Char Smith was speechless when Pet Barn owner Millie Clark presented her Tuesday with a tiny Yorkshire terrier puppy.
"I can't take this," Smith protested, smiling at the 9-week old terrier. But there was no way she could say no as the puppy's big brown eyes looked back at her.
The puppy was given in appreciation after Smith chased after teenagers who broke into Clark's pet store Monday night and stole seven dogs.
About 7 p.m., Smith, co-owner of Zamberlettis's Restaurant & Lounge, saw two teenagers run across the restaurant's back yard with one holding an American bulldog puppy in his outstretched arms, she said. Smith ran down Washington Avenue, alerting a passerby, who called 911.
Clark said burglars broke in the back door and took five pit bull terriers, a boxer and an American bulldog, all 8 weeks old.
Police have arrested three adults and one juvenile in connection with the break-in and four of the dogs - three pit bulls and the bulldog - have been returned to Clark.
"She's a hero in my book," Clark said. "They are like babies to me. She saved my babies."
Terre Haute police arrested Thomas Nolan III, 19; Dustin Smith, 18; and a 16-year-old juvenile, all of Terre Haute, on preliminary burglary charges, said Terre Haute Capt. Kevin Mayes. Smith was held Tuesday in the Vigo County Jail without bail. Jail officials did not have record of Nolan on Tuesday.
Marvin D. Green, 18, of Terre Haute also was arrested on preliminary charges of receiving stolen property. He was released on his own recognizance after a Tuesday court appearance.
Clark believes burglars stole the dogs with intentions to sell them, she said. The suspects left more expensive dogs, leading Clark to believe they came in with a shopping list, she said.
On Tuesday, a repairman was in the business adding stronger bolts and locks to the doors.
"Thank you for chasing them down," Clark told Smith, who had been wanting to buy a Yorkshire terrier. "If you had not done that much, I do not believe I would have gotten them back."
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