A Pennsylvania woman is accusing a central Ohio dog-rescue group of illegally holding her prized sheltie after it escaped in April from a friend's home in Columbus. A Franklin County judge ordered the dog, named Piper, returned while the case works its way through Municipal Court, but the director of Central Ohio Sheltie Rescue posted a $10,000 bond this week to keep the dog until the dispute is resolved.

A Pennsylvania woman is accusing a central Ohio dog-rescue group of illegally holding her prized sheltie after it escaped in April from a friend�s home in Columbus.



A Franklin County judge ordered the dog, named Piper, returned while the case works its way through Municipal Court, but the director of Central Ohio Sheltie Rescue posted a $10,000 bond this week to keep the dog until the dispute is resolved.



Veronica Covatch of Punxsutawney, Pa., filed the complaint claiming co-ownership of the dog and has launched an Internet fund-raising campaign for legal fees. The campaign is called �Bring Piper Home.�

Michelle Wilson of Norwalk, Ohio, is a co-owner and a second plaintiff in the case.



Covatch's Columbus attorney, Lloyd Cohen, said a microchip implanted in the dog establishes that Covatch is the owner.



�We can�t understand why a nonprofit organization that claims on its website to be devoted to animal welfare and reuniting lost animals with their owners would rather put time, money and energy into fighting this than let Veronica and Piper be reunited,� he said today.



The attorney for the rescue�s director, Penny Sanderbeck, was unavailable for comment this morning, but posted an open letter about the controversy on the rescue group�s website.



The letter, written by Bexley attorney John A. Bell and posted on May 10, argues that Covatch �is not the rightful owner� of the sheltie and that �a campaign of Internet bullying and threats� is being used by those attempting to claim the dog. The letter also alleges that a recent burglary at Sanderbeck�s home is �directly related� to those seeking to obtain the dog.



�Once the investigation into the criminal acts and Internet bullying is completed, COSR will make a final decision about the placement of �Piper,��� Bell wrote.



In her Web postings, Covatch says a Columbus friend was dog-sitting for her while she attended the Sheltie Nationals and Piper escaped from a fenced yard. Someone took the dog to the Franklin County Dog Shelter on April 17. Four days later, the shelter released the dog to the sheltie rescue group.



Covatch wrote that she didn�t realize what had happened to the dog until she returned from her trip on April 22 and has been trying to get Piper back ever since.



A court date has not been set to hear arguments in the case.