Obie the obese dog to stay put, but legal fight will continue
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Obie's Facebook Page | On Twitter: #Obie
PORTLAND, Ore. – A 70-pound dachshund at the center of a custody battle will stay put for now, but the litigation isn't over yet - not by a long shot.
Obie the obese dog captured national attention when his caretaker, Nora Vanatta, put him on a diet. But then Oregon Dachshund Rescue owner Jenell Rangan filed a lawsuit, claiming that Obie belongs to her.
“They say I’m exploiting him,” said Vanatta. “They say I’m misusing his funds and they claim he belongs to them.”
At a court hearing Monday morning, a judge decided that the dog will stay with Vanatta, at least for now. The judge said at this point it is unclear who owns Obie. Oregon Dachshund Rescue was asking that the dog be turned over to them until ownership is decided, but the judge declined.
Rangan didn't say much when we asked her how she felt about the judge's decision.
"Well, I don't have an answer for that - I really don't," she said. "We're going to take it a little bit farther."
So what does this mean in the long term?
The case will now go to full litigation - first to arbitration and then there could possibly be a trial. And that could all take months to work through.
"Ms. Rangan and ODR get two bites of this apple," said Geordie Duckler, who is representing Oregon Dachshund Rescue. "It didn't take. They get a whole second bite - same apple, same witnesses, same evidence. In fact, even more witnesses and evidence at a trial. We just have to wait six months to do it."
"We're just really happy about the outcome of the case," said James McCurdy, who represents Obie's caretaker. "Like the judge indicated in the courtroom, it's far from over and we understand that. We're just really ecstatic Obie can stay in the fantastic situation he's in."
The case is a complicated one. For one, neither side has a paper trail. Although there were some e-mails and Facebook posts that explain how the transaction between the two sides played out, there were not any formal contracts/agreements drawn up until it became clear that a legal battle was in the air.
So the question of who actually owns the dog will not be decided any time soon - not until it is all sorted out in court. Until then, the two sides will continue to argue their points.
"This is a dog that needed to have certain things done - see a specialist, see a cardiologist. Not just lose pounds, which any dog could do depending on how you feed it," said Duckler. "But actually be treated for an obese condition."
When we spoke to Vanatta earlier about the situation, she said she just wants what is best for Obie - and she believes she can give that to him.
"He's doing well here," she said. "It just doesn't make sense to take him away now."
The Back Story
Oregon Dachshund Rescue originally heard the dog was in need of a home and put out an online plea for help. Vanatta offered to help soon after and an Oregon Dachshund Rescue volunteer picked up Obie from his former owners’ home and delivered him to Vanatta.
Rangan said she believes Obie belongs to her and Vanatta is not providing good care.
Vanatta disagrees - she said Obie has lost 15 pounds since being in her care and she hopes he can shed another one or two pounds a week going forward.
Obie first appeared on our AM Northwest show earlier this month. Watch the video:
I think what should be looked at by someone is ODR is NON PROFIT how is the owner of ODR being paid?????I think what she she saw after this vannetta very innocently post pics on facebook and you tube got the attention of the media and money started pouring in wow!!!!!!!! jannel from ODR saw this as a huge cash cow which she is suing this gal for 5k and attorney fees what a waste!!!! if this lady from ODR was smart this would bring a lot of needed money to ODR and she could pay her car payment house payment and buy food and stuff for all the other dogs she has I wonder what the legal limit of dogs you can rescue 10 oh maybe up to 30 how many does she have I think she farms out the ones that are to difficult for her to take care of and in this case she saw how much she could have made just think this will be ongoing for a year
This is awful... the purpose of a rescue organization is for the good of the animals, and that vile woman with ODR wants to take this precious baby away, look how happy he is... It's obvious that Obie is living a happy and loving life with Nora and the other dogs. this rescue organization should be shut down and somebody with the real mission in mind should open a new one because obviously ODR doesn't have Obie's best interest at heart.Â
Another example of avarice! Â Instead of caring for her rescued dogs, the ODR rep is wasting time and money in court. Remember the custody battle over Patrick in NJ? Â It is STILL going on and he was rescued almost two years ago. Money makes people behave badly and I am ashamed for this woman, Jenell. The whole situation is pitiful and Odie should stay where he is until Nora has completed his weight loss program. Â
Hey Jenell, how does it feel to have 10's of thousands, or maybe millions hate you all of a sudden? Take the hint, & drop your ridiculous/selfish lawsuit.
 @Shelly Think about how much money they could raise to help the rescue group if they used this rescue to their advantage! It's pure selfishness and arrogance.
 @Shelly Well said!! She would rather have her 5 min. of fame than use this case as a tool to HELP the organization.
Dogs can't have heart attacks, people have tried to create this model for research and they just don't have heart attacks. Check it out.
@gitmetawidit Diabetes will kill this animal just as dead.
This Rangan person is just ridiculous, running this through the courts. Â Money raised may likely be used for legal fees now. Â For those thinking his care doesn't require money, it will when he has to have surgery to remove excess skin from his abdomen. Â Leave Obie alone, he is thriving in Nora's care and isn't what what a rescue organization should care about?
