Adoptive Family Relents, Will Give Girl Her Dog Back

The family that adopted a teen-ager’s lost Boston terrier from the animal shelter, and refused to give it back, changed their minds Thursday night after dozens of people throughout the day offered to buy a new pet for them.

Diane Perez of Garden Grove said she accepted an offer late Thursday from Jack Edwards, director of the county’s animal control division, to provide a new pet if her family returned the Boston terrier to its previous owner, 13-year-old Sunshine Alvarez of San Juan Capistrano.

“It didn’t take too much convincing,” said Perez, a supervisor with the Orange County Community Development Council, “because the same thing happened to us. We lost our Chihuahua in January when someone broke into our house and stole our Rosie.”

In San Juan Capistrano, Sunshine shrieked when she heard the news. She and her two brothers began to plan a welcome-home party today for their 9-month-old dog, Baby Ruth.

“I’m going to invite all my friends and some other dogs in the neighborhood,” Sunshine said.

Edwards said the Perezes promised to bring the dog back to the animal shelter this morning for the handoff to Sunshine. In return, the Perezes want $350 to buy another Boston terrier.

Edwards said at least 30 people offered Thursday to buy a new Boston terrier for the family if they would return Baby Ruth to Sunshine. Edwards said he hoped those same people would instead chip in to come up with the $350.

Clyde Langston, 52, of Costa Mesa, a sales manager with the Ford Motor Co., who was among those who offered, said, “Ninety-nine percent of the people in this world have a heart and are caring people.

“If the new owners know the true plight of the family, they would give it up.”

On Thursday night, Jack Edwards went to the home of the Perezes and presented the offers. For Sunshine and her family, the loss of Baby Ruth followed, in rapid succession: her mother’s divorce, a landslide that leveled their back yard and then a break-in at their house.

The teen-ager had searched in vain for her dog, who was reported missing May 11. Sunshine’s mother, Clarissa Alvarez, rushed to the animal shelter May 16 when she was told that the dog was there. But the pet was sold to the new owners about two hours before she arrived.

The new owners refused to relinquish the pet when animal control officers told them that the owner wanted Baby Ruth back.

In addition to the calls received at the shelter Thursday from people offering to buy a dog for the new owners, several TV stations received calls, Edwards said.

“You can’t believe the hype that this story is getting,” Edwards said.

Sunshine’s classmates at Marco F. Forster Junior High School in San Juan Capistrano helped her write a petition that was to be presented to the county animal shelter.

“Even my teachers signed,” Sunshine said.

Sunshine even wrote a letter Thursday night to First Lady Barbara Bush.

“I know that she’s an animal lover, and I want to ask her if she can help me get my dog back,” she said.

After hearing about the offers from county residents, Sunshine said: “I feel so grateful. It’s like good to know that people care about kids, because we feel sometimes that adults sometimes forget that we have feelings too.”

Offers poured in throughout the day.

Sue Walsh, 38, of Fountain Valley said she spent a few hours on the telephone looking for a Boston terrier breeder who would sell a dog to the new owners.

Walsh--who owns two dachshunds, three cats and 30 fish, “and feeds all the wild birds in the neighborhood”--found such a breeder in Lake Elsinore.

Walsh said she was willing to spend $400 so Sunshine can get back her dog.

Joan LeJeune of Tustin was another person who offered to buy a new dog.

“I can’t imagine a family reading this story and not giving the dog back,” LeJeune said. “If the new owners had it for five months, it’s understandable. Look, I’ll take them shopping for a new dog. This poor little girl doesn’t need this.”

Deborah Swindon, 37, of Laguna Beach said she had a similar experience at Sunshine’s age.

“I felt how that little girl felt,” said Swindon, the owner of a 3-year-old Rottweiler.