Buddy, dog lost 6 years ago, returned to owner - New York Daily News ~ Giga Dog

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Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News

Ben Choi (left) and Stephen Choi with their dog Buddy, who went missing six years ago.

A pet owner's happy reunion Thursday with his long-lost dog left a Queens man — who has been caring for the pooch for nearly six years — in tears.

Ben Choi got his Pekingese, Buddy, back after 78-year-old Alfred Hayek was coaxed into handing the canine over by two private detectives who negotiated the release.

“Finally, I got my dog back after five years and 10 months,” said Choi, 30, of Queens. “I’m just speechless."

Buddy appeared docile back in Choi’s arms, revealing nothing in his expressions of his long ordeal.

“I’m sure Buddy is happy too,” said Choi, a Con Edison worker. “Right now I’m gonna take him to a vet, make sure he gets the shots and care he needs and definitely give him a bath.”

Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News

Angel Nieves (left) and John Swensen (top row, second from left), of ABP Detective Services, with Ben Choi (right) and Stephen Choi. Nieves and Swensen helped negoitate the return of Buddy after six years.

Buddy went missing from Choi’s Fresh Meadows home in 2008. Choi said he searched for his furry friend for months, putting up posters and going door-to-door to no avail.

Last Friday, Choi got a call out of the blue from a Jackson Heights veterinarian, saying, “We have your dog.”

Hayek, who named Buddy “Lulo,” took him to the vet for treatment, unaware the animal had a microchip implanted under his skin that revealed his real name and owner.

But as Choi rushed to the vet’s office to pick up Buddy, Hayek scooped up the dog and scrammed.

Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News

Alfred Hayek (pictured), the man who took care of dog Buddy after the dog went missing, cried after he gave him back to Ben Choi.

Choi met with Hayek before hiring retired NYPD cops John Swenson and Angel Nieves of the APB Detective Services to negotiate Buddy’s release.

Hayek said he felt he deserved $2,500 for caring for the dog and showering him with love for the past six years. The private detectives got him to settle for $500 and he reluctantly handed Buddy over to Choi about 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

“They took away my dog,” a dejected Hayek said. “I feel bad. That dog was my heart.”

As Buddy got in a car with Choi and drove away, Hayek, who has a second dog, began to cry.

Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News

A neighbor of Alfred Hayek, who has another dog, said he took good care of Buddy and was a lovely person.

“I’m gonna miss my dog,” he said, his voice choked with emotion. “My Lulo is not coming back anymore.”

Nieves said Buddy appeared well cared for and said Hayek was a “complete gentleman” in the negotiations to turn Buddy over.

“Alfred still loves the dog very much, but he knows what’s right,” said Nieves. “The dog has been loved, but the right thing to do is what happened today.”

Hayek said he’d like to see Buddy again, and hopes Choi allows him visitation rights.

“I would like to see my dog, but I don’t know,” said Hayek.

Barbara Nosel, a former neighbor of Hayek who works at Rick’s Cafe in Jackson Heights, said Hayek doted over Buddy and frequently bought him baked chicken from a corner store.

“He took care of the dog so well,” Nosel said. “He carried the dog all the time. He’s a lovely person.”

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