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Judge: Group Erred In Taking 121 Dogs From Pinellas Home

News Channel 8 photo by KATY HENNIG

A group protests the return of 60 dogs to a Pinellas County woman.

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 23, 2008

Updated: 07/23/2008 02:13 pm

CLEARWATER - A woman from whom 121 dogs were taken in April won 60 of them back this morning after a county judge ruled the Suncoast Animal League didn't have the authority to seize them.

The dogs – a mix of Pomeranians, Malteses and Yorkshires – were taken from Teresita Hughes' home at 339 Ranch Road in Tarpon Springs on April 7.

Rick Chaboudy, the executive director of the league, had summoned Pinellas County Sheriffs Office deputies to the house, saying the animals were being neglected, a deputy testified at a court hearing today. The league then took custody of the dogs, and more than $100,000 has been expended in veterinary bills.

David Parry, Hughes' attorney, argued that Chaboudy and the league had not been given approval by the county commission to seize animals, as is required, and county Judge Myra Scott McNary agreed.

Chaboudy was appointed by a judge to act as an agent investigating animal neglect, which is the first step toward acquiring the authority to seize animals, but he didn't follow through with the second step, which is to gain approval from the county commission, Parry said after the hearing.

Chaboudy appeared stunned by the judge's decision. "It came as a complete shock to us," he said after the hearing.

In the next 10 days, Parry and the league are expected to decide which dogs will be returned to Hughes. Hughes has said she is capable of taking care of only 60 dogs and might agree to relinquish the remaining animals, Parry said.

One reason she had so many is that she refused to euthanize or put up for adoption animals that had grown old and no longer were suitable for breeding, Parry said.

The Suncoast Animal League filed a petition seeking custody of the dogs, and the court hearing was held today to decide whether the league should get them.

Once McNary found the league had no standing to seize the animals, the petition was voided.

At the hearing, Deputy Carolyn Wagner testified that she thought the animals should be removed after Hughes invited deputies and the league into her home. Wagner didn't think the animals had sufficient air or exercise, their barking was incessant, and she saw food tainted with feces.

Parry said Hughes typically had two employees come in the morning to clean up, but they hadn't shown up for three days, and Hughes was trying single-handedly to take care of them.

McNary ruled that after 60 of the animals are returned to Hughes, representatives of one of the county's humane society's should make weekly visits to Hughes' home and kennel to ensure she is taking care of the animals.

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