SUNBURY -- A Northumberland County judge Wednesday halted the castration of a champion French bulldog pending an opinion from a second veterinarian.
The case involving 5-year-old Duffy, known in the dog-show world as Champion Rock & Roll Use Your Illusion and estimated to be worth $10,000, arose out of a disagreement between Susan Serovich, of Kulpmont, and Karen Robertson, of Paxinos, over a plan to neuter the dog.
Ms. Robertson was the original owner and breeder of Duffy and Ms. Serovich has had custody of the dog since October.
On Monday, President Judge Robert B. Sacavage ordered a hearing on the dog's proposed neutering be held before Judge Charles H. Saylor and Duffy be brought into court "for inspection."
Ms. Robertson testified at Wednesday's hearing that Duffy needed more attention than she was able to provide and she agreed to give him to Ms. Serovich on the condition the animal be kept "intact" for two to three years and made available during that time for breeding purposes.
"He's a valuable breeding dog," Ms. Robertson said.
Ms. Serovich said she agreed to allow Ms. Robertson to breed Duffy one more time and then he would be retired.
Ms. Robertson said she earned about $73,000 in the three years she's bred Duffy and that he's an award-winning dog who was once nominated for a bravery medal for scaring a burglar from her home.
She is paid $1,000 for his stud services and $3,000 for each puppy he produces.
When she turned Duffy over to Ms. Serovich in October, Ms. Robertson said, she still had two contracts to fulfill and could be sued for breaking the agreements.
"Despite his value, you never put anything in writing?" asked Ms. Serovich's attorney, Robert Goodman, of Frackville.
The agreement was not in writing, Ms. Robertson said, because "I trusted" her.
Testimony during the 2 1/2-hour hearing was frequently testy and at one point Ms. Robertson's attorney, Rachel Wiest-Benner, of Sunbury, referred to Duffy as "being held hostage" by Ms. Serovich.
The issue of the dog's ownership turned into a civil case last week when Ms. Serovich notified Ms. Robertson that a veterinarian had recommended the prize dog be neutered for medical reasons.
Ms. Serovich said Duffy's health appeared to deteriorate after Ms. Robertson took semen samples from the dog on Aug. 13 and 15.
Testifying by telephone, Dr. Patricia Kitchen, of Danville, told the court she treated Duffy Aug. 20 and found he had a wound on his testicle and an inflamed prostate.
She recommended antibiotics, and because Ms. Serovich said Duffy wouldn't be used for breeding, suggested he also be neutered.
Under questioning by Judge Saylor, Dr. Kitchen said castration would be beneficial to the dog's health and improve his behavior.
When she mentioned castration would tone down Duffy's aggressiveness, the judge pointed out the 22-pound dog had been quietly napping in the courtroom a few feet from his bench for 45 minutes.
At the end of the lengthy hearing, Judge Saylor quickly ruled that Ms. Serovich is the rightful owner of Duffy, but Ms. Robertson still has rights to the dog for breeding purposes "as long as the dog is able and it's not compromising the dog's health and comfort."
He ordered the parties to seek a second medical opinion on whether Duffy needs to be neutered for his well-being. If not, Judge Saylor said, Duffy's services may still be up for sale.
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Duffy strolls down the hall of the Northumberland County Courthouse. Seth Hoover/The Daily Item
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Still a stud
Decision on castrating champion bulldog on hold for now
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