NATCHEZ — A neglected pit bull reportedly stolen from the Natchez animal shelter is back in Humane Society care after she was found in Vidalia Saturday afternoon.

“A girl called here about 1:15 (Saturday) afternoon,” shelter Director Pat Cox said. “She said she thought she had our dog. She said she found her loose in Vidalia.”

The dog was in the same condition she had been when she was at the shelter — healthy, Cox said.

The dog, found suffering from malnutrition in February, was removed from her owner’s custody. The owner was later arrested on charges of neglect.

The dog gained weight, was healthy and was on her way toward being adopted when she was reportedly stolen early Thursday morning.

There was no way the dog could have gotten out of the pen herself, Cox said.

“Someone broke the pipe off the air conditioner when they came over the fence,” she said.

Cox said she was relieved the dog was in good health Saturday.

“We really thought we’d never seen her again,” she said. “We think she will be placed soon. It had a happy ending.”