Devoe, 53, of Oklahoma City said acquaintances took the dog, Rebel, from her yard in April while she was in a hospital and the thieves took the canine with them to Moreno Valley, Calif., more than 1,000 miles away, the Riverside (Calif.) Press-Enterprise reported Friday.

Authorities said Rebel apparently fled his captors and was picked up by animal control officers, who used Rebel's microchip to trace the animal to Devoe. The family keeping Rebel in Moreno Valley came into the shelter and took him home, claiming to be related to Devoe.

However, Devoe was notified of the incident and the canine was seized by police and an animal control officer without incident.

Devoe said Rebel took a plane home Thursday from California to Will Rogers World Airport. She said she hasn't yet decided whether to press charges against the alleged canine thieves.