Yorkshire Terrier Puppy, Stolen and Traded for Crack, Is Found and OK

A Yorkshire terrier puppy that was swiped from a Florida pet store, stuffed down a person's sweater and traded for crack cocaine has been found unharmed.

Largo police reported in a news release that the $1,600, 2-pound pup was found Wednesday morning at a St. Petersburg animal hospital.

Video surveillance at All About Puppies shows a man placing the dog down his shirt and leaving. A tip led detectives to 38-year-old Wayne Junior Barfield, who was arrested Friday and charged with grand theft.

The release says Barfield traded the dog for crack and cash in St. Petersburg. The person who bought the Yorkie later brought it to the Patridge Animal Hospital because the puppy got sick.

The hospital then scanned the puppy's microchip and discovered it had ben stolen. According to NBC affiliate WFLA, a veteranarian at the clinic had seen the stations story of the missing puppy and contacted the pet store directly to let them know the puppy was at the clinic and sick.

The family that purchased the puppy, who they named Cookie, did not know the Yorkie was stolen, the hospital told WFLA. 

Barfield was being held on more than $5,000 bail. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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