An Ontario boy distraught since the family dog ran off during a U.S. customs check in Detroit is the proud owner of a new pooch.

The Detroit Free Press reports an agent with U.S. Customs and Border Protection delivered the new dog to nine-year-old Joseph Wilcken over the weekend.

The Waterloo, Ont., family's previous dog, Ash, got loose Dec. 21 at the Ambassador Bridge.

A U.S. customs agent ran down the bridge ramp in pursuit of Ash, followed by Joseph's father, Niels Wilcken.

Joseph's mother, Ana Wilcken, says the new dog -- Coco -- is the same kind of dog as Ash, a Jack Russell terrier and pug mix.

She says her son was very upset through the holidays, but now is "so happy."

The Wilckens were en route to visiting family in Atlanta when they were directed to an inspection area after crossing the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit.

The family said they were asked to put their puppy, named Ash, in a cage while officers searched the vehicle.

After the family finished with U.S. Customs agents inside, Wilcken said he was told to go retrieve his dog from the cage.

But as Wilcken came out of inspection, he saw the dog running away.

With files from CBC