04:59 PM CDT on Wednesday, June 14, 2006

By Laura Elder / Galveston County Daily News

BACLIFF — A Boston terrier that went missing from his owner’s van at the Kemah Boardwalk last week is home.

His owner, Kevin Herrington, said a woman called him late Monday at his Bacliff home with news she had found Lucas near the Super Target store in Clear Lake Shores.

“I’m very happy,” Herrington said Tuesday morning. Herrington said he went to bed with a picture of Lucas and hoped that someone would call with good news. Someone did.

Herrington and Lucas are a familiar sight around Bacliff.

The story of the missing dog prompted numerous calls to Herrington and e-mails to The Daily News.

The pair goes about daily errands on Herrington’s electric wheelchair. Herrington, 45, usually dons a leather cap, sunglasses and his trademark plastic clown shoes with smiley face logos.

Lucas, who Herrington nicknamed, “Damn Good,” usually sports his own leather cap and goggles, Red Baron style.

Herrington, who has been wheelchair bound since a 1981 spinal cord injury, typically takes Lucas everywhere.

But Kemah Boardwalk doesn’t allow pets. So he left Lucas in the van Friday night, as is usually his custom when pets aren’t allowed in public place. Herrington said he kept the sliding doors and windows to the van slightly open to allow airflow. He also left an electric fan on in the car, he said.

Lucas typically stays in the van when he can’t go with Herrington. So when Lucas wasn’t there when he returned to the van, Herrington said he thought someone had stolen the dog.