The dog is clearly in the right hands and I hope he continues to stay there. ODR is not only going to lose this fight but when all is said and done they will have damaged their own reputation beyond repair. Sadly that means other dogs that they might have been able to help will suffer. Clearly Ms Rangan has been so blinded by her own greed that she has lost sight of the main purpose of the organization.
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However Ms Rangan did bring up one very valid concern. It seems that Nora Vanatta flew Obie cross country to appear on tv in an effort to get the word out. Putting a dog that unhealthy in the cargo hold of an airplane for a 5 hour flight is down right dangerous. She has even admitted after the fact that she knew she was taking a risk but figured it was worth it. That kind of thing can NOT happen again or her claims to have his best interest at heart are going to lose all credibility. I understand the need to keep him in the spotlight but at this point you can request they come to you or drive Obie over to the local Portland affiliate and utilize a live satellite feed. Quit flying the pooch around or this thing could easily end very badly.
 @Petwlkr Maybe taking Obie on an airplane was risky but a veterinarian would have had to exam him and then issue a health certificate, stating that he was healthy enough to fly. It is required by the airlines for all animals.
 @Margaret A. Huettl Bockman  @Petwlkr Which was all done, but that was not brought out. He was also checked out in NY when he got there
 @Petwlkr I thought that too, especially since my husband had a very ill, obese man die across the aisle from him on a flight this weekend, with 6 hours flight time left.  Not worth the risk and your idea  of doing satellite is great.
Wow... did they emergency land the plane? What a scary experience for everybody...
 @Shelly  @Table9 That's a good way to look at it.  I only thought about the guilt the son must feel.  The man was extremely unwell, he is already wheelchair-bound and was literally hollering in pain as four people loaded him on the plane and was in distress the whole time, receiving oxygen and such.  Knowing that, I can't imagine what his son was thinking, but he no doubt had good intentions.
 @Doxie  @Table9 That is extremely sad. His Dad may not have lived to finish the trip, but he died on the journey there with the dream of it still in his head, so in a way I suppose he still got that trip of a lifetime. I hope that makes sense...
 @Table9 No, it was over water on the way to Australia.  After an ER-ish experience of multiple shocks with the defib machine and chest compressions, they covered him up in his seat, while everyone cried and his son wailed.  It was a first class bed so it was the best they could do.  They could not get off until everyone was questioned by the police and the medical examiner declared him dead.  He is an aging American Olympian and his son was taking him on a big trip before placing him in assisted living but he didn't even make it to his first destination.  Very sad story.  Â
But back to Obie, I agree satellite feeds might be in his best interest rather than flying. Â It's traumatic even under the best of circumstances.
Is the Oregon Dachsund Rescue run off of donations? If so, I'd be really upset to find out that my donation was going to legal fees instead of towards the rescue of other dachsunds.Â
Obie needs to stay with Nora where he is losing weight (15 pounds so far) and getting healthier every day! You can see in the pics and videos that he's happy with her and her other two pups :)
Obie belongs Where he Is! IMHO;Â I think the rescue group washed their hands from the get go,IÂ think they should just go back to their corner and move on.
I think that Obie should stay where he is at, you can tell he is loved, why exploit him some people are just selfish and doesn't want what is best for the animal good luck Vanetta and ObieÂ
The only reason Rangan is interested in Obie now is because of the overwhelming amount of support and donations made for Obie's medical treatment. She never had possession of the dog. She choose not to take care of him and pleaded for someone to take the responsibility because her "rescue group" couldn't. Now that she sees how much attention this dog is bringing, she wants him. That's effed up.
@Tattooed_Angel I was thinking the same thing. If Obie is doing well with Ms. Vanatta - and clearly he is - there is no reason for him to move. It's obviously a money-grab situation with the ODR and they need to stand down.
I'm sure she's attached to him and wants to keep him, but if she can't, Vanatta should donate all of the money to the humane society before he goes back. I'm guessing the rescue would change their minds if the cash didn't go with the dog.
 @mountains I read in another article (and several other places) that the alternative to giving Obie to ODR is that Nora give ODR $5,000. Here's the article. Isn't that nice. Blackmail much, ODR? They accuse Nora of mistreating Obie but then if she gives them $5000 all of a sudden her care is good enough? Disgusting. They are so obvious it's all about money for them. I don't want it to hurt the other dogs, but I would NEVER give one cent to ODR. I would have no idea where that money is going. And I'll be damned if I'll give them money to take Nora to court. :(
http://www.seattledogspot.com/blog/2012/10/29/judge-rules-obie-the-overweight-dachshund-can-stay-with-his-foster-mom-but-litigat-0
 @Christa Gleadhill  @mountains I don't believe a blog is a credible source
@DL @Christa Gleadhill @mountains
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Well I agree that normally a blog is not credible. But in this instance it is. If you want there are numerous sources to read the summons and the transcripts. Or better yet, do like me and attend the court. It was very eye opening experience to see. It is very oblivious that ODR is interested only in the money. I'll never support ODR again....
 @mountains Sadly I'm willing to bet that if Obie has to go back to the idiots running the ODR he won't last longer than a few months. They just want Obie for the money.
 @SilverGryphon  @mountains I agree. They just want the money and the Lime-Light!! It's juvenile actions by what is supposed to be a non-profit, caring "rescue" organization.