Autistic Boy's Missing Dog Found After Vanishing In The Bronx

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Bronx boy who suffers from autism had his missing dog back Tuesday night.

Dennis Ventura's family told CBS2's Elise Finch the dog gives the child much needed emotional support.

"When we play outside he looks at us and he runs outside to the grass where I am and we all play together and that makes me happy," Dennis said.

Toby, a 2-year-old Chihuahua and Japanese chin mix, got out of the house last Thursday when Marina Castillo, Dennis' mother, opened the back door for repair workers. She posted flyers throughout the Parkchester neighborhood, but the dog was not seen for days.

The dog has a calming effect on Dennis, and without the dog, she says her son is sad, anxious and having trouble.

"He has autism, ADHD and a lot of behavior problems," Castillo said. "Dennis goes to his bedroom, to the restroom without asking mommy only when the dog is here. When the dog is not here he asks me to go, 'You have to go with me, I'm scared.'"

Toby is black, white and brown with blue eyes. He had been seen several times in the past five days, including a clothing store.

Employees said they gave him food and water, but then he ran off down the block.

Before Toby was found, Dennis was desperate for his return.

"Run fast and fast and fast, so fast that when you catch him, bring him to the Parkchester police and they will call us and we'll go there and we'll get him and bring him home," Dennis said. "I'll hug him so tight that he's going to go into outer space."

Late Tuesday, the family told CBS2's Finch that Toby had been found and returned to Dennis. Details were not immediately available.