ALBUQUERQUE (KFDX/KJTL) — A stolen chicken has been returned, unharmed, to the first-graders from Hodgin Elementary School. The chicken, Polka Dot, had been taken from her coop at the school over the weekend. 

Students had said that Polka Dot was like family—having raised her since she was just a chick. They put their handwriting lessons to the test by making missing chicken posters to hang around the school. 

The school received a call Tuesday morning from a man who said that he might have Polka Dot. A few kids in his neighborhood had given him the chicken to care for – because he raises chickens in his backyard.

He said he was watching TV when he saw a news story about Polka Dot and realized the chicken had been stolen.