Katrina Dog Returned After Custody Suit

Rocket Survived Hurricane, Had Been Adopted From Suburban Philadelphia Shelter

(AP)  Rocket, a dog that survived Hurricane Katrina and ended up in a Pennsylvania shelter, has been returned to its owner in New Orleans after a bitter custody dispute.

The chow-Finnish spitz mix was returned by Lynne and Joseph Welsh of Doylestown, who adopted the dog, to Sheila Combs, of New Orleans, attorneys for both parties announced Wednesday.

The attorneys would not comment further on the settlement. Under terms of the agreement, Combs dropped a civil lawsuit against the Welshes that was filed in October in Bucks County Court.

The Welshes took in the now 2-year-old dog from a local shelter last November and renamed him Rusty.

Combs' lawsuit had alleged that Rocket was "wrongfully adopted out" after the dog was sent to Pennsylvania following its hurricane rescue. The suit also had claimed that the Welshes reneged on promises to return Rocket.

The first hearing on the suit had been scheduled for Thursday.

The case involving Rocket is not unique. Similar animal custody battles are brewing in states including Florida and Maryland over pets that were left behind during Hurricane Katrina and the mass evacuations afterward.

[janet39-2009]

I think this is a tragic decision by the courts. These animals have been through so much already and to subject them to another upheaval is completely unthinkable. I understand the hearbreak of legitimately losing a pet, but these people left their pets behind and do not deserve a second chance to betray these loyal, trusting souls. Shame on the court system for making these animals victims again.

[hennighg]

Most of the pet owners in New Orleans were not ALLOWED to take their pets. Under that circumstance, the pets should be returned. Perhaps that was the case here.

[bluehart-2009]

The dog should be returned to it's rightful and original owner. These animals had to be abandoned because the rescue crews refused to allow the animals to be aboard the rescue boats, and were not abandoned by the choice of the owner. I am sure these poor dogs/cats would rather be back with their families than with strangers. What about the stories of the loyal, trusting family pets who have gotten lost and traveled hundreds, or thousands of miles just to get back to the family that they love? Seems to me that the families have the legal right to get their pets back. The court system isn't making these pets 'victims' again; the courts are just making a horrible wrong a wonderful right and reuniting a family. And yes, these dogs and cats are a vital part of the family or the people wouldn't go to such lengths to fight to get them back. Sounds like love not victimization to me.

[hunty11-2009]

Wow, it seems like the author of the first comment posted did not even watch any of the Katrina coverage. How dare anyone accuse the victims of this horrible disaster of leaving their pets behind...betrayal??...and that they do not deserve a second chance. That is so cold hearted. It saddens my heart to know that there are people out there who think this way.

[tinker3478]

It may sadden your heart, but my dog goes where I go or I don't go. I haven't been in a hurricane but I rescued mine while escaping from a tornado. If we'd had a warning, we would have been long gone in plenty of time.

This is the reason that dog tags are made, they have I.D. numbers and the state they came from. From there the animal can be traced to its owner. both my dogs have micro chips with our information. I have been through several hurricanes and sometimes you just can not take your pets with you. All you can do is leave them high and dry with as much food and water as possible. We emptied 100 pound bags on the floor and placed every pot on the second floor of our house where the dogs stayed. After that you can only hope for the best.

[caragat]

The first post ideas would have done little to no good. Microchips/tags in/on pets, in a situation like Katrina, would't have gotten the animals back to their owners neccesarily. Some people lost their houses, hence the addresses on the microchips/tags would have done no good not to mention the phone numbers they could no longer be reached at. I suppose if there was a cell phone number or alternate address (out of the area) listed then maybe there might have been a chance.

[caragat]

Also many people were displaced having only temporary addresses for days,weeks,months, making it hard to trace them even if they knew who the pet belonged too.

Anytime I find a pet, I first check to see if it is wearing a tag, if it is, it most certainly belongs to someone and you do not have a right to take it in and keep if forever, at least try to find the owner, give it food and shelter as well. After the storm there were many websites dedicated to lost animals as well as disconnected friends and relatives