The Daily Populous Saturday August 16th, 2025 evening edition
Authored by blockclubchicago.org and submitted by Diazepampoovey0229

LOGAN SQUARE — Chicagoans are uniting in the search for Bam Bam, a beloved 14-year-old dachshund who was stolen from his Logan Square backyard in June.

Angel Santiago, 58, who is legally blind and has glaucoma and Type 2 diabetes, has been on a desperate search to find Bam Bam since he was taken from him. Since receiving ample media coverage on his search within the last week, neighbors, local rescues and animal welfare groups have banded together to increase awareness of the missing pup.

While Bam Bam has still not been found, a team of neighbors and animal lovers have created an email tip line, a fundraiser for search efforts and a Facebook page to keep the community up to date and streamline the search on Santiago’s behalf. A website was also made with all the information in one spot, including a link to download flyers.

They also helped Santiago file a police report this week, which he did not do at the time of the incident.

The group is organizing a flier canvassing event at 12 p.m. Saturday with two meeting places, one at the Logan Square Monument Park, 3150 W. Logan Blvd., and one at the southwest side of the Lincoln Park Passerelle, the arch pedestrian bridge in Lincoln Park that crosses Lake Shore Drive.

Those who wish to help are welcome to meet at one of the two starting points and will be asked to flyer various streets in Logan Square and Humboldt Park. The group and Santiago hope more people will help with flyer distribution in person and in local social media groups, and encourage people to share the flyer all over the city and suburbs.

The group decided to bring volunteers to Lincoln Park broaden the search for Bam Bam given the influx of visitors for the Air and Water show this weekend, said Amy Pasalich, one of six people co-organizing Saturday’s event.

“We are very hopeful that the more pressure we put on this, the more pressure from the community and the reward, that somebody will come forward,” Pasalich said. “I don’t want Angel doing this alone anymore. … This has truly just floored me. Animals are so important to all of us. If people put themselves in Angel’s shoes, [they’d know] how devastating this would feel.”

Pasalich, who also started the fundraiser, said Santiago and the group hope for Bam Bam’s safe return with no questions asked. They are not interested in pressing charges and are open to anonymous tips. Tips can be sent to bambamtipline@gmail.com.

The fundraiser quickly exceeded its financial goal after Pasalich launched it last week, raising nearly $16,000 as of Thursday afternoon. Money will be used to print flyers and to increase the reward amount if necessary.

As of now, the reward for Bam Bam’s safe return is $5,000, which is coming from PETA.

Some of those helping out also previously organized search parties for Minnie, the South Loop lab who escaped from her daycare earlier this year but has still not been found.

Angel Santiago, who is legally blind, has been flyering his neighborhood and the nearby Tony’s Fresh Market grocery store for his missing dog, handing out flyers with his number on it to shoppers and neighbors who might have seen his emotional support animal who was stolen from his Logan Square yard June 5, 2025. Credit: Ariel Parrella-Aureli/Block Club Chicago

Santiago said he’s trying to stay positive and has been moved by the show of support within the last week. He is now working with a police detective, the alderman’s office and dozens of neighbors and animal groups to find Bam Bam.

He admits he didn’t want all the attention but is grateful for the help. He hopes the excess money raised from the fundraiser that isn’t used for search or reward efforts can be used to pay it forward for another blind person, he said.

“I just want my dog back,” Santiago said. “The money can help another blind person, maybe help them get a dog or other needs like a navigation walking stick, something that helps them through everyday lives, even like comfortable shoes.”

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thisischemistry on August 16th, 2025 at 14:26 UTC »

Article with more details:

Blind man walks 7 miles a day handing out flyers to find his stolen service dog: ‘Bam Bam means the world to me’

> According to Santiago, two men entered his yard around 4 a.m. the morning of June 5, while Bam Bam was taking a bathroom break, and snatched the pup. Although Santiago heard the disturbance and even grabbed one of the suspects to try and stop him, the men were still able to get away with Bam Bam. Santiago believes the suspect he grabbed sounded like a teenager, but managed to slip out of his grasp. He said he heard Bam Bam barking as the men ran away with him.

ArthurMorgans_TB on August 16th, 2025 at 13:49 UTC »

People are fucking ruthless. Hope his pup is found safe and they're reunited.

Diazepampoovey0229 on August 16th, 2025 at 07:48 UTC »

Chicagoans are uniting in the search for Bam Bam, a beloved 14-year-old dachshund who was stolen from his Logan Square backyard in June.

Angel Santiago, 58, who is legally blind and has glaucoma and Type 2 diabetes, has been on a desperate search to find Bam Bam since he was taken from him. Since receiving ample media coverage on his search within the last week, neighbors, local rescues and animal welfare groups have banded together to increase awareness of the missing pup.

While Bam Bam has still not been found, a team of neighbors and animal lovers have created an email tip line, a fundraiser for search efforts and a Facebook page to keep the community up to date and streamline the search on Santiago’s behalf. A website was also made with all the information in one spot, including a link to download flyers