Annie the dog returned to original owner after two month custody battle

Posted: Aug 31, 2010 8:22 AM by Bill Halter
Updated: Sep 1, 2010 1:31 PM

The custody battle over Annie the dog ended Monday night when the 7-year old Australian shepherd was returned to her original owner, Chuck Hoage.

The story took on a life of its own over the past few weeks as Hoage fought to get Annie back from a family who adopted her after she had been scared off by a gun shot. "I had a big smile on my face and she was going ballistic in the car trying to get out to me, and then she's been licking me in the face ever since," said Hoage.

Hoage was reunited with Annie after two months since the family that adopted Annie returned her to animal services. "They're terrific people, they took well care of my dog and I'm glad that those type of people got her, said Hoage.

Hoage also said, "I have no harsh feelings with them at all. I'm blessed that they got her, because look how pretty she is. She's well taken care of."

The family that adopted Annie has been caught in the middle of a firestorm after thinking they were simply giving a homeless dog a place to live. Chuck says he talked with the women that adopted Annie on the phone. " I had a nice talk with her on Sunday. We both left with no harsh feelings, I thought anyway between the two of us."

Manuel Silva works with Chuck at an Arroyo Grande ranch, and it was after his gun shot to kill a squirrel that Annie ran off. Silva says Annie was happy to get back on the ranch. "She run all over the place here when she got here. Really happy and i'm glad to see her get back," said Silva.

Chuck says he's been blown away by the support he's gotten from people he didn't even know. Many people donated money meant to be given to the family that adopted Annie, but Chuck says the family didn't want the money, and so he's going to donate it to the animal shelter. He estimates it to be at least a thousand dollars.