NOAH'S LOST ARK Judge orders couple to return lion to man who bought it in 2003

A hearing scheduled for later this month has been canceled.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A judge has ruled against a local animal sanctuary in the controversial case involving custody of a male lion.
Visiting Judge Charles J. Bannon of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court ordered Friday that the lion, named Boomerang, be returned to William Long of Upper Arlington, a Columbus suburb.
The judge ordered Ellen and Douglas Whitehouse of Noah's Lost Ark to "deliver the lion to William Long forthwith." Long has said he wants to send the lion to an animal sanctuary in California.
"That is unbelievably great news," said Long's attorney, Jeffrey Holland. "We've got to go get him."
Ownership of the lion has been at issue since October 2003, when it was dropped off at Noah's Lost Ark, a sanctuary for exotic animals in Berlin Township.
Long has said he bought the animal, which was then just 8 days old, from a breeder in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He bought it on behalf of a reporter from the New York Post, who was doing a story about the sale of exotic animals.
Temporary placement
The reporter, Al Guart, testified at a hearing last year that he intended to take the lion to Shambala, an animal sanctuary in California operated by actress Tippi Hedren. But because the cub he bought was so young, he feared it was too weak to make the cross-country trip.
Instead, he took the animal to Noah's Lost Ark, located on Bedell Road. Guart said he meant for the lion to stay there only until it was strong enough to travel to California.
But Ellen and Douglas Whitehouse, owners of Noah's Lost Ark, said they believed Guart abandoned the lion there, and have refused to let the animal go. Long filed a lawsuit last year in common pleas court.
Magistrate Eugene Fehr ruled in March that the lion should be returned to Long. Atty. Michael O'Shea, who represents Noah's, objected and asked that Judge Bannon review the matter.
The cat was allowed to stay at Noah's Lost Ark while the objection was pending.
Hearing canceled
A hearing on the matter was scheduled later this month for lawyers to argue the case, but Judge Bannon made his ruling based on his review of transcripts and documents Fehr used in reaching his decision. The judge said he is not required to hold a hearing and there will not be one now that he's made a ruling.
In his three-page decision, Judge Bannon said the evidence shows that Long is the owner of the lion and that Long did not abandon the lion.
A spokesman for O'Shea said they had not seen the decision so could not comment.
bjackson@vindy.com