In Deep Shih Tzu
January 15th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Can a pint-sized pooch end the career of a political veteran? The battle over the lovable Puddles/Panchito is still dogging Grace Saenz-Lopez, the Mayor of Alice. For the past few months, the Mayor has been in a protracted legal battle with the Gutierrez Family, neighbors of the Mayor, who say they left a Shih Tzu, whom they called Puddles, in the care of the Mayor while on vacation.
When the family phoned to check in on their pet, the Mayor dropped the bomb that the puppy had died. For the back story see a previous Observer blog post.
Things heated up from there, and a hearing was set last week for the Gutierrez family’s lawsuit before Judge Richard Terrell. Two days later Panchito/Puddles disappeared.
The police searched the Gutierrez Family home for any sign of the cuddly mop, which the Mayor calls Panchito. Keeping the voters in mind, she also had her own home searched to avoid any accusations of foul play.
Christopher Maher, the lucky reporter for the Alice Echo-News, who has been covering the saga for several months said both parties are now accusing each other of having stolen the dog.
Meanwhile, disgruntled citizens of Alice are petitioning for a recall election for the Mayor. “If you can steal a dog, you can steal our taxes,” commented one unhappy citizen to the Alice Echo-News.
Maher said he wasn’t sure where the twisted saga would lead next. “The dog disappears two days after the hearing is set,” said Maher. “You can draw your own conclusions.”
One thing is for sure, Judge Terrell will not stand for this kind of foolishness, said Maher. “The Judge doesn’t have a high tolerance for Shenanigans,” he said
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
[…] The downfall of the Mayor’s political career? — a lovable shih tzu mop named Puddles. For previous back story on the tragic tale of the mayor’s obsession with her pint-sized pet see a previous Observer blog post. […]