Dog goes home to original owner

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- The golden retriever that made headlines after her newly adoptive family refused to give her back has been reunited with her original owner.
The 2-year-old dog named Bella has been returned to Niki Karanastasis, Humane Society Silicon Valley President Christine Benninger said Wednesday. Karanastasis had said she was crushed she could not retrieve the dog, which she described as being like one of her children.
Humane Society officials said they could not force the dog's return because the new owners had legally adopted her. If animals are unclaimed for five days, they become humane society property -- and Bella became property of the new owners when they took her home.
Karanastasis said she went to the kennel three times looking for Bella after the dog ran away earlier this month, but could not find her.
She hired a lawyer, but that turned out to be more bark than bite. Bella's new owners eventually agreed to give back the pooch, which they got as a birthday present for a 10-year-old girl.