Thieves return dog to disabled girl

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 1 - Thieves have returned a dog they stole near Naples Saturday belonging to a young disabled girl after a nationwide outcry.
    The 12-year-old disabled girl whose German Spitz was stolen by burglars last Saturday in Acerra (Naples) has hugged her dog again.
    The girl's father, Rosario Ferraro, said that late yesterday evening he received an anonymous phone call in which the thieves announced that they had left the dog near the family's gate.
    "They said, with a foreign accent, that they were returning it for the little girl," Rosario said.
    "They said 'you see, we are thieves, but honest'." Rosario thanked the national community for appealing for the animal to be returned.
    "Italy took action for my daughter Miriam, so they returned it.
    "Thank you so much to everyone, my daughter is crying with happiness." The animal, Maui, was gifted to the girl nine years ago when she was three, and they have since become inseparable friends.
    The theft spurred an outpouring of solidarity and sympathy with offers to give Miriam one of their dogs, identical to Maui, and a whip-round to help her buy another one.
    But late last night came the hoped for solution and thanks to the kind-hearted robbers the star animal is now basking in Miriam's embrace again. (ANSA).