A New Yorker recently had an emotional reunion with his pet dog, Lock, just days after the dog was stolen while he napped on the subway.
Charles Williams, 45, called to his American bully puppy, saying, “I’m here – come here, baby,” as the two embraced outside a Bronx subway station. The moment was captured on video, and Williams joyfully exclaimed, “Who is my rock?”
The incident unfolded on a Sunday morning when Williams, who has been homeless for about a month, was sleeping on a northbound D train. His dedication to Lock meant he often sought shelter any way he could.
Initially fearing the worst, Williams was relieved when he found out that Lock had been returned—dropped off just a few blocks from Yankee Stadium.
After their reunion, Williams said, “I want to cry.” He reflected on how finding his dog in such a vast city made him feel that a higher power was at play. “You might not be able to find your dog because you’re in a big city like New York,” he mused.
For Williams, Lock represents his family and his sense of purpose. “He’s everything I have…I feel like I’ve disappointed him,” Williams shared, promising Lock it wouldn’t happen again.
He recounted waking up at 205th Avenue, clutching a string in his hand, having dozed off to escape the heat.
Williams discovered that the dognapper was likely someone who had been sitting nearby, having observed the surveillance footage. “The rock was sitting under me. [The thief] was watching him,” he noted, realization dawning on him.
As for the thief, he appeared to remain calm, and it’s unclear if he was the one who returned Lock to the station.
The NYPD has released images of the suspect, describing him as a man in his 20s with medium-length braids, dressed in black clothing and wearing a Yankees hat.
Williams expressed appreciation for anyone who intervened to bring Lock back, stating, “If there’s someone there [who] I decided to bring him back, he did the right thing.”
