A “tentative settlement” has been reached between the Humane Society of Harford County and two women who filed civil complaints to get custody of five of the 70 dogs seized in May from a woman accused of mistreating them.
A hearing was scheduled in Harford County District Court last Friday to determine the rightful ownership of the five dogs seized on May 12 from Donna Bell. But Charles Wellington, a Bel Air attorney who represents the Humane Society, showed up to notify the court that an agreement had been reached.
Grace Froelich, founder of Animal Rescue Inc. in Maryland Line, Pa., and Kellie Leatherman, a resident of Edgewood and an affiliate of Animal Rescue, each filed civil complaints on June 9 against the Humane Society. Froelich and Leatherman claimed that the five dogs were under their care at one time before arriving at Bell?s property and were not adoptable because of extenuating medical circumstances.
Although all but one of the dogs had already been adopted, the two women said at the time that they worried that the dogs? problems would leave them susceptible to future abandonment.
In the end, Froelich said the welfare of the dogs was paramount and this was why she and Leatherman settled. “I?m just glad[the dogs] are in good homes.”
“They agreed that they would provide the medical histories for the dogs, under the contingency that should any of the dogs be returned to the Humane Society, we would notify them before considering euthanizing the dogs,” Humane Society Executive Director Tammy Zaluzney said.
This leaves only a few of the dogs seized from Bell?s property still under the care of the Humane Society, Zaluzney said.
Four of them are available for adoption ? two pit bull terriers, a pit bull mix and a chow mix.
There is also a female hound who gave birth to seven puppies, two of which didn?t survive. Mother and pups will not be ready for adoption for at least another two weeks.
