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Puppy's Return Thrills Terrier-Stricken Family

Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH

Niala was returned to Teresa Calderon and husband Sandro Butto Saturday night.

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By RICH SHOPES

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 16, 2008

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• Niala Back At Home

Joshua Martinez

TAMPA - Two thousand flyers and a few anonymous tips later, Niala, the missing puppy, is back home.

The 13-week-old female pit bull terrier was taken last week when burglars broke into Teresa Calderon and Sandro Botto's home on 122nd Street, according to police.

Volunteers from the Hernando County American Pit Bull Terrier Rescue group fanned out across the couple's North Tampa neighborhood last week, knocking on doors and handing out fliers with photos of the missing pooch.

Devlynn Saunders, the group's director, handed over the dog to Calderon on Saturday night. The puppy, which had been spotted wandering near Hillsborough Avenue on Friday, seemed healthy and happy.

"I couldn't believe it. I was speechless," Calderon said. "I just held her and cried and cried."

The dog, an early birthday gift for Calderon, replaced her longtime chow-mix that had died a couple of weeks earlier.

The couple adopted the puppy from Saunders' group two days before police say it was stolen.

Calderon came home from work Tuesday to find someone had thrown a brick through the sliding glass door. The couple's computer, television, jewelry, clothing and shoes were missing. Niala's crate was empty, too.

Calderon's hope that Niala would be found diminished as the days passed. The rescue group offered a $100 reward.

Thursday, detectives arrested Joshua Martinez, 19, on charges of burglary, theft, criminal mischief and dealing in stolen property.

He told detectives he had dumped the dog near the Deerfield subdivision at Twelve Oaks Boulevard and Waters Avenue.

"I couldn't believe I got her back. I'm happy. Everybody's happy," Calderon said.

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