Blind man left a tearful plea to the thieves who stole his German Shepherd from his backyard — three days later, the unthinkable happened

For the owner who had gone completely blind four years earlier, his dog was not just a companion, he was his eyes.

PUBLISHED OCT 27, 2025

(L) A blind man sitting on a bench. (R) A German Shepherd dog. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Nadzeya Haroshka, (R) Jordi Carne Sanchez)

Sometimes, a single act of kindness can undo the damage caused by a thoughtless mistake. And sometimes, the bond between a human and a dog can inspire that change of heart. That was the case for one blind man whose life had already been full of challenges. When his loyal guide dog suddenly went missing, it felt like his world had gone dark all over again. What followed, however, was a story that proved compassion can come from the most unexpected places.

German Shepherd alert while wandering in forest. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo bu Gea Veenstra) — German Shepherd alert while wandering in forest. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Gea Veenstra)

As reported by ABC 7 News, Kevin Coachman, who was blind, had his specially trained guide dog, Lucca, stolen from his backyard in Harvey, Illinois, in 2020. The two had just returned home after a long day of errands when Kevin briefly went inside to get water for the young German Shepherd. “I took him straight to the backyard while I went in to feed him and get him water, and when I came back out, my dog was gone,” Kevin said. He had only been paired with Lucca for three months, but the bond between them had already become unbreakable. Losing his guide dog felt like losing his sense of safety. “It's like walking in a dark room and you don't know what you can trip over or who's in that room. Or anything like that. It's always scary,” he shared. For Kevin, who had gone completely blind four years earlier after being shot in a carjacking, Lucca was not just a companion; he was his eyes.

A blind man with his pet dog. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | prostooleh)

In a television interview following his beloved pooch's abduction, the dog owner directly addressed the theives, saying: "I pray that God will put it on your heart to return him, and if not, take care of Lucca, he’s a good boy." After Kevin’s emotional plea aired on local news, support poured in from across the community. Strangers reached out, neighbors searched, and many hoped the person responsible would do the right thing.

A boy with a dog walks in the park on a sunny spring evening, sits on the grass. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Maria Moroz)

Miraculously, just a three days later, one of the teens who had taken Lucca had a change of heart. He showed up at Kevin’s home, apologized, and returned the German Shepherd safely. "I was sitting right here and he walked up and gave it to me and told me his name and told me what he was doing,” Kevin shared with Metro News. “I’m so glad to have my guide dog back, my friend and my eyes.” Deeply moved by the teenager’s honesty, Kevin decided not to press charges. “When you do right, right will prevail,” he said.

The reunion brought joy not only to Kevin but also to his neighbors, who had followed his story closely. “When I heard him say to please return his dog, or at least to be good to the dog, because he’s a good dog, it made me cry,” one neighbor said. For Kevin, the moment marked the end of a painful few days and the beginning of renewed faith in people’s goodness. He planned to keep Lucca close, and this time, with a GPS collar, as he continued to rebuild his life, as per Wamiz.