Haring’s dog came home.

Keith Haring relief of a dog worth more than $8,000 was returned without damage while the University Police’s investigation focused on polygraph tests in May. The piece was stolen around spring break.

Word that the painting was safe and sound came Wednesday after University officials determined waiting any longer would probably not affect the investigation, said Michelle Emmett, University Programming & Activities director.

“We’re sorry it has taken so long to share the news and that there was actually no conclusion to the case,” Emmett said.

An arrest is not soon expected, but the case is not closed, she said.

Haring’s untitled acrylic on wood relief was assessed at about $8,000 in 1986. To the layman, the piece looked like a dog carved in wood.

But Haring’s death from AIDS in February will make the piece’s value skyrocket. Haring, an admitted drug user, was noted as a graffiti artist. He became active in political and social causes, especially AIDS, and sold an art piece for $350,000 before his death.

Emmett said during the polygraph tests, the art piece was mailed to the Student Association. A phony return address was used.

The UPs were immediately notified and took the piece as evidence. Different leads to the thief continued through the summer, but none were productive, Emmett said. Not enough evidence was collected to make an arrest, she said.

Four people agreed to take the tests. Three people took the test, including an NIU student. All “passed with flying colors,” Emmett said.

“The other person agreed to take the polygraph test but reneged several times, which doesn’t mean anything. That’s no evidence at all,” Emmett said.

Emmett declined to name those taking the polygraph tests or if the others were NIU students.

The piece was stolen from a storage room in the Holmes Student Center. Since then, new locks and other security measures were installed.

The art collection belongs to NIU students and is owned by the SA, which bought the piece in 1982 from the Tony Shafrazi Art Gallery in New York City’s SoHo District for $1,200.

The SA collection has about 250 pieces with an estimated value of more than $200,000, said SA Art Curator Erik Eide. About 35 percent of the collection is distributed throughout campus at any one time, he said.

The Campus Activity Board oversees the collection.