Sonic was back in his usual spot on the couch Monday night, watching Alanah Nantell eat dinner. He’d already had his meal.
“He just wants to cuddle up and do the normal things,” Nantell said.
Sonic, a 7-year-old terrier mix, was finally home after he and Nantell’s SUV were stolen Saturday morning. Sonic was in his crate in the third seat of her black 2023 Mazda CX 50 when someone took the vehicle outside Myrtle & Cypress Coffeehouse at 517 N. 33rd St.
Nantell had stopped for a coffee and left the touch-start SUV running because it was so cold. She thought she had locked it and had the keys with her when it was taken.
“I’m pretty positive they had no idea there was a dog in the car,” she said.
Nantell immediately called the police, who she said issued an alert about the stolen vehicle. She got in touch with Omaha Scanner and Lost Pets of Omaha Area on Facebook, and those posts were shared widely across social media.
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On Monday afternoon, she got a screenshot that Cody Taborsky of Taborsky Lawn Care had spotted the SUV near 24th and Cuming Streets.
“I messaged him on Facebook. ‘Don’t be a scammer I’m about to lose my mind,’” she said.
Taborsky waited with the SUV until the police and Nantell arrived. When she peeked in the back, there was Sonic, still in the crate that the mental health therapist uses to keep him safe in the car.
She immediately took him to his veterinarian, who said the dog was fine except for a minor rash in his groin area. He wasn’t dehydrated, so whomever had taken the vehicle apparently had given him water and let him out to go to the bathroom.
It was a happy ending for a dog that didn’t have the easiest life before Nantell adopted him 3½ years ago.
“He was a longterm stray,” she said. “He was found eating at a Sonic trash can. That’s why his name is Sonic.”
Her SUV wouldn’t start, but Nantell said that’s the least of her concerns.
She said she’s just incredibly grateful for the help from Taborsky and many others in the community who helped her find her dog, whether it was by passing out fliers or just being on the lookout. Her partner, Shannon Elder, and her family spent hours driving the area and checking out possible spots the dog might have gone for shelter if it had been dumped from the car.
“It’s been a living nightmare. I’m glad it had a happy ending obviously,” Nantell said. “It all felt like a very bad dream. I don’t think we would have found him without the help of everyone.”
Top Lincoln Journal Star photos for 2024
Nebraska's Harper Murray (27) wipes tears away from her eyes while listening to senior night tribute videos after the match against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at the Bob Devaney Center.
From left, Messiah Williams of Lincoln, 9, his mom Cidnei, dad Shay and brother Shaun, 10, play in the Union Plaza water fountain on July 15.
From left, Gypsy Anton of Lincoln, 13, listens to music with her brother Silver Anton, 11, mother Jen Leonard, and sister Sophia Leonard, 12, during Porch Jam, on Sept. 15 near Cooper Park.
Gabe Sedlacek (from left), Kaleb Andersen and Austin Young watch a tornado from the seventh floor of the 18th and Q parking garage on April 26 in Lincoln.
Nebraska's Rebekah Allick (facing) embraces Harper Murray after the Huskers' loss to Penn State in an NCAA Final Four match Thursday at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
Kiptara Thomas (back center), Grace Taylor (front center), and Ayla Brosman (right) prepare in the dressing room ahead of a dress rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” on Thursday at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.
Ariana Cunningham, playing Clara (right), practices dancing backstage during a rehearsal for “The Nutcracker” at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on Thursday.
Workers and bystanders pull the Capitol Christmas tree through the north door of the Capitol on Monday. The 22-foot Colorado spruce from Walton was carefully selected by the Office of the Capitol Commission to be this year’s annual Christmas tree.
Norfolk Catholic head coach Jeff Bellar is doused with water by his players as the clock hits zero as the Knights celebrate their win over the Bishop Neumann Cavilers in the Class C-2 championship game Tuesday at Memorial Stadium.
Sandy Creek's Jacob Petr (top) and Sandy Creek's Wes Biltoft (bottom) attempt to stop Stanton's Becker Pohlman as he dives toward the pylon for a two point conversion in the second quarter of the Class D-1 championship game Monday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) dives over the Wisconsin defense for a fourth-quarter touchdown on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Lincoln firefighter Andrew Brenner sprays water from the top of a ladder truck on to the roof of a former Village Inn at 29th and O streets Wednesday morning.
Niko Bennett, 4, sleeps on his tricycle during the Veterans Parade outside the state Capitol on Sunday. Bennett and his family walked in the parade with the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs.
Nebraska's Connor Essegian scores against Bethune-Cookma on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Wahoo players rush the court after defeating Pierce in five set semifinal to advance to the Class C-1 championship match Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Milford celebrates a kill by Shayla Rautenberg (center) during the second set of a state C-1 volleyball game against Pierce on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
A cutout of Jesus watches over voters on Tuesday at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lincoln.
