Argument over dog’s real owner leads to court custody fight

MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – A rift between two former neighbours has resulted in them sharing custody of a Labrador retriever mix.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that Tina Marie Walker and David Somerville lived next to each other in a Florida apartment complex when he drove her in 2016 to an animal shelter, where she adopted Elario. When she worked, Somerville would take the dog for walks and to the dog park. He says he paid the dog’s vet bills.

That led to a rift over who really was the dog’s owner and Somerville sued Walker in small claims court. A judge ruled recently that they are to share custody and even drew up a schedule. Walker has moved from the apartment complex but now drops Elario off for his stays with Somerville.

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Information from: Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.), http://www.tampabay.com.