After missing from his home since Sunday, a 6-month-old puppy was returned to his owner Wednesday afternoon.

Officials from the Placer Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recovered Dodger, a six-month-old white boxer who is deaf, from a man who described himself as homeless. The special needs boxer was taken from the shelter’s location in Roseville sometime after 5 p.m. Sunday and a little before 7 a.m. Monday.

“The Placer SPCA had received numerous calls over the last several days, but this one was the one that panned out,” said Leilani Vierra, Placer SPCA chief executive officer, in a news release.

Vierra coordinated a meeting time and place with the man, who declined to give his name. Wednesday afternoon, Vierra along with Placer SPCA Director of Operations Matt Green, met the man behind a fast food restaurant in Sacramento County.

The man told Green and Vierra that he did not acquire Dodger from the shelter but instead “bought” him when he traded a bottle of alcohol for the dog, the news release stated. He said when he read a newspaper article about Dodger’s disappearance he decided to turn in the pet.

Dodger was returned to Mary Terrell, the humane educator for Placer SPCA. Terrell will take Dodger with her on her educational presentations. Dodger will help teach children about compassion, respect, overcoming adversity and kindness, the news release stated.

While the man did not ask for the $2,000 reward the Placer SPCA offered for Dodger’s safe return, Green and Vierra gave him $100.

Vierra said when she gave the man the money she thanked him for doing the right thing. He replied that he had not “done the right thing” often in his life and but maybe today was the day when he had, the news release stated.

“This has kind of given us a stronger, better feeling about humanity overall,” Vierra said Thursday.

Vierra said officials still do not know how someone accessed the center and Dodger’s cage after hours. She said the shelter is looking at ways to further ensure the safety of its animals.

“Our whole mission is keeping animals safe,” Vierra said. “We’re going to do everything possible on our end to make sure this does not happen again.”

The Journal's Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment.