A 15-year-old New York City girl has been reunited with her Yorkshire terrier, but only after a $6 million lawsuit to get the pooch back had been filed.

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The father of Michele Klein said she had been diagnosed with malignant melanoma and the dog has been a tremendous comfort to her during her recovery, the New York Daily News reported Saturday.

The Kleins said family friend Ted Kohl gave Michele the dog on her 11th birthday and he would often dog-sit -- but when the Kleins were on vacation last November, Kohl was convicted of stealing millions from a construction project and was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. The dog, named Hershe, went to live with Kohl's girlfriend, Gayle Fisher Worth -- and the Kleins said she refused to give the dog back.

In a settlement, Michele Klein got Hershe back Friday, the newspaper said.