Update: Sam Hanson-Fleming plans to pick up the dog he named "Chase" from the Oregon Humane Society in Northeast Portland at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Check out oregonlive.com/portland for a video of the reunion.

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A Corvallis judge ruled Thursday that a husky-Siberian mix dog at the center of a months-long custody dispute must be "immediately" released to his original owner, Sam Hanson-Fleming of Portland.

Benton County Circuit Judge Locke Williams issued his order after hearing testimony from an investigator who said he witnessed a brief reunion between Hanson-Fleming and the dog -- and the dog was "overjoyed."

Hanson-Fleming visited the dog on Aug. 3 at the Oregon Humane Society in Northeast Portland, where it has been held in protective custody since July 21. A Humane Society handler led the dog into a large area where Hanson-Fleming was standing.

Hanson-Fleming called out "Chase, Chase, Chase!" and the dog pulled so hard on his leash that the handler stumbled several times, said John Chilcote, an investigator with the Benton County prosecutor's office.

"(The dog's) demeanor changed dramatically," Chilcote said. "There was recognition, happiness, excitement, hopping, yipping, yelping maybe."

In turn, Chilcote said, "Mr. Hanson-Fleming appeared to me to be overjoyed to see this dog. He became emotional. He initially sobbed. ... He seemed to have, in my opinion, a very strong bond with this animal."

It was the first time the dog had seen Hanson-Fleming since May 13, when Hanson-Fleming happened to spot his missing dog sitting in a car idling at a Dutch Bros. Coffee outlet in Southeast Portland.

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Hanson-Fleming had lost the dog more than a year earlier. Jordan Biggs, an Oregon State University student who was visiting Portland that day, found the dog and took him home with her to Corvallis.

The judge also heard testimony from Linda Fielder, an investigations manager with the Humane Society. Since the dog arrived at the Humane Society under court orders 2 1/2 months ago, she said, he has spent about 23 hours a day in a 4-by 6-foot kennel locked with a padlock. He is let out for two walks a day.

Although Biggs has said she initially tried to find the dog's owner by posting fliers and calling the Humane Society in spring 2011, she eventually considered the dog hers and refused to give it back. On July 10, the director of Multnomah County Animal Services ruled that Hanson-Fleming was the dog's rightful owner because he couldn't find evidence that Biggs had followed animal code in trying to find the dog's owner and legally acquire ownership.

Biggs still wouldn't return the dog. On July 20, Corvallis police seized the dog and arrested Biggs under a charge of felony first-degree theft. Biggs hired a Tigard attorney, Geordie Duckler, who successfully argued that the dog must be held in protective custody at an animal shelter pending the outcome of Biggs' criminal case because the dog is evidence.

At Thursday's hearing, Duckler told the judge that the dog was being well taken care of by the Humane Society and would be fine for "just 20 more days." Biggs' criminal trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 24 and last two days.

James McCurdy, a Portland attorney who is representing Hanson-Fleming for free, told the judge he believes Biggs wants the dog to remain at the Humane Society to keep it from being returned to Hanson-Fleming.

"There is no reason he should not get his dog back," McCurdy said. "There's no question it's his dog."

Duckler said the dog's ownership is still in dispute. In a separate civil lawsuit, Biggs has asked a Multnomah County Circuit judge to decide who is the rightful owner.

After listening to nearly an hour of testimony and argument Thursday, Judge Williams said he never expected that the dog would be held at the Humane Society for so long. When he issued the protective order, he said, he thought Hanson-Fleming and Biggs would be able to find a solution to the custody dispute outside of court and "in a reasonable amount of time."

He had hoped "perhaps foolishly on the part of the court, in the vein of King Solomon, the parties might resolve the case."

But because the battle has continued, the dog shall be released to Hanson-Fleming, the judge said. "Mr. Hanson-Fleming does have a valid claim to the dog," he said.

Hanson-Fleming and Biggs weren't at the hearing. Hanson-Fleming's attorney said Hanson-Fleming could be reunited with his dog, Chase, as early as Thursday afternoon or evening.

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later for more details about the upcoming reunion.

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