Kevin Coachman, blind man from Harvey, Ill., is relieved to have his guide dog, Lucca, back after he was stolen from his backyard by a few local teens.
“I got him home, and I took him straight to the backyard while I went in to feed him and get him water,” Coachman told ABC7, “and when I came back out, my dog was gone.”
This was a devastating loss for Coachman, who completely lost his eyesight after being shot during a carjacking. He had been relying on the German Shepherd to help him get around since last year.
Thankfully, Lucca’s absence was short-lived. One of the thieves realized the wrongdoing of his actions and personally returned the blind man’s dog.
“I was sitting right here,” recounted Coachman, “and he walked up and gave [the dog] to me and told me his name and told me what he was doing.”
“I’m so glad to have my guide dog back,” he continued, “my friend, and my eyes.”
Community members joined in the excitement that Lucca and his guardian are reunited, stopping by Coachman’s house with gifts of dog food and well-wishes.
Meanwhile, Coachman has no hard feelings and wants to reward the teen for doing the right thing and returning his dog.
“When you do right,” he said, “right will prevail.”

I hope the culprit NEVER repeats his callous, vicious act — I hope he learns a lesson — WHO’s teaching him? — Thank God the Dog is reunited with loving Caretaker.
I am so very glad Lucca was returned.
Why a guide dog is living outside in the garden away from its owner????? π€π€π€ Weird!!! A SERVICE DOG SHOULD LIVE SIDE BY SIDE WITH ITS OWNER INSIDE THE HOUSE!! IF NOT, the person does not need this special animal…. π
I am very happy the dog was returned to him.
I wish he would not keep baby in the backyard. As it is possible it can happen again. Plus, baby is more suitable to get heartworm from mosquitoes and Lyme Disease from ticks along with other maladies.
This is why keeping animals in the backyard is so detrimental to them. Not to mention especially if dogs are chained they become extremely possessive of their territory and this is how children are bitten.
I hope he is now keeping baby in the house with him.
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People should be offended by abuse to any animal. We are their voice and theyβre Godβs creatures. I repeat no one show harm any animal. It should be a life for a life. Animals deserve better lives for what they do for people.
I am so happy for Kevin Coachman. I am relieved that his dog Lucca was returned a few days after being taken. I too was upset when I heard the news recently that his guide dog had been stolen from Kevin’s backyard. Good to be reminded that people do care.
This is why I love you Americans. Your compassion and that you bring food & your support to your fellowciticens.
I’m writing from faraway Finland, Scandinavia. I can tell you, that nothing like that is here, nor in whole Europe.
Great Respect for you and your Country.
Happy Spring for Lucca and his “Daddy” πΈπ¦π₯ππ
AGREE!! AMERICANS HAVE MORE MORALITY THAN THE REST OF THE WORLD!!!
What a generous heart!
I hope he keeps his companion in the house with him at all times, now, as he should. Many dogs are stolen to be sold again, often as bait dogs for training fighting dogs, an excruciating way to die.
Happy endings for all. Lucca is home again, to be with his person Kevin.
And the young man who took part in the theft KNEW it was wrong, and made it right!
Excellent all around <3
So happy you got Lucca back and Lucca got you back. You are a good man Mr. Coachman, most would not feel that way, they would want revenge or justice or something. You are correct though, right will always prevail.
Thank God there is definitely hope for us humans. Thanks for posting this wonderful story. Welcome back home Lucca!
I love stories like this. It shows there is hope for mankind.
He needs to keep him inside!!
He needs to keep him inside!!
Ces jeunes auront appris une chose : Mieux vaut Γͺtre malheureux par une infortune que par un remords! (De Rivarol)
Tous les gens n’ont pas cette intelligence, hΓ©las!!!
That was good he got his dog back. But the story said one of the thieves returned the dog, what about the other ones that were with him, but didn’t go back with him? Did they also have change of hearts or were they out finding other animals to steal while he was doing the right thing. Somehow I don’t feel that is the end to that. If he returned the dog out of the goodness of his heart, that’s great. I hope he didn’t just do it because he found out the owner was blind and took pity on him, just to turn around next time to do it again to someone else then at another time. These days you have to keep your pets inside. Happy for him and that precious baby.
There is some hope for manKIND!
Great news! πππΎ
I’m glad the thief had a change of heart and returned the do. πΆππΎβ€π¨
I’m so glad they did the right thing. I have heard so many stories like this and the ppl say they just want their dog back and later on find them dead.
No doubt these teens did wrong by Mr. Coachman. However, the act of doing the right thing and return his dog is commendable. Hopefully, they learned a lesson on how to avoid bad Karma.