This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

STOCKTON-

A bulldog stolen from a Lodi home over a month ago was tracked down in Stockton and returned to her owner.

"I just couldn't believe it. After a month and a half I got my Kita back," said JoAnn Laing.

The bulldog is officially named Nakita, but responds to the name Chub Chub.

Nakita was last seen on surveillance video, running down Vine Street in Lodi. A neighbor confirmed that a black car seen following the bulldog on camera later picked her up and drove off with her.

"She just looked so sad. She wasn't smiling like this," said Laing.

The circumstances surrounding Nakita's return convinced Laing that she did in fact fall victim to a dog napper.

A Facebook group called Lost and Found Pets 209 alerted Laing that someone was trying to sell Nakita on Facebook. Monday, Laing's son visited the seller's home in Stockton, confirmed the bulldog was Nakita, and took her home.

The seller, a woman named Patty, told FOX40 she bought Nakita Sunday for $200 after she saw a different craigslist ad for a bulldog. She said she met that seller at the 7/11 parking lot on Benjamin Holt Drive.

"It was 35 minutes later and he pulled up with the dog in the back. In a kennel. It didn't feel right. Something felt wrong," Patty said.

Nakita was found with two large open wounds on her ears, scabs on her legs, and had a large deteriorating rope tied around her neck. She was also severely underweight.

"Honestly, I could not afford to buy the dog. I really couldn't," Patty said.

Patty told FOX40 she decided to re-sell Nakita after finding out she was over the weight limit for her apartment complex. She also has a small chihuahua which did not get along with the bulldog.

"They deserve to have their dog back. I'm out $200. I look at is as I was put in Nakita's path. The important thing is she's home with her family now," Patty said.

Patty said the hispanic man who sold her Nakita drove a black Ford F-150 pickup truck. She said she spoke two two men on the phone to secure the sale: a man named Mike and a man named Jerome. Patty says the men told her Nakita was only three years old and just had a litter of puppies that they sold.

Laing says Nakita is sever years old and can no longer reproduce, due to health complications.

Weeks ago a Lodi animal shelter confirmed reports that 3 other bulldogs had been stolen from Lodi during the same time frame.

"I lost hope I'd find her. But my son didn't He said, Mom, I'm gonna find her and bring her back to you. So don't give up hope. Don't give up hope. Watch craigslist, maybe they'll go back on," Laing said.