A dog owner who handed off her small pooch to a friend because of her busy schedule was awarded custody of the pet yesterday after a six-month court battle.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Valerie Brathwaite Nelson said in her decision that Ravely Arias intended to leave Panda, a Teacup Yorkie, with Leandro Rohde only for a short time — and not make a gift of the pooch, as Rohde asserted.
Arias said her work schedule was so hectic that, in January 2009, she dropped the dog off with Rohde until her hours settled down. But Rohde said Arias turned over Panda’s health records and registration, and that the dog was his.
The judge said Rohde did not try to register the dog as his own until Arias asked for Panda’s return.
She found that Arias never abandoned Panda and continually checked up on his well-being.
Rohde called the decision “sad,” because Panda feels at home with him.
“She’s not even showing up for the [court-approved] visits,” Rohde said.
Arias did not immediately return a call for comment, but her lawyer said the decision showed “compassion.”
“Miss Arias is thrilled to finally get Panda back,” said Joshua Krakowsky of Davidoff, Malito and Hutcher. “It’s not a dog-eat-dog world after all.”
