The Case over Champion Show Dog, Legacies Pipe Dream (Piper) is now set for a Pre-Trial Hearing on Oct. 24, 2014 in Columbus, Ohio. For those of you missed the first diary about Piper, here is the link to "Ever had a pup lost or stolen? BEWARE of "rescue" groups".
When Champion Legacies Pipe Dream (Piper) escaped from of the fenced yard in Columbus, Ohio on April 17, 2014 (Easter weekend) while staying with a caretaker, Veronica Covatch (her breeder and co-owner) was at the American Shetland Sheepdog Club's National Specialty Show at Purina Farms in Missouri. Piper was picked up by the Franklin County Animal Shelter and subsequently turned over to Penny Sanderbeck, the director of Central Ohio Sheltie Rescue (COSR) before her caretakers or owners could locate her. Less than 24 hours after Piper landed at the COSR, Covatch called Penny Sanderbeck to reclaim her dog. Covatch provided Sanderbeck with Piper's AKC Registration and numerous other forms of identification plus supplying Piper’s Microchip information (which was also listed on both the Shelter intake form and on the transfer paperwork to COSR), but Sanderbeck refused to return Piper claiming not to know who the "real" owner was. Covatch offered to provide (at her own expense) DNA testing of the Dam and Sire and of Piper to prove that Piper was, indeed, her dog. Sanderbeck refused to respond and refused to return Piper. Negotiation attempts between the National Sheltie Rescue Network (represented by Jim Melton) and Sanderbeck/COSR failed to convince Sanderbeck to return Piper to her owners, resulting in the National Sheltie Rescue Network and the American Shetland Sheepdog Association severing ties with COSR/Sanderbeck.
Over the next weeks, when asked for proof by COSR/Sanderbeck's attorney, John Bell, Covatch provided Proof of Ownership in the form of AKC registration, Vet Records, Microchip information and more through her attorney. Piper still was not returned.
Please join me over the fold to see where this case is so important, where it is headed and why - especially as this affects every single pet owner who might ever have a pet lost or stolen!