Courts
State appeals court rules in La Crosse County dispute over pet dog
Whose dog are you? A Wisconsin appeals judge decides that question, in a La Crosse County case where a man and woman both claimed to own the same dog after they broke up.
The man, identified in the appeals court ruling as Ronald Greenwood, originally owned the dog named “Todd,” and former girlfriend Shawna Hathaway said Ronald gave her the pet, and she took Todd with her when they split.
Ronald says he didn’t seriously give Todd to Shawna, and reported the dog stolen after he wasn’t returned by Shawna.
Judge Rachel Graham agrees with the local ruling from small claims court that evidence, including paying the dog license fees, establishes Shawna as Todd’s legal owner.
In court, Ronald said that he had told Shawna the dog was hers to make her feel better.