Southpinellas: Case of 2 dogs will go to trial

ST. PETERSBURG - A Pinellas County judge has denied a motion that would have allowed two Tampa Bay area women to keep dogs rescued after Hurricane Katrina.

And now a Louisiana couple's quest to reclaim the dogs could be headed to trial the week of April 16.

An attorney for one of the defendants had argued earlier this week that the plaintiffs' claim should be dismissed because the Humane Society of Pinellas took legal custody of the displaced dogs by virtue of "state police power" and also exercised its "power of authority under Pinellas County code" in adopting them out.

But in an order signed Wednesday and released Thursday, County Judge Henry J. Andringa wrote that "the two dogs in question were not impounded pursuant to the county's ordinance."

Steven and Dorreen Couture of St. Bernard Parish, La., filed suit in June against the Humane Society and the two women who adopted the dogs, Rhonda Rineker of Dunedin and Pam Bondi of Tampa.

In the aftermath of the hurricane, the Coutures left their dogs at a makeshift Louisiana shelter.

The Coutures tracked the dogs to Pinellas County in early 2006, but by then, the Humane Society had adopted them out - the St. Bernard to Bondi and the shepherd-mix to Rineker. Both adoptions took place in October 2005.

The Coutures' attorney, Murray Silverstein, said Andringa "did the right thing under the law."

Silverstein said he plans to file a motion today asking Andringa to halt the legal proceedings and order the dogs returned to the Coutures.

He said the dogs should either be returned to the Coutures or be held by an independent body, such as Animal Services, pending a final hearing or trial.

However, Camille Godwin, Bondi's attorney, said she doesn't think the case is over. She said it will be left to a jury to decide whom the dogs belong to and whether they were abandoned.

Besides denying the motion for dismissal, Andringa granted a motion by Silverstein that allows the plaintiffs to proceed on their ownership claim against Bondi and Rineker, but abates their negligence claims against the Humane Society for "subsequent, separate adjudication."

Silverstein said the separation of the two issues would help expedite resolution of "the primary issue in the case," which is the ownership of the dogs.

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Comments on this article

by Sandra	05/17/07 08:56 PM
Terri--the C's should be GRATEFUL that Pinellas HS orchestrated it so that they couldn't find their own dogs, by not posting them at Petfinder? What's to be grateful about PHS STEALING their dogs and flipping them to someone else? You must be joking.

by Sandra	05/17/07 08:50 PM
Terri--the C's should be GRATEFUL that Pinellas HS orchestrated it so that they couldn't find their own dogs, by not posting them at Petfinder? What's to be grateful about PHS STEALING their dogs and flipping them to someone else? You must be joking.

by Sam-I-Am	05/12/07 08:40 AM
I agree Jackson. I dont believe people would think it were Heaven if they couldnt share it with all their beloved fuzzy&furry companions for all eternity. It breaks my heart to think of Tank&Nila separated from each other and their family until then.

by Jackson	05/11/07 11:16 AM
I belive dogs have souls because God created dogs. they also have to live through life so y wouldnt the have the same reword

by thedivinemissm	05/04/07 10:12 AM
Actually that should read ~Bondi&Rineker are far less than perfect PET careTAKERS~ They are taking someone elses pets AND not even taking very good care of them to boot. Tank is allowed to run freely around Bondis neighborhood&left alone all day long

by BubbaGump	05/03/07 10:12 PM
It sure GAGS me to think maybe this paper stoops to "tossing out comments" by those who don't think PrincessPam &HerHandMaidenRhonda are so perfect themselves. Seems all they really want are those critical of the family from Louisiana??Unbiased NOT!!

by thedivinemissm	05/02/07 04:44 PM
Wonder who is putting out the gag order?? What a bunch of hypocrites. So it's ok to keep attacking and spewing lies about the Couture family BUT don't dare to even point out that Bondi and Rineker are far less than perfect pet caregivers themselves?!

by Mary	04/23/07 09:17 AM
TERRI GET REAL - They weren't local strays. These were Katrina pets. It was all the rage to "adopt one" so they could show it off to their friends. Also the receiving shelters got free PR and mucho donations for taking them in. Why kill a cash cow?!

by TERRI	04/17/07 03:27 PM
Normally when owners of dogs are not able to be contacted, the animals are either adopted or eunthanized. What would they do then if the dogs had been euthanized? They should be grateful that someone adopted them (they aren't puppies you know).

by gail	04/17/07 03:04 PM
This is crazy. Walk in the Coutures shoes. Its nice for someone to help out with any of the victims of Katrina but to not give up the dogs up,how heartless can you be? Hope the judge rules for the Coutures. Why does it take so long for a hearing?

by sydney	04/16/07 09:01 PM
This is so STUPID and RIDICULOUS I think the dogs should live with the pet owners in Florida.

by pat	03/06/07 07:12 PM
The judge has already ruled the dogs belong to the Coutures-however, FL has a law that says they can keep them w/putting up a bond, Which they did - the dogs will be going home. Paula, so sorry for what you went thru, it's such a travesty..god speed!