Toussaint Barrett votes Tuesday at F Street Community Center in central Lincoln.
Oliver Degner, 4, (from left) Charlotte Degner, 6, and Noelle Gormley, 7, all of Lincoln, run to the finish line during the Pumpkin Run on Sunday in Lincoln's Haymarket.
Malcolm players are silhouetted by the sun as they warm up before the game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Malcolm High School.
Dragonflies can be seen flying around as Norfolk's Cole Signor (17) takes the snap during the fourth quarter of the game against Lincoln Southeast on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at Seacrest Field.
Members of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's ROTC program, as well as local first-responders, climb the South Stadium steps during an early morning silent stair climb on Sept. 11 in remembrance of those who died in the 9/11 attacks.
Nebraska's Tommi Hill (6) celebrates a pick-six during the first quarter of the game against Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska fans storm the field after winning the game against Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 28-10.
Nebraska's Jacory Barney (17) celebrates as fans rush the field after the game on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Leyla Blackwell (11) throws a volleyball into the stands before the match against TCU on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at the Bob Devaney Center.
Nebraska's Dylan Raiola walks in the Legacy Walk on Saturday outside Memorial Stadium.
Don Zager of Lincoln drops off tree debris at a collection site Holmes Lake Park, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Lincoln.
A wild horse jumps onto its back as it tries to throw off a rope held by Troy Graybill (from front) Chris Hajek, and Scott Graves as they try to saddle it during the wild horse race a during the final day of Nebraska's Big Rodeo at the Garfield County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Burwell.
Shadows of athletes are cast on the wall as they warm up on the diving board during the Cornhusker State Games diving competition on July 13 at Woods Memorial Pool.
A crowd is pushed back as YouTuber Cam Wilder plays basketball Sunday at Antelope Park.
Seward's own Jill Beisel tries to gather up a popped bubble as she competes in the bubble gum blowing contest during Seward's Fourth of July celebration. Bisel would go on to win the contest and be named the 2024 bubble gum blowing state champ.
Two joggers (bottom) make their way past a large tree that was twisted from the ground and blocked access to Huntington Avenue near Nebraska Wesleyan University following Monday night's storm on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Lincoln.
Fans raise their hands as Shaquille O'Neal performs as DJ Diesel on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at the Royal Grove.
Joshua Morales (second from left), 17, embraces a friend near the scene of a shooting Friday in Crete. Seven people were injured, including four children, and the suspect shot and killed himself, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.
From the bullpen, Kentucky's Jackson Nove (left), Eli Small (center) and Cameron O'Brien (right) celebrate a two-RBI homer hit by Nolan McCarthy (19) during the fourth inning of Game 3 of the College World Series against NC State on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.
Jaz Shelley (center) smiles during her youth basketball skills camp Thursday at Speedway Sports Complex.
Banks Williams, 2, walks through headstones during a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday at Wyuka Cemetery. Williams' great grandparents, Robert and Blanche, served in the Air Force and Coast Guard, respectively.
St. Paul's Christopher Thomas (bottom) collapses after he dives for the finish line to win the Class C boys 800 meter run during the fourth day state track on Saturday at Burke Stadium.
The northern lights are seen over Touhy, about 25 miles north of Lincoln, in this long exposure photo captured early Saturday morning.
Lincoln Southwest holds hands as they run out onto the field before a Class A girls state soccer tournament game against Millard West on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Nebraska's Dylan Hufft (left) leaps over Nicholls' Kade Turnage at home plate on Sunday at Haymarket Park.
Ashland-Greenwood's Dane Jacobsen (0) pulls his jersey over his head following the Bluejay's loss to Auburn in the Class C-1 boys state tournament semifinal game Friday, March 8, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Lincoln Southeast's Jake Hilkemann (center) is met by his teammates after making the game-winning shot in the Knights' A-5 district championship win against Creighton Prep on Monday in Omaha.
Hershey's Ethan Elliott (right) wrestles North Bend Central's Zac Mullally during a Class C 132-pound match at the state wrestling tournament on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Ignacia Hernandez, 90 (left), kisses her husband Chris, 95,while they are reflected in a mirror that hangs over photos from their time together at their home in south Lincoln, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. The couple is celebrating their celebrating their 75 years of marriage this February.
Aris Bertwell, 4 (left), and Cora West, 3, peer out from viewing holes in a jungle gym tunnel at Primrose Schools located inside the Hudl building.
Nebraska's Keisei Tominaga (30) celebrates after making a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the Huskers' win over Northwestern on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nebraska's Juwan Gary (4) celebrates with fans after the Huskers defeated No. 1 Purdue on Tuesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nebraska Wesleyan students Lucas Steuter (from left), Riley Cleaver, Jacob Wertz, and Zane Rosenberg try to hold together as they fly down a hill on their sleds at Holmes Lake on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.
