NEWS
Monday, November 13, 2006
Puppy love: Lisa Myatt wants to keep 12-year-old Bailey, but Canadian Yorkshire Terrier Rescue is demanding she return him. (Photo: Mike Dembeck)
Fighting for Bailey
Animal rescue society suing Minesville woman for custody of ailing 12-year-old Yorkie
By Lindsey Keilty
The Daily News
MINESVILLE - When Lisa Myatt joined an animal-rescue society, she never imagined the group would end up suing her.
On Oct. 27, Myatt lost a suit in Nova Scotia small claims court and was ordered to relinquish custody of 12-year-old Yorkshire terrier, Bailey, to the Canadian Yorkshire Terrier Rescue.
All of Myatt's pets are rescues. Three dogs, four cats and four rabbits have found a happy, loving home with Myatt in Minesville.
Myatt's smiles turned to tears when she considered Bailey's future. Health problems plague the dog and Myatt is concerned that if Bailey doesn't find a home that can meet his needs, he may be put down.
Myatt's love of animals resulted in her joining the Canadian Yorkshire Terrier Rescue in fall 2005 to help raise money for the group, but not to be a foster home.
"I knew I couldn't take them in because I would get too attached," Myatt said.
Then in March 2006, when the society contacted her to be an emergency foster parent to an adult dog who needed a home, Myatt agreed.
The Metro SPCA signed over the dog to the Canadian Yorkshire Terrier Rescue and the SPCA deposited the dog to Myatt's home.
"It was supposed to be short-term, but it turned into long-term and I fell in love with him," she said. "I wanted to adopt him and I asked and they said I couldn't, (and that) I was a foster-dog person and I said, 'No, I'm not. I never agreed to that.'"
Despite the fact that Myatt offered to pay for the dog and any vet fees incurred by the rescue society, her request for adoption was refused.
"I think it's personal now. I even offered to pay the $1,000 at court, but it's all about property of Bailey."
Following the court proceedings, Myatt was told by the society to expect a registered letter concerning Bailey's future.
Nova Scotia SPCA spokeswoman Judith Gass explained the rescue process.
"Sometimes if we get a particular breed in, we will release it to an organization that looks after a certain breed," she said. "Our care of the dog is then over, and it's up to them to find it a home.
"From the SPCA point of view, we expect these organizations to find good homes for these animals, and in the case it turns out that the rescue organization wasn't working in the best interest of animal, then we certainly look at that organization and perhaps consider not releasing to them in the future."
Representatives from the Canadian Yorkshire Terrier Rescue did not return calls or e-mails from The Daily News.