Missouri Animal Shelter Refuses to Return Woman's Stolen Dog After Selling Him to Another Family: Lawsuit

A Missouri pet owner is taking an animal shelter to court after the facility to refused to return her stolen dog to her.

Courtney Baird filed a lawsuit against Wayside Waifs, an animal shelter in Kansas City, Missouri, on Oct. 18, asking the judge to overturn their decision not to return her Australian Shepherd, Jaxon, to her.

Baird was in the hospital when her dog was taken from her relative's backyard while they were watching him in December. She then spent two months running ads, putting up missing posters and pleading with the internet to help her find Jaxon.

When she finally located him at Wayside Waifs in March, Baird thought the ordeal had ended, but it was just beginning.

"She was pleading with, I think, one of the directors over the phone," her attorney told The Kansas City Star, "and when she mentioned that Jaxon was basically her kid, they were very harsh on her. They brought up the fact that she didn't have kids, and so the dog was probably happier living in a family with kids."

Baird's lawsuit alleged the shelter refused to return her dog of six years because she believes they sold him for a premium price to his current family.

Kathryn Mahoney, president of Wayside Waifs, responded to the lawsuit with a brief statement obtained by The Kansas City Star.

"We empathize with all pet parents that have lost their pet at some point. We will be cooperating with all parties to come to a solution. At this time we have no further comment," she wrote.

The first hearing is set for Nov. 27.