Marrisa Mabanag, 10, couldn't stop cuddling 5-month old Meeko after she was reunited with him Thursday.
The girl pleaded for his safe return, even offering the contents of her piggy bank as a reward. In addition to Mabanag's savings, San Jose police, firefighters unions, and Councilman Ash Kalra chipped and gathered $6,000 in reward money which was given to Blanca Del Real.
The woman says she found the shih tzu-Yorkie mix wandering in a Los Banos Target store parking lot located 80 miles away from his owner.
"I want to say thank you to everybody who made this happen. I just can't believe he's in my arms right now," said Mabanag. "I thought he'd be gone forever. I'm just so happy he's here right now."
Del Real accepted the reward money from officials but told Marissa to keep the contents of her piggy bank.
