By Kevin Boneske
For The News-Chronicle
An Algoma-area woman said she will be able to keep a golden retriever she provided a foster home for after reaching an out-of-court settlement in a dispute with a statewide nonprofit organization involved with rehabilitating and adopting the dogs.
A motion hearing scheduled Tuesday morning in Kewaunee County Circuit Court was canceled following the settlement reached between Golden Retriever Rescue of Wisconsin (GRRoW) and Faye DeGrand.
The dispute over the dog, Georgie Girl, began in February after DeGrand refused to turn the dog back over to GRRoW when requested. Testimony at the trial noted the organization wanted the dog brought to Madison for a second medical opinion to have a hip examination. DeGrand stated she didn't want to subject the animal to the stress of traveling there because it was "too sick" at that time with an intestinal infection.
GRRoW brought the dispute to court and won a trial by judge last month to have the dog returned to the organization.
Judge Dennis J. Mleziva ruled June 16 that GRRoW had the right to Georgie Girl, who in January had been placed by the organization into the foster care of DeGrand.
Mleziva ruled the organization never approved adopting Georgie Girl to DeGrand, and GRRoW had the right to refuse her adoption request, along with being legally entitled to have the dog returned.
While DeGrand had been given a week to return the animal following the court trial, GRRoW filed a subsequent motion when the dog wasn't turned over. GRRoW sought a subpoena to have DeGrand and the dog appear at the Kewaunee County Courthouse.
But DeGrand said her attorney, Jacob M. Blazkovec, reached a settlement with GRRoW at the "11th hour" in order for her to keep Georgie Girl.
DeGrand said she is not allowed to discuss the details of the settlement. But she did acknowledge the contempt action is being dropped against her, and she will be adopting the dog, who is "perfectly healthy now."
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