Stolen French Bulldog, Puppies Returned to Miami Breeder

Police said the dogs were taken by a fellow breeder who had worked with the dogs' owner before.

A litter of prized French bulldog puppies and one adult French bulldog were returned to their owner after they were stolen on New Year's Eve.

Miami Police said 29-year-old Vigil Phillip Birch (pictured below) confessed to purchasing the 16 dogs, valued at $2,200, from an unnamed friend that took the them from the home of breeder Marcelo Cicuta.

Birch told police he and his friend had worked with Cicuta before in the dog-breeding world. When he bought the stolen puppies, Birch took eight of them to a location in North Lauderdale to have them raised so they wouldn't die, police said.

But after seeing several news reports on the stolen puppies, Birch dropped off the remaining puppies at a location where they were recovered.

Birch was arrested and charged with 16 counts of grand theft and 16 counts of dealing in stolen property.

The adult dog, named Che, will be 5-years-old in March. The puppies are between 2- and 4-weeks-old.

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