Fight Over Chihuahuas Lands In Court

HARTFORD (CN) - A dog breeder sold a woman two Chihuahuas for $1,000 apiece, then took the dogs to shows and won't give them back, the frustrated customer claims in Superior Court.

Plaintiff Ellen Whitford claims Toltec Kennels owner Susan Payne sold her the dogs, "Gabby" and "Naughty" under a "co-ownership" arrangement, in which Whitford would allow Payne to show the dogs, then return them.

Whitford says she paid $1,000 for Gabby in July 2005 and another $1,000 for Naughty in January 2007. She says Payne took both dogs to show them in May 2007, and refuses to return them.

Whitford also says Payne persuaded her to edit a book Payne wrote about Chihuahuas, and didn't pay her for it.

And she claims Payne lied about Gabby's fitness for breeding, violated local codes in running the Toltec kennel in Suffield, Conn., and made Whitford pay the entry fees to the dog shows from which Payne, allegedly, dognapped the Chihuahuas.

Gabby's complete name is CH Toltec Dachi Born To Be Bad LC.

Naughty's name is CII Toltec Cacchio Naughty Dreams LC.

Both are longhairs.

Whitford demands punitive damages for conversion, fraudulent inducement, unfair trade and theft. She is represented by Kimball Haines Hunt.

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