by paula	03/04/07 09:00 PM
I pray for the Coutures that the judge & jury return both dogs. i am also from st. bernard parish & forced to leave my pet of 10 months.because of being rescued by helicopter. at least three weeks passed before anyone was able to return.court is 3/12

by paula	03/04/07 08:55 PM
I found my Pablo on 12/12/05.he was in foster care.2 wks. later I was told Pablo was NOT my dog & then he was addopted to the foster parents. i have proof thru photos. they still will not surrender my Pablo.Now, he's 2yrs. 3 mo's. he doesn't know me,

by Nola	02/24/07 04:22 PM
Yippee! These folks knew when to give up, it's useless. But then again, they aren't movie stars who love the limelight like the 2 in Pinellas, make that one and the other the puppet and the PR advertisement for her talking head attorney.

by Sandra	02/23/07 03:43 PM
Bondinker must think they are going to be the first and only defendants to win one of these pet custody battles... two more go home...check out http://tinyurl.com/3x44wt and http://tinyurl.com/2h9eux

by Pat	02/16/07 06:18 PM
If one doesn't know why "one person" is picked on - then one doesn't know the story of what the adopters have done to this family and continue to do as each day passes, by refusing to help them heal. These poor children. This is a travesty!

by DOG PARENT	02/15/07 10:38 PM
Stop focusing on Pam. Think of the welfare of the dogs. The Humane Society performed wonderful services for these animals and in good conscience. The two ladies that adopted did so in good faith ... why pick on one person.

by DOG OWNER	02/15/07 10:33 PM
The dogs should stay with their new owners. They are much happier and much healthier. The Bondis left them ... it comes down to that. I would never leave my dogs or keep them outside to weather the elements. These dogs are now happier and content

by Sherri	02/13/07 09:31 PM
The Gasparilla Film Festival will be showing the film An American Opera twice. Please check our website www.gasparillafilmfestival.com. click Festival and Events to see the film schedule. Please come out and support the film!

by Brian	02/12/07 09:35 PM
Pam Bondy would say that Holocaust survivors abandoned their shoes at Auschwitz. These people have never cared about people only winning a legal case. God help you

by Sandra	02/12/07 12:36 PM
The doc. to show at Gasparilla discusses the Katrina/pets situation in general. Shows the circumstances pet owners were up against. Some prominent pet rescuers share their thoughts regarding adopters who refuse to return pets to true owners.

by Elly	02/11/07 11:51 PM
Thank you Mr. Demorris A. Lee for being the only media in a 100 mile radius to even concern themselves with this terrible legal case. News can be "Ugly Betty". These Couture families will always be grateful for your information and so will the reader

by Tom	02/11/07 07:15 PM
You said something about the Gasparilla Film festival that is showing a movie about this particular case or is it about the animals in katrina in general?

by Lucas again	02/09/07 05:20 PM
This was a comment below "The Coutures should be able to see that the emotional welfare of these dogs would be tramatic to take them away from their new owners!" OK. Did Bondi concider that when she took Master Tank that they had for5yearsB4? never

by Lucas again	02/09/07 05:15 PM
has everyone seen a clip of what Pam Bondi knew the family went through? This film will show everything. www.myspace.com/eyetoeyedocumentary

by angel	02/08/07 09:14 PM
She knew about this and still refused to give the dog back? Shameful

by thank you	02/08/07 09:11 PM
Once the jury sees this.....they will want to hang this Ms. Bondy. She knew about all this?

by Sandra	02/08/07 08:46 PM
Play it your way Bondineker, but the longer you drag this out, the less likely you will find sympathetic jury members.

by What the?	02/08/07 11:38 AM
Whn do you desbarr somebody? Is this woman going to harm this dog.

by Pat	02/06/07 09:26 PM
Gasparilla Film Festival, katrina pets documentary, award winning film, Feb 28-Mar 1 in TAMPA, the site has lots of info, clip of film, gunshots as dogs massacred by cops in St Bernard Parish http://www.myspace.com/eyetoeyedocumentary

by heidi	02/06/07 11:04 AM
The Coutures have gone through so much pain because of Bondi and the other woman. Here's hoping they get their beautiful dogs back and then sue the women for mental anguish. The laws realy need to be better as well so this doesn't keep happening.

by susan j	02/06/07 12:17 AM
Bondi has already said she will appeal any decision that refuses her to keep the dog. Of course the case is never over because Ms. Bondy will appeal until the dog dies.It has been done before in Florida.Did her dog die 1 week earlier b4 claim this1?

by wallace	02/06/07 12:12 AM
Camille Godwin says the Coutures should never see there dogs again because they took them to a shelter where they were stolen and taken to Florida. That according to Ms. Godwin is "abandonment"? Sick. Once this is over...review Ms. Godwins liscenc

by Action	02/06/07 12:07 AM
Q: What is better for the dogs? Fine. The problem is Pamela Jo Bondi is the one to define what is better for the dog. That is why she refuses to give it back.She knew w/in 2 months the Coutures were looking for 2 months...that was 14 months ago!!

Case of 2 dogs will go to trial

A motion that would have let two women keep them is denied.