Charges dismissed; original owner Shauna Jenkins wants Pomeranians back

LOUISIANA -- In September of 2007, a Baton Rouge woman was arrested when officers learned she was illegally kenneling more than three dozen Pomeranians in her home.

A couple out of Dallas, Texas adopted 29 of the dogs, but now the original owner wants them back.

Whether that is even possible all depends on paperwork and a judge. As it stands, Gail Bertrand, who lives in Dallas, owns seven of the dogs. She says the remaining 22 were spayed or neutered and are now living in new homes. Their previous owner, Shauna Jenkins, demands that all of the dogs be returned.

A group of East Baton Rouge animal control agents rescued 38 Pomeranians from a house on Annebell back in September of 2007. The dogs' caretaker, Shauna Jenkins,was busted for felony theft.

Detectives said she accepted $5,000 for a dog, but never delivered. East Baton Rouge Animal Control Director, Hilton Cole, described what agents saw when they went inside the home.

"There was fecal material lying around, urine around, messy cages, dirty cages," said Cole.

After the dogs were seized, they were put up for adoption. The felony theft charge was dismissed. Jenkins pleaded guilty to violating a city-parish ordinance and criminal mischief, and was put on probation for a year.

What about the 38 counts of animal cruelty? What did they do about those???

Jenkins recently filed a lawsuit in Johnson County, Texas to get the dogs back.

The suit states that Gail Bertrand agreed to "keep the animals on a temporary basis ... to avoid the animals being collected by a local SPCA agency."

Jenkins also alleges she and Bertrand agreed "the dogs would be returned immediately when she demanded."

Cole said there was always a question of ownership.

"I'm not sure Shauna's records indicated who owned what," said Cole. "I don't think she had record, per se."

Jenkins' neighbors said she has not lived at her house in about a year.

Jenkins at the time of her arrest in 2007

Cole was surprised by the lawsuit, but feels Jenkins may have learned her lesson.

"I think if Shauna was not overwhelmed with the amount of dogs in her custody or owned, her heart is in the right place," Cole said. "No doubt she loves her dogs. If she had the means to take care of the animals, I have a feeling she would rise to the occasion."

Bertrand's attorney, Ron Roberts, said by phone today that the suit was filed after he filed for declaratory judgement on his client's behalf. Roberts said the two suits have now been consolidated.

Jenkins' attorney did not return calls.

(WAFB - March 3, 2010)

Earlier:

• Pomeranian breeder Shauna Jenkins, 38, charged with theft and 38 counts of animal cruelty