Investigators say they received a call from the man who had taken a dog from the Food Maxx on Prater Way shortly after they announced they were looking for him.
They say the dog was not wearing a collar or tags when it was taken, just a bandana.
He had taken the white Great Pyrenees back to his home believing it had been abandoned, and returned it to Sparks Police Saturday night.
Officers do not expect to charge him with the theft and believe it to be an honest mistake.
The dog was reunited with its proper owner Saturday night.
The Nevada Humane Society and Washoe County Regional Animal Services says proper identification for your pet is one of the most important suggestions they can recommend to avoid your pet being mistakenly identified as an abandoned animal.
"I can't count the number of time I've seen dogs running down the street and I've scooped them up and they had tags on and I just called their owner directly," said Michelle Perez Events Manager with the Humane Society.
If you can't call the owner directly, it's important not to keep the pet at your house, and to instead bring it to animal services.
"If you thought the animal was abandoned, take it to a vet or animal control service and they would've been able to scan for a microchip," says Perez.
Animal experts say you should also never leave you're dog unattended when away from home.
"If you have errands to run and places to go that are not going to welcome your pets, please leave them at home where they're safe," says Shyanne Schull, Director of Regional Animal Services.
