The search for a missing LaGrange police dog came to a tail-wagging end Wednesday afternoon, more than two days after he was reported missing.

Chico was found alive and appeared to be fine, the police department said. He was soon reunited with his handler and was checked out by his veterinarian.

"Sheriff James Woodruff and Chief Lou Dekmar are very appreciative to the men and women of their agencies and those from other agencies who worked past exhaustion since Monday to see that Chico was recovered and reunited with his handler Officer Wendy Bryant," LaGrange police posted on the department's Facebook page.

The Belgian Malinois and Bryant were called Monday to assist with the search for an escaped felon, the LaGrange Police Department previously said. The escapee was later captured, but Chico didn’t return to his handler.

“The escapee stated he did fight with a dog while he was hiding in the woods and wounds he sustained confirmed his story,” the police statement said.

Numerous law enforcement agencies joined in the search for Chico, including the Georgia Department of Corrections, which agreed to return the inmate to the same spot where he last had contact with the dog, according to police.

Chico was located around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

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