Rescue group gets Chihuahuas
Ben Godar
A judge late Friday released about 175 vicious Chihuahuas seized from
an Acton breeder to a Burbank-based rescue group, to be placed in
foster homes.
Judge Lisa Chung made the ruling late Friday after hearing about
five hours of motions in the case, a court official said.
“I’m ecstatic,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Steven Heller said. “We’ve been
working very hard for a couple of months to make this happen.”
Los Angeles County Animal Control officials seized the dogs from
Emma Harter in November. While in Harter’s care, officials said, the
dogs had formed feral packs and were preying on weaker dogs.
Animal control officials said initially that most of the dogs
needed to be destroyed, but Chihuahua Rescue reached an agreement
with the county last month to place the dogs with rescue
professionals. But when the agreement was taken before a judge,
Harter refused to sign it.
Heller said the judge on Friday ruled that Harter no longer had
any ownership of the animals.
“I believe the judge believed this was the best position for the
dogs, and she said the owner had no legal right to assert what should
happen to the dogs,” he said.
Heller said he expected officials from Chihuahua Rescue to begin
transporting the dogs Monday. Alaska Airlines and other organizations
have offered discounted rates to help the dogs be taken to foster
homes throughout the country.
Kimi Peck, founder of Chihuahua Rescue, could not be reached for
comment late Friday.