Tampabay: Judge rules against Katrina dogs' new owners

ST. PETERSBURG — A Pinellas County judge Thursday denied a motion that would have allowed two Tampa Bay women to keep dogs abandoned in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.

An attorney for Rhonda Rineker had argued that the Humane Society of Pinellas took legal custody of the dogs using lawful “police power” before adopting them out to Rineker and Hillsborough County prosecutor Pam Bondi.

But Judge Henry J. Andringa disagreed, saying “the two dogs in question were not impounded pursuant to the (county’s) ordinance.”

Andringa’s ruling means that the case over the dogs’ ownership now heads to a trial scheduled for April 16.

Steven and Dorreen Couture of St. Bernard Parrish, La., sued the Humane Society, Rineker and Bondi in June to regain ownership of two dogs they left at a makeshift shelter after Hurricane Katrina. They had been told at the shelter they could reclaim the dogs later, but their efforts to get them back have been unsuccessful. The dogs were brought to Pinellas County by the Humane Society in September 2005.

Comments on this article

by Tara	05/16/07 03:52 AM
NOT only were they threatened,deputies put guns to their pets heads & said either you leave or we will shoot your dog(in front of your family)AND THEY DID! SBParish was also where the school pet shootings occurred/33 helpless cats&dogs inc. AngelGirl

by Sandra	03/15/07 07:28 PM
What you think you would do and what actually happens doesn't always turn out to be the same. That's what makes it a disaster. The dogs were not abandoned. Coutures took them to a temporary shelter until they could new home for family to live.

by Rob	03/13/07 09:32 PM
If pet was left behind then previous owners don't deserve them. No way in heck I'm leaving my dog. Unless they were threatened at gunpoint to leave them there is no excuse, you wouldn't leave a child behind so why your pet. They go where I go.

by Magoo	02/03/07 01:52 AM
Good for Amy, we don't have to worry about rescuing her then, just her pets if an unforseen disaster befalls her. GET A CLUE - the levees failed a day AFTER Hurricane Katrina passed. Had the levees held - NO DISASTER, NO FLOODING -Just usual cleanup!

by Magoo	02/03/07 01:38 AM
At least the judge has ethics. What is wrong w/Bondi? She is sworn to be an upholder of justice & decency. I guess in this case, she figures she is ABOVE the law or that it doesn't apply to her! What a flagrant waste of taxpayers money - It stinks...

by Valerie	02/02/07 09:14 PM
Great News. I believe this should never have gotten to this point....the doggies should have been returned to the owners when they were located. Waiting until April...that is ridiculous.

by frank	02/02/07 05:10 PM
According to testimony the dogs were left at a "make-shift" shelter to be cared for until a later time. NOW is that time; Give'm back !

by Michele	02/02/07 11:44 AM
It's ridiculous, of course the dogs should go back to their owners.

by rolando	02/02/07 03:15 AM
Good! The prosecutor will see herself in court and lose.

by Karen	02/02/07 02:31 AM
This is a no brainer. The dogs will go back to their previous owners.

by Carolyn	02/02/07 01:07 AM
"Wonder how many animal adoptees will be scared off in the future over this?" This was a unique situation, where fosters knew they were "helping" VICTIMS of Katrina; the news made it clear, on every channel, as did the state of LA.Give the pets back!

by Linda	02/01/07 11:12 PM
Good news the dogs are well canine foster care thumbs up. Now give the dogs back no law suit no theatrics. Trust was all that the family had left leaving them at the Katrina shelter. Simple facts simple solution. St. Fransis intercede, lend sanity.

by Ty	02/01/07 10:51 PM
Ms. Bondi.... you still have a chance to exit gracefully. Give the dog back before the final verdict is rendered. If you do so, you might save part of your reputation. You don't have kids. You have no idea how hard this is on them.

by Howie	02/01/07 10:49 PM
The dogs were not abandoned. They were left at a facility that was to take care of them during a truly awful event in which they had a difficult decision to make. They deserve to have their dogs returned to them.It is amazing this is taking so long!

by Claire	02/01/07 09:55 PM
The original owners should have there dogs back! Have been watching this case from the beginning and have found owners for 7 Katrina dogs since the hurricane.

by Barry	02/01/07 09:26 PM
Give the kids their dogs back!!!!!!

