Lily Allen gets kidnapped dog back

Jan 5, 2007, 12:20 GMT

Lily © SOLARPIX.COM Photorazzi

Lily Allen has been reunited with her dognapped pooch after paying a £500 reward.

The 'Smile' singer - whose beloved English bull terrier Maggie May was snatched a week ago - rushed back from her holiday in the Caribbean after hearing it had been handed over to friends in exchange for the money.

She said: "I can't tell you how overjoyed I am to have her back, how grateful I am to everyone who has sent kind words and helped to find her. It's been an awful experience."

Lily's dog was taken after being left briefly in a van outside the house of her friend who was looking after the mutt while the singer was on holiday.

After Lily offered the reward, the thieves got in touch, claiming they had bought the dog as a present, but were willing to give it back in exchange for the cash.

She said: "I realised these people were obviously in the business of moving dogs. Now I feel guilty for having given them the money but I love my dog and had no choice. The fact that she was very thin made me think she was not fed and she was infested with flees."

The matter is now being handled by the police and the RSPCA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

(C) BANG Media International