Seven dogs were happily reunited with their owners after the van they were in was carjacked at gunpoint in Chicago, Wednesday.

A woman, who was about to open her shop Thursday morning, found the van along the South Wabash Street, abandoned, with a dog sitting in the front seat.

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"A dog was looking out the window to say, 'Help me' or 'Come get me,' " Daisy Bowers said. "So I called 911, and within 10 or 15 minutes they were here and rescued the dogs."

All seven dogs were found inside the van - alive but shivering amid the dangerously cold weather outside.

Joseph Giannini, owner of dog day care "Urban Out Sitters", said the 2002 Chrysler Town and Country minivan was forcibly taken from his driver by two armed men around 3:50 in the afternoon Wednesday.  The van was on its way to bring the dogs back to their owners.

"Fifteen years in business, and this is probably the most devastating thing I've had to deal with," Giannini said.  He added, the thieves most likely just wanted to steal the van and weren't really targeting the animals. 

By midday, dog owners started arriving.  One of them was 34-year-old Tad Tomita, whose miniature schnauzer got so excited upon seeing him.

"I didn't quite comprehend what was going on. ... I was in a state of shock. This whole thing was so surreal," Tomita said.  "We were just so happy she's back at home resting comfortably," Tomita added.

The manhunt against the two armed carjackers is ongoing.  Police have reviewed a surveillance video that will help in the investigation. 

Giannini said the suspects were between 18 to 25 years old. 

He also said that the pet owners were long time clients and that the dogs were considered family. 

TagsChicago, carjacking, dog day care, missing dogs