Dog bailed out of 'jail'
N.J. man pays $10,000 to free mastiff from New York shelter.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
By GINA VASSELLI
The Express-Times
Peter Georgoutsos finally has his dog back -- for now.
The Warren County man posted $10,000 with the city of New York to bail out his 5-year-old mastiff, Spartacus, from an animal shelter without having him neutered.
Georgoutsos was visiting friends in Queens on Memorial Day weekend when someone broke into his truck and Spartacus escaped, landing the dog in the Animal Care and Control Center in Brooklyn. A New York law mandating spaying or neutering for any animal in a city shelter has kept the dog from his owner for almost a month while a legal battle played out.
But Georgoutsos went to the shelter Tuesday and got his dog back.
"He's awesome," Georgoutsos said. "I'm ecstatic."
Georgoutsos won his case to get the dog back June 15, arguing that Spartacus helps out on his Franklin Township farm and should be exempt from the neutering law. The city filed for an immediate appeal, which kept Spartacus in the shelter.
The city and Gabriel Tapalaga, Georgoutsos' lawyer, reached an agreement Monday that gave Georgoutsos his dog back until the court rules.
"I'm grateful that my attorney was able to cut a deal with the city to bring him back," Georgoutsos said.
Paula Van Meter, senior counsel for the city, said since the city's appeal would not be heard until the fall, the dog should be released until then.
N.J. man pays $10,000 to free mastiff from New York shelter.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
By GINA VASSELLI
The Express-Times
Peter Georgoutsos finally has his dog back -- for now.
The Warren County man posted $10,000 with the city of New York to bail out his 5-year-old mastiff, Spartacus, from an animal shelter without having him neutered.
Georgoutsos was visiting friends in Queens on Memorial Day weekend when someone broke into his truck and Spartacus escaped, landing the dog in the Animal Care and Control Center in Brooklyn. A New York law mandating spaying or neutering for any animal in a city shelter has kept the dog from his owner for almost a month while a legal battle played out.
But Georgoutsos went to the shelter Tuesday and got his dog back.
"He's awesome," Georgoutsos said. "I'm ecstatic."
Georgoutsos won his case to get the dog back June 15, arguing that Spartacus helps out on his Franklin Township farm and should be exempt from the neutering law. The city filed for an immediate appeal, which kept Spartacus in the shelter.
The city and Gabriel Tapalaga, Georgoutsos' lawyer, reached an agreement Monday that gave Georgoutsos his dog back until the court rules.
"I'm grateful that my attorney was able to cut a deal with the city to bring him back," Georgoutsos said.
Paula Van Meter, senior counsel for the city, said since the city's appeal would not be heard until the fall, the dog should be released until then.
Does this make any sense to you? I've heard of criminals getting less in the way of a bond.
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