Boone, Iowa (WHO) – A little dog is causing a big battle in Boone, after she was mistakenly adopted.
Last month, Stella wandered away from home. Her owner, Marc Riker, called the Boone County Humane Society and reported the dog missing. That was the last he heard from the agency until he spotted someone else walking Stella. Instead of looking for Stella, the Humane Society sold her to another family.
“You would think that the humane society would, if you call and give them a report of a lost pet and they tell you if they have any animals come in that meet the description, small white dog, they’ll get in contact with you, that would mean if a small white dog comes in that they’ll get in contact with you,” Riker said.
Jane Elsberry with the Boone Area Humane Society admits the agency made a mistake.
“During the time that this incident happened we were in a flux between staff and some of the staff were no longer there and so it just got lost in the shuffle,” she explains
The new owner is refusing to give Stella back. Riker says he is considering legal action. But with six children, he says, he doesn’t know how he’ll be able to afford a lawyer.
(Thanks to our sister station WHO-TV for this report)
