A Westchester animal shelter is in a legal tug-of-war with an Ivy League professor over a lovable pup.
A New Chance Animal Rescue sued University of Pennsylvania associate professor Malitta Engstrom for refusing to return Miles.
The Bedford Hills, NY nonprofit claims it signed an adoption agreement that gave Engstrom, 44, Miles on the condition that she also take in the puppy’s mother, Misty.
The shelter does not allow puppies to be placed in homes where they are alone for more than three hours, according to its Manhattan civil lawsuit filed Tuesday.
The group only made an exception for the Ph.D. since Miles would be with his mom, the suit says.
But then Engstrom, who researches drug addiction, returned Misty, claiming she was “aggressive.”
A New Chance claims Misty, a 2-year-old retriever/setter mix, is a “friendly, well-socialized dog” with “no history of violence.” Its website even boasts that the 70-pound pooch has “soulful eyes” and “gives tiny licks to those she really likes.”
The group rescued Misty and her litter of 3- to 4-week-old babies from South Carolina this past winter, according to its website. The animal advocates described Misty as a “very thin and tired mama” who “had done an amazing job caring for her puppies.”
A New Chance wants the court to force Engstrom to immediately hand over Miles.
Engstrom did not return messages.