Man Who Stole French Bulldog, Puppies Held on $14,500 Bond

A man who Miami Police say stole a prized French Bulldog and 15 of its puppies from a Miami breeder was being held on $14,500 bond Sunday.

Vigil Birch, 29, was charged with 15 counts of grand theft and 16 counts of dealing in stolen property for knowingly purchasing the stolen dogs, valued at $2,200.

Police said Birch bought the dogs from an unnamed friend that took them from the home of breeder Marcelo Cicuta. The two of them had worked with Cicuta before in the dog breeding world.

Birch returned the dogs after seeing the surge in media coverage following the theft, police said.

"When I see my dogs not here, my life changed in one second and now I have my life back," Cicuta said after the dogs were returned.

The breeder said he would now be getting ready for the next show with 5-year-old 'Che' and the weeks-old puppies.

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