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Refugee pets, owners may get reprieve

A proposed ordinance would extend to 6 months the waiting period before displaced pets can be adopted by new owners.

By WILL VAN SANT
Published June 7, 2006

CLEARWATER - Pets that wind up in Pinellas County shelters after natural disasters may get a better shot at reuniting with their owners.

The county has scheduled a public hearing June 20 on an ordinance requiring local groups that rescue pets from disaster areas to wait six months before new owners can permanently adopt them.

At first, officials considered extending the current waiting period of 30 days to a full year. But that could mean an influx of pets during hurricane season, even as refugees from the prior year remain in ownership limbo.

So six months was chosen as a reasonable wait time.

After Hurricane Katrina struck in August, thousands of owners were separated from their pets, who were housed in makeshift shelters throughout the disaster zone.

Animal rescue groups swooped in and took the pets away, dispersing them across the country.

The Pinellas County Humane Society ended up with 288 animals, many of those collected at a shelter in St. Bernard Parish, La.

The society has taken criticism for adopting the pets out to local owners too quickly, even as desperate storm victims continued to search for their animals.

In one local case, a prosecutor for the Hillsborough State Attorney's Office, Pam Bondi, adopted a St. Bernard from the humane society in October after fostering him for 30 days.

Bondi had recently lost her own St. Bernard, Donovan, to cancer.

Turns out the dog was owned by Steven and Dorreen Couture of St. Bernard Parish, who had lost track of the animal, named Master Tank, in the confused aftermath of Katrina.

Bondi has declined to give Master Tank back, saying the Coutures had not cared for him properly. The couple have retained a lawyer. They say they will get Master Tank returned and are considering filing criminal charges against the humane society.

"I understand Pam Bondi has lost her St. Bernard," Dorreen Couture said. "But you can't just take another family's dog."

The Coutures insist Master Tank was well cared for and his sickly state at the time Bondi adopted him was the result of his tough post-Katrina life as a vagabond.

Bondi disputes that, saying that he suffered from chronic health problems brought about by poor care. Her veterinarian has the evidence to prove her claim, she says, and there is no way she'll abandon the dog, which she has named Noah.

"He's a walking miracle today and he needs long-term care," Bondi said. "There is no way I can send him back there to die."

Dr. Kenny Mitchell, who directs Pinellas County Animal Services, says it's just such difficult custody disputes that the 6-month waiting period will address.

"It's very difficult for both parties," Mitchell said.

Also Tuesday, the Pinellas County Commission hired a new concessionaire for Fort De Soto Park. A county plan to expand the existing concessions to include beer sales and a restaurant was abandoned in February after a loud public outcry.

The new provider of food and drink is United Park Services, which County Administrator Steve Spratt says will offer an upgrade of the fare dished out by the Apostolu family, which has had the Fort De Soto concession contract since 1976.

No expansion of concession facilities, however, is involved.

Will Van Sant can be reached at 727 445-4166 or vansant@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 7, 2006, 02:00:17]