Family Disputes Claim Yazmer is 'Lawful Owner' of Adopted Dog

For more than a month now, the Corso family has loved, nourished and played with a 4-year-old Rottweiler they call Rudy.

He was one of 40 dogs that come from the Collinsville apartment of Jessica Yazmer after she was charged in early July with animal cruelty.

On Friday Sept. 9, the Corsos, of Canton, were shocked to receive a letter from Yazmer’s attorney, Jon L. Schoenhorn, claiming she was the rightful owner of the dog she called Bradley.

Jennifer Corso couldn’t believe the letter when she saw it.

“She was just standing in the yard, saying, no, no, no, and shaking her head,” her husband Chris said. “I figured either we had won the lottery or somebody died.”

It was the letter, which, in part, states, “Please be advised that Ms. Yazmer did not voluntarily agree to any permanent transfer and remains at all times the rightful owner of this dog. She now wishes that he be returned to her as soon as possible. Therefore I respectfully request that you contact me so that we can arrange the return of her pet at a convenient time.”

The Corsos and Avon-Canton Animal Control Officer Beverly LaPlume said it’s not happening. Yazmer surrendered all the animals and signed a form in front of her parents and a social worker, LaPlume said. (See form and letter in accompanying photos)

“He (Chris Corso) has ownership,” LaPlume said. “He legally adopted the dog Aug. 1st.”

Yazmer did initially request five dogs be placed with friends, LaPlume said.

LaPlume said she agreed to four of them but not the fifth, partially on the recommendations of Yazmer’s friends. That fifth person also worked with a rescue operation tied to Roxy and Ty, which was Yazmer’s rescue group, LaPlume said.  

LaPlume said she then told Yazmer she had a good home for the dog and Yazmer agreed, LaPlume said.

“She agreed to let it go,” LaPlume said.

She even talked to Corso by phone, LaPlume added.

“She gave Chris the whole history on the dog,” she said.

Corso said the conversation was helpful in many ways.

“It was clear in that conversation that he was our dog,” he said. “He had been surrendered. She was able to relay medical history, likes, etc.”

For example, Corso said Yazmer told him to always give the dog a ball when swimming.

“He literally sings if he doesn’t have a ball,” Corso said.

He also said Yazmer expressed a desire to come visit the dog, something the family said they were seriously considering before receiving the letter.

A representative in the Hartford Community Court clerk's office said the judge ordered 20 hours of community service and stipulated she own "one dog only." The file does not indicate any particular animal, according to the office.

Yazmer is due back in court Dec. 8 to show completion of the community service.

Friday afternoon, the Corsos quickly mobilized the support of many in the community. They put a message up on faceboook Friday afternoon and as of 1:30 a.m. Saturday had the support of roughly 200 people. Shortly before noon it was closer to 300. By Sunday night it had passed 500.

Schoenhorn could not be immediately reached after Patch talked to the Corsos Friday evening but messages seeking further comment have been left at his office via voice mail and e-mail.

Chris Corso said he understands no one is perfect and is not looking to judge Yazmer.

“I firmly believe she had the best of intentions,” he said.

But he also feels something happened with her while she was running a rescue operation and caring for her pets and like many others believes the situation spun out of control.

Yazmer’s veterinary records for Rudy were consistent until September of 2010, at which time the dog was 90 pounds, he said. And Rudy is well trained and behaved, he said.

But when he was taken out of the apartment, Rudy was down to 78 pounds, underfed, dehydrated, had worms and needed antibiotics and other treatment, Corso said.

“He was skin and bones,” he said.

As of Friday, Sept. 9, Rudy was up to 89 pounds and doing great, the Corsos said.

LaPlume said Yazmer talked to Corso about her struggle to keep the dog healthy but he has thrived with them, LaPlume said.

On Friday, LaPlume stated in the comments section of a previous Patch story, “all the dog needed was a proper diet and to be fed on a daily basis.”

And Chris Corso said that while he doesn’t judge Yazmer he takes issue with her attempt to get the dog back when the conditions she kept them in were so deplorable. He and his wife happened to drive by the scene that day and ended up helping LaPlume. Like others, the Corsos described a deplorable apartment filled with feces, with some cages stacked on top of each other and others containing up to five dogs in a dark basement. The animals were dehydrated, underfed and many had numerous medical issues, LaPlume said.

The apartment was later deemed "unsafe for human occupancy."

And Corso said he also takes issue with the fact that she could not take proper care of the dogs by July, was selling them for $300 or more and now has a high-priced attorney working to get the dog back, despite having surrendered all the animals.

He said he knows she is probably getting help from her family but also feels she is not a position to care for animals.

“She lost it and what’s to say she’s not going to lose it again,?” Chris Corso said.

And the bottom line, Jennifer said, is the dog, like their children and two other dogs, is now part of the family, shows his love, is comfortable at home, loves to play and exercise with them.

“We are not giving the dog back. He is at home here,” Jennifer Corso said. “He is loved by three children. He is being fed; he is being loved; he is being taken care of.”

She continued, “He knows he doesn’t want to leave our side in a strange place; he knows he is part of our family; he knows that he is part of this pack.”