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Women charged, stolen therapy dogs returned to disabled vets

Posted at 10:20 AM, Sep 19, 2012
and last updated 2012-09-20 12:05:24-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - Two therapy dogs stolen from two disabled veterans have been recovered and returned to their owners and now both of the suspects in the case are in custody.

Police detectives said the women, Tess A. Fisher, 20, and Rachel A. Steinman, 19, stole the dogs - last Friday afternoon.

A black and tan Chihuahua named Fatty and black and white colored Jack Russell terrier named Spot were taken from Hilltop Promises, a community outreach center located at 2 E. Broad St., police said.

The Chihuahua was recovered Monday. On Wednesday, police said 20-year-old Tess Fisher returned Spot to the police. Fisher was charged with two counts of of grand larceny and obstruction of justice.

Police said 19-year-old Rachel A. Steinman turned herself in on Thursday. They said she had dropped the Chihuahua off at a city shelter over the weekend.

The girls apparently told officials the took the animals because they were being abused. That's a claim the owners deny.