New Jersey Woman, Mother In Court Over Ownership Of Chihuahua
OCEAN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A New Jersey woman and her mother are in court over ownership of a Chihuahua.
Jackie Biddle Shuler said that when she went to Puerto Rico in April for her sister's funeral, the dog, who is named Bobby, was living at her mother's house in horrible conditions.
"He was being kept in a locked room with no stimulation, as a matter of fact he hardly could walk," Shuler told 1010 WINS. "He was very unstable, cowering in a corner."
Shuler said the room was filled with used papers covered in feces and that Bobby was malnourished and in distress.
In June, Shuler flew her mother, Isabel Cotto, and Bobby from Puerto Rico to New Jersey to stay with her in Long Branch.
Schuler's attorney, Kathleen McLaughlin, said her client spent $700 on veterinarian fees for the Chihuahua and nursed the dog back to health.
Shuler claims her mother initially agreed to give her the dog, but has changed her mind and wants to go back to Puerto Rico with Bobby.
"Jackie's actions are and have been the actions of an owner," said McLaughlin. "Ms. Cotto did everything to give away the dog while Jackie did everything to own the dog. Jackie lived up to her end of the contract. Ms. Cotto is breaching it. When it comes to a verbal contract, actions can speak as loud as words. This is a contract matter, not a criminal case. By her own admission, Ms. Cotto never took Bobby to the vet and never acted as his owner."
Cotto has pressed theft charges against Shuler, 1010 WINS reported.
"I'm being wrongly accused of theft for trying to save a dog's life," Shuler said.
Shuler said she fears for the dog's life because her mother has a history of personality disorders and has had as many as six dogs, four of which she claims have disappeared without explanation.
"I'm very concerned about the well-being and welfare of this dog and I do believe that if she gets the dog back, the dog is going to suffer. The dog is going to likely die," Shuler told 1010 WINS. "I'm risking my professional reputation, my professional licenses, I mean I have a lot to lose here by fighting this but I'm fighting to save his life, that's what I'm fighting for."
Shuler believes her mother is retaliating against her.
"She's angry because I had to get her evaluated, this is what this is all about," Shuler said. "She was in my house for three weeks before I had to call the crisis line."
A judge in Ocean Township will decide the case because Shuler had served on the Long Branch City Council.
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