Texas 'Dogfight' Ends As Pup Returned to Owners
Posted on: Friday, 25 April 2008, 21:00 CDT
McALLEN, Texas - A custody case that wrecked a small-town south Texas mayor's political career ended Thursday when she was ordered to return a Shih Tzu to her neighbors.
Grace Saenz-Lopez, the former mayor of Alice, had claimed Puddles died last year while she was pet-sitting for the neighbors. Three months later, however, a relative of the neighbors saw the dog, renamed Panchito, at a grooming business.
Saenz-Lopez insisted that Rudy Gutierrez and Shelly Cavazos had neglected the animal, but Judge Richard Terrell in McAllen ordered her to give the dog back to the couple.
"She's broken-hearted, man," said Homero Canales, Saenz-Lopez's attorney, but he added that his client would comply with the order.
Canales added that the judge "admonished us for making a big deal out of a dog case."
The lawyer's wife delivered the contested pooch Thursday afternoon.
"I think everybody is just delighted," said Dee Ann Torres, the owners' attorney.
Originally published by Associated Press .
(c) 2008 Commercial Appeal, The. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Source: Commercial Appeal, The
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