Owners Claim Loyal Labrador Grace

The owners of a Labrador retriever that was found guarding the body of a dog killed by a hit-and-run driver on a busy La Puente street have contacted authorities and will be allowed to take possession of the animal, probably tomorrow, authorities said today.

The black Labrador -- whose name is Maggie -- had been named Grace by
workers at the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center. The canine became the center of international attention after video footage surfaced  showing her standing
guard over a fatally injured dog on a La Puente street last week, said Capt.
Aaron Reyes of the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control.

A good Samaritan spotted the dog on Hacienda Boulevard and placed traffic cones on the street around the animal and the fatally injured yellow Labrador she was trying to protect. He called animal control workers, then took photos and video.

The black Labrador had no identification tag and no microchip to identify her owner. Animal control workers retrieved the dead dog and the black Labrador, then circulated the photos and video to news media, and the story garnered international attention.

"She's a rock star," Reyes said this morning. "You know what I think makes her so famous is just her display of compassion and loyalty. She sat there with her buddy ..."

Reyes said the owners of the dog contacted authorities today, and provided documentation that showed Maggie is their pet.

They will take possession of the animal, probably tomorrow, after authorities inspect their property, Reyes said. The owners, whose names were not being released publicly, will be issued citations for having an unregistered dog, and for allowing the animal to run loose, Reyes said.