by Mary	02/01/07 09:14 PM
No people to love you Bondi? A neurotic fix on a dog? Get a new dog and a life

by lucas	02/01/07 09:08 PM
Is this lady saying that because a dog had heartworms she keeps it? tna what are you talking about. I know. You're a lawyer trying to equate heartworm is abuse and you get. Kids can get heartworms which are located in every State. You want kids?!

by What the?	02/01/07 08:59 PM
Listen to this stupid board you guys sound like drunk lawyers. did someone say that there are children involved? You mean the B*** has kept this dog just for herself for any reason she wants. Your city is messed up and she is a mayor or something

by Sue	02/01/07 08:57 PM
To Bondi/Rin supporters below: study the facts before libeling the Coutures. B&R: GIVE THE DOGS BACK NOW! And be grateful if you don't have to pay compensation for the suffering you've caused--and for using the C's "property" for 13 months.

by William H.	02/01/07 08:57 PM
AMY: Mr. Couture had to cut a hole out of his roof to get to safety after the levees broke 2 days after Katrina left. Boats floating by were given orders by homeland sec. to shoot any dogs that were trying to be taken. You would have perished Amy.

by jb	02/01/07 08:54 PM
keywords, they left the dogs behind,if they were worried that much about them they would not have been left behind,the citizens should be allowed to fire judges, because some of them think that they are gods,ever hear of common sense,JUDGE

by megs	02/01/07 08:39 PM
The "humane society" had no right to adopt those dogs or any of the others out so quickly. They should have been held at a temporary shelter or in foster care. The Coutures and other families were lied to and their pets STOLEN. Give them back.

by George	02/01/07 08:15 PM
It's doubtful that the original and rightful owners would be going through all this if they didn't love thesE dogS. cmon Ms. Bondi-there are children involved!! Show some compassion.

by tna	02/01/07 07:39 PM
The effing coutures left the dog chained up in the yard and he had heartworm, that takes months and years or neglect. Don't give the dogs back

by Amy	02/01/07 07:23 PM
I live and Tampa and I have a PLAN for my animals and that doesn't include leaving them behind for any reason. Where I go, they go. Anyone who would abandon their pets doesn't deserve them.

by Sandra	02/01/07 07:20 PM
Future adopters scared off because of this? Don't make the Coutures shoulder the guilt for that, when it was HS-Pin that violated their "contract"/MOU with the state of Louisiana, such as it was.

by Dog lover	02/01/07 07:12 PM
GIVE THE DOGS BACK!! I can't imagine the anguish the Courtures have endured: hurricanes, then the loss of their pets! Have a heart; do the right thing: RETURN THEIR PETS - NOW!!

by why now	02/01/07 07:02 PM
Previous comment:"As I have read it seems both dogs were in need of some medical attention, heartworms, tc.The new owners should keep the dogs". These dogs survived the worst natural disaster in US historykilling 4000.medical need=bondi forever how?

by Last thing	02/01/07 06:55 PM
Remember last week the story about the kidnapped boys being found after 4 years?Bondi would demand that the children never go back to the original parents ever. As long as the "rescuer" adopted them legally within the last 4 years it's ok??!!disbar

by William H.	02/01/07 06:51 PM
If the Humane Society never had police powers then why does she have the dog? What are they fighting in court? She has presented nothing for a defense and the Coutures lawyer still never asks for the dogs return? who is the coutures lawyer anyhow

by Alexies	02/01/07 06:48 PM
Dear times your poll question is extremely misleading and guiding towards miss boni."being legal" is one of dozens of excuses she is using.What about:Go back to Coutures because Bondi is illegal?You never asked that.You asked if legal for bondi?why?

by Irvin	02/01/07 06:22 PM
Seriously -- WHO CARES who has the dog, as long the dog is cared for. Stop this stupid case and decide. There's bigger things going on than this stupid thing. And this is front page news??????????

by Pat	02/01/07 06:07 PM
Jen says "They were adopted in good faith. Wonder how many animal adoptees will be scared off in the future over this?" Good faith "NOT" HSP went dog shopping while rescuing! Ignored owners calls, emails, who needs this type of dognapping rescues?

by Caitlin	02/01/07 05:49 PM
You can tell by all the comments here that most posters did NOT read the original story, and have NOT kept up with this story as it has eveloved.So many comments are steeped in ignorance.Go back,people,and do your homework.The dogs belong to Cotures.

Judge rules against Katrina dogs' new owners

Early Edition: The judge's ruling means that the case over the dogs’ ownership now heads to a trial scheduled for April 16.