A blind man has been reunited with his new £6,500 puppy after she was stolen from him by baseball bat-wielding thugs.
Mohammed Atta was set upon by a "car full of lads" when he was walking his dog, now named Precious, with a friend in Bradford, last week.
The 24-year-old, who was whacked on the leg with the bat, believes he was targeted because he is visually-impaired.
He didn’t think he would see his pup again - but was stunned when his American Bull turned up after a public Facebook appeal.
However, the vile crooks had cropped her ears - a sick trend to make certain breeds look more fierce.
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It is thought the sick act was carried out to disguise her appearance.
She was stolen on April 25 from the Scholemoor area of Bradford, West Yorkshire, just three days after entering Mohammed's life.
He said: “I am so happy she’s home so we all know she’s safe now. I’m going to name her Precious.”
“I’m absolutely over the moon she is back safe in my arms.”
But he added: “The people who took her have hurt her, they have butchered her ears.
“We found her in an extremely bad state in some next crackhead home.
“They have stapled her ears after butchering them.
“I’m just hoping she has no infection, please can you all pray for us.
“I think these people who took her are disgusting vile individuals that deserve to be sent to prison.
“What they have done is animal cruelty.
“I’m fully against all this and I hope the police can get us justice because it’s all wrong how can anyone hurt such an innocent soul.”
Mohammed got her back after appealing for information on Facebook.
He had emotionally posted: “My female dog has been stolen, Bradford Scholemoor area.
“If anyone finds her or is offered her you will get a reward for finding her and bringing her home.
“Please please share and bring her home to me!
"I’m afraid they could harm her or do some serious damage. She’s only a baby.”
The shocking thefts come as new figures reveal dog thefts in the UK have reached a seven-year high, with the equivalent of eight dogs being stolen each day.
Last year 2,760 dogs were snatched from their owners, and the number of heart-breaking thefts has risen 16% since 2015, according to new data.
West Yorkshire Police, which had the second highest number of theft, recorded 199.
The force said in a statement: "Police are investigating a robbery which happened on Springfield Avenue, Bradford.
"Officers were called at 21.59 to reports a man had been attacked while he was out walking his dog. The suspects stole his puppy. It's believed the suspects left the scene in a Black Audi."
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