Dog stolen from Louisiana family 3 years ago heads home after turning up as stray in Iowa

Karisa Lambert, 14, reacts as she is reunited with her Yorkshire terrier 'Sam,' picked up as a stray in Iowa, whom was stolen in 2012, at New Orleans' international airport Kenner, La., Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Thomas Lambert said his brother gave Sam to Karisa when she was 4 years old. The dog disappeared in June or July 2012 from their back yard, which is surrounded by woods in a rural part of the New Orleans suburb. “We had just given him up for dead,” he said. (AP Photo/Bill Fuller) (The Associated Press)

Karisa Lambert, 14, is reunited with her Yorkshire terrier "Sam," whom was stolen in 2012, and picked up as a stray in Iowa, at New Orleans' international airport in Kenner, La., Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Thomas Lambert said his brother gave Sam to Karisa when she was 4 years old. The dog disappeared in June or July 2012 from their back yard, which is surrounded by woods in a rural part of the New Orleans suburb. “We had just given him up for dead,” he said. (AP Photo/Bill Fuller) (The Associated Press)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – A Yorkshire terrier picked up as a stray in Iowa is heading back to the Louisiana home he was stolen from three years ago.

A city of Cedar Rapids news release says Sam was found April 14. The straggly pooch had a microchip implant, and city animal control officers were able to contact Sam's owners in the New Orleans suburb of Bridge City.

The dog was a gift to a 5-year-old girl about 10 years ago and was taken from the family's yard three years ago.

Sam was given some veterinary care in Cedar Rapids, and the city says United Airlines provided transportation for a Cedar Rapids animal control worker who's escorting Sam. Their flight is expected to land in New Orleans late Wednesday morning.