By Kristen J. Kubisiak, Special to the Tribune

Christina Hansen thought she would never see her dog again.

When Sierra was stolen from Hansen’s gated backyard kennel last August, Hansen said she thought the worst.

&uot;I thought maybe someone stole her for dog-fighting,&uot; Hansen said.

The disappearance of the three-quarter Pitt Bull, one-quarter English Bull Dog was unlucky number three in a series of unfortunate pet-related incidences for Hansen and fianc Pablo Luna: Sierra’s brother choked to death on a backyard leash and her mother had been stolen two years earlier.

Hansen’s son, Daniel, now 4, took the dog theft particularly hard. Sierra was born May 25, two weeks before Daniel.

&uot;They were growing up together,&uot; Hansen said. &uot;They were best friends.&uot;

After a year of recovering from the loss of their pet, Hansen and Luna were warming up to the idea of a house cat. Then Hansen received some unexpected news.

&uot;A friend told me that she had seen Sierra up for adoption,&uot; Hansen said.

Confounded, Hansen said the information didn’t register until almost a week later.

&uot;I went to the vet and asked about her,&uot; Hansen said. &uot;Then the humane society.&uot;

There, Hansen said, her hopes were dashed.

&uot;They said they had seen a Pitt Bull mixed-breed that looked like her, but she was pregnant,&uot; Hansen said.

Then Hansen received a phone call from Lavonne Korn.

&uot;Close to a year ago I was doing foster care for the humane society, &uot; Korn said. &uot;I got a call about a pregnant dog hanging out by a farmhouse near Armstrong.&uot;

A week after Korn picked up the stray dog she named Missy, six puppies were born.

&uot;They looked like a mix of Pitt Bull and Rottweiler,&uot; Korn said.

Missy had been up for adoption ever since.

When Hansen saw a picture of Missy on the Internet she knew it was Sierra. After a couple rounds of phone-tag, Korn and Hansen connected. Hansen showed Korn one of Sierra’s puppy pictures.

&uot;She started crying,&uot; Hansen said. &uot;She was so excited. Then she said, ‘I have your dog.’&uot;

Hansen said she couldn’t believe it. But Sunday, June 27, Sierra was reunited with her family.

&uot;She’s really just gotten right back into it,&uot; Hansen said. &uot;It’s like she never left.&uot;

Korn had mixed feelings.

&uot;When I adopt a dog out I cry,&uot; Korn said. &uot;It’s sad, it hurts, but I am happy because they found a good home. I was happy to help Missy find her long-lost home.&uot;

Korn, who recently became the Freeborn County Humane Society director, said she hopes to help more people like Hansen in her new position.

&uot;We have started a log of lost and found pets,&uot; Korn said. &uot;So we can match up missing dogs and cats with the families that are looking for them.&uot;

Hansen said that after her own experience with the humane society she would be more inclined to volunteer.

&uot;It makes me want to help others,&uot; Hansen said. &uot;Because I gave up. I never thought I’d see Sierra again. Now we are all a family.&uot;

Korn said that in the future, Sierra may even have a chance to be reunited with the rest of her family &045; her puppies.

&uot;I have the e-mails of the people who adopted the puppies,&uot; Korn said. &uot;They send me pictures and may be interested in a family reunion.&uot;

Korn said she was glad this story had a happy ending, and advised those who have lost a pet not to give up.

&uot;Keep looking,&uot; she said. &uot;You don’t know what you might find.&uot;