Court Battle over Lunar the Labrador
| Published: 7th September 2007 10:52 |
The battle over ownership of Lunar, a labrador from Eastleigh, has reached Guildford County Court.
Lunar's former owner, Alexandra Hughes, is a Salvation Army Major from Eastleigh. She adopted Lunar in 2004 but the dog was repossessed by the Labrador Lifeline Trust in October 2006 amidst concerns that she was seriously overweight and was also being left in a car for long periods of time.
The Trust is arguing that, as Alexandra only adopted the dog, the Trust still owns Lunar. Alexandra is contesting the claims and says that Lunar was like a child to her. Apparently the dog was never actually weighed before being repossessed, and Alexandra says that the dog had actually lost 1.5kg in her care.
Penny Medland, area co-ordinator for the trust, said: "I made the decision purely on a welfare basis. She was being left in a car for long periods, she had the demeanour of a dog double her age, she was rather dull with not very much spark and overweight."
Alexandra Hughes told the court that after the June visit she had taken Lunar to the vet and started her on a vet controlled diet and that Lunar was never in the car for longer than an hour.
Alexandra said: "I was doing something about her weight and Lunar was losing weight steadily and doing well. I didn't notice that she was overweight until a member of the public took a photo of her in June and I thought: Gosh, my dog is looking a bit overweight.'"
Alexandra and Lunar have a lot of local support from the Eastleigh public.
A verdict will be returned in the next few weeks.
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