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Woman Charged In Boynton Beach Purloined Pooch Case

PALM BEACH (CBSMiami) - Boynton Beach police believe they are one step closer to solving the case of the Craigslist purloined pooch.

Shamari Patrick, 23, who was arrested a at a motel on Federal Highway, has been charged with grand theft.

Last month Rosalia Vieira's daughter went on Craigslist to find someone to watch they family's two dogs while they went to Brazil to attend a wedding.  Police said Vieira met Patrick, who used the name Keyana Morales, through the site and she agreed to watch them, according to police.

Vieira dropped one of the dogs, a four year old Shih-Teese named Fluffy, off Patrick. Her son decided to hold onto the second dog, Luke, until he left. When he did, he dropped it off with friends.

When Vieira returned on August 3rd, both Patrick and Fluffy were gone.

Investigators were able to trace the dog to Patrick who they arrested Sunday night. She reportedly admitted that she took the dog but decided to get rid of it because she is homeless and couldn't take care of it.  She told detectives that she sold via Craigslist about three weeks ago for $10 to an unknown Asian woman, possible name of Chita, who said she lived in Wellington, according to police.

Patrick said the woman was driving a newer model grey/silver Mercedes sedan and she had her 13-year-old daughter with her. The sale took place at the Tiki Hut motel in Boynton Beach.

Monday morning, Boynton Beach police tweeted out a picture of an officer holding Fluffy and then posted a video of a happy reunion with her family.

Boynton Beach Police reunite stolen dog with owner by Boynton Beach Police on YouTube

Patrick is expected to make her first appearance in bond court on Monday.

Watch the report, click here.

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