Pony back with Vienna circus after Christmas kidnap

12/27/12

An unidentified woman stole Fridolin, a 2-foot-tall circus pony, for her sick daughter's Christmas gift, but called later to tell officials where to find him.

VIENNA — A tiny pony is back at its Austrian circus home more than a week after apparently being kidnapped by a woman who wanted to give her sick daughter a Christmas surprise.

Fridolin the pony, who is only about 2 feet tall, went missing from the Vienna Christmas Circus early last week. He was found near a Vienna bus stop Wednesday.

Circus director Adolf Lauenburger told the Austria Press Agency Thursday that a woman called the circus and told officials where to find the pony. She said her daughter wanted a circus pony and she'd taken him to fulfill the girl's wishes for Christmas — but decided she couldn't keep the animal.

Lauenburger wasn't able to identify the woman. Police were looking into the matter.

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