A pit bull puppy, reported stolen earlier this month, was found safe on Heathsville Road, about 15 miles from where it was taken.

Major Bruce Temple of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said Sheriff Jeff Frazier received a direct call Monday about a possible sighting of the dog, which answers to Chance.

Frazier was in the area and located the dog.

Temple said media releases last Friday directly contributed to the sighting and recovery of the animal.

Temple said the most plausible explanation is there was too much heat to keep the dog after the media blitz so the animal, taken from Carolina Rest Home Road February 5, was just abandoned on Heathsville Road.

“The dog was identified by the owners, who were ecstatic to recover the family pet,” Temple said in a news release today.

The dog was taken from the front porch, the collar left behind.