Stolen Parrot Returned With Apology.

Byline: Chris Echegaray

Aug. 29--TAMPA -- Skittles, the parrot who can bark like a dog, is safe and not a feather was harmed, authorities said.

Deputies arrested two Tampa residents Monday night in connection with the theft of the parrot from a Petland store.

Maria Loaiza, 20, of 4927 Shetland Ave., and Henry Roman, 24, of 14101 Hanford Way, are charged with grand theft stemming from the incident Thursday at the Petland at 7699 W. Waters Ave.

The bird was stolen Thursday by a man and two women who looked at dogs and birds in the store. Skittles, who is priced at $1,899, is a yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot who can say "I'm a Rottweiler" and bark like a dog.

On Monday, store manager Sue Waugaman contacted the sheriff's office after a woman called the store about wanting to return the bird. The caller told Waugaman that the people who took Skittles would bring him to the McDonald's restaurant at Hanley and Waters avenues.

When deputies arrived, Roman turned over the stolen bird, and he and Loaiza were arrested at 10 p.m.