3 pups caught in legal limbo in Macomb get new homes, 3 other siblings up for adoption

Three of six pups that spent a year with Macomb County Animal Control because they were caught in a legal limbo are putting their best paws forward in new homes, while their three siblings await their turns to connect with forever families.

Danica, Dash, Dodge, Daytona, Diesel and Dale celebrated their first birthdays in January in the animal shelter in Clinton Township. Since then, a civil case has progressed involving the owner of the Oakland County rescue that brought them to Michigan from another state when they were puppies.

"We have a court order saying we have ownership of them," Chief Animal Control Officer Jeff Randazzo told the Free Press.

The pups were put up for adoption in March. As of Tuesday, Dale, Dash and Daytona were adopted. Danica, a female, and Diesel and Dodge, both male, are available for adoption, according to animal control. Randazzo said he would like to see the pups adopted on or before an adoption event April 20.

The dogs, Australian cattle dog mixes, came to animal control in March 2023, when they were 10 weeks old and Randazzo said they were sick with parvo, a highly contagious disease. He said the puppies were surrendered by a foster person in Macomb County after they became sick and the rescue wouldn't take them back.

Rescue operator had choice: Pay $70K or forfeit dogs

A civil forfeiture action was filed against Karmen Schooly of Pontiac-based TriCounty Dog Rescue, which Randazzo said brought the puppies to Michigan. He previously said the foster person received the puppies directly from a truck that brought the puppies in from out of state.

The judge at 42-2 District Court in New Baltimore determined in January that the puppies were abandoned, and Schooly had until noon Jan. 31 to pay $70,255 or the dogs would be forfeited. She did not pay, per the court and Randazzo. Randazzo said animal control had spent more than $60,000 to care for the six dogs.

Schooly filed an appeal Jan. 29 in Macomb County Circuit Court. The court's case management filed a notice of intent to dismiss the appeal Feb. 23 because it was deficient for failing to file two items within the time required by Michigan Court Rules. A document was filed in early March, per online records. The case is listed as undisposed, but no future court dates are listed.

Schooly also has a hearing April 25 in 42-2 District Court, where she is charged with health practice-unauthorized practice, abandoning/cruelty to animals and unregistered animal shelters/pounds.

Schooly previously told the Free Press the six pups were healthy when the foster brought them to animal control, but "weren't getting adopted quick enough." She said the charges "are ridiculous."

Randazzo previously said the dogs were with animal control so long for several reasons, including the defendant changing lawyers and court postponements. He said he offered to sterilize the puppies, with names related to auto racing, but said the rescue owner would agree to do so only if the charges were dropped.

Daytrips and smiles

Randazzo said volunteers have been taking the pups on day trips to socialize them, which allows the pups to ride in cars, and go to parks and homes where they can learn skills, such as going up and down stairs.

"Just like daily lives that they're going to be seeing, that they've never experienced before," Randazzo said.

Animal control said Daytona was adopted Saturday. The other two adopted pups, Randazzo said last week, were "doing great" in their new homes, which also have other pets.

"We go through a long process with them about talking about the case and how long they've been here. It's really crucial conversations that we have," he said.

Word of the six pups being available hit animal control's Facebook page in a March 18 post and video, which stated "they will need patient families that will understand that all they have known is shelter life."

The dogs are good jumpers

Randazzo said the new owners will have to work with the pups, who are "extremely smart," and staff and volunteers have been working hard with them during the last several months, including having them in playgroups with other dogs.

A photo and details about each dog, as well as other animals available for adoption, are available on the animal control's website. The pups were all black and white, except for Daytona, who is brown and white.

Bios for the remaining pups state they have begun learning basic commands, would benefit from continued training and are good jumpers (so a secure yard or supervised playtime would be ideal). They state the shelter is willing to help pay for training costs, and the pups would thrive in an active home with a family that can provide plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.

Diesel recently was featured on animal control's Facebook page wearing a Detroit Lions jersey in a photo shoot with nine other dogs at Ford Field.

Danica's post had an interesting extra tidbit: "One really cool thing about Danica is that she knows how to smile! If you say 'Cheese' she will show her beautiful pearly whites as if she's having her picture taken!"

The sibling dogs are "very bonded," according to their bios. They state the dogs can be adopted separately, but they would thrive in a home where they can stay together. The adoption fee is $150 per pup, per the website.

Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 3 pups caught in legal limbo in Macomb have new homes, siblings wait