Who Owns Kenzo? This Dogfight’s a Catfight!

September 10th, 2015. By LucyC

Gal pal pooch poaching or not? That’s a question the lawyers will have to duke out—pardon the pun. So, what happens when you suddenly find yourself so busy with acting assignments and television appearances—you know—gotta catch a plane Tuesday, back in three months, gone again the following week—that you may have to find a new home for your beloved pet? Hey—it’s obvious—call your friends. Sorry, email your friends, that’s how it works these days.

According to the email train that’s what Ibukunoluwa Oyerinde did—emailed her friend Ellen Webb asking if she could take little her Maltipoo, Kenzo. Sidenote: According to the NY Daily News, Oyerinde is a Nigerian-born former Miss Africa USA finalist who has appeared on the pages of Elle and Essence magazines–so she’s globetrotting for her bookings. So re: the dog, what did she mean by “take”? Oyerinde claims she meant temporary housing and Webb claims Kenzo was a gift—of sorts. Enter the lawyers and we all know where it goes from here.

Webb’s attorney, Robert Hantman, told The New York Post, “It is obvious that the complaint has no merit and is a transparent attempt to garner publicity.”

However, Oyerinde’s lawyer, Jim Kirk, has, as you would expect, a completely different take on matters, stating, “At no point—and I think Ms. Webb would have to acknowledge this—did my client ever say Kenzo now belongs to you or the dog is now yours.” Kirk said his client tried to settle the matter privately for weeks.

In the suit, the 26-year old actress claims that back in April she asked Webb to watch the dog while she went to the UK to film a TV series.

So far so clear—but then it all goes to hell in a dog carrier…

According to an email exchange on April 24, Oyerinde appeared to give the dog to Webb’s mother and sister. BTW—these emails were provided by Webb to The New York Post.

“Been super crazy on my end,” states a text from Oyerinde to Webb about the dog last June. “I want to keep him but reality is that I will not be able to.”

In another text from Oyerinde to her 31-year old friend, Oyerinde said, “I can’t have a dog now . . . Who should I give him to?” She then asks whether Webb’s mom and sister want Kenzo.“Yea they do,” Webb texted. Well, that seems clear enough, no? “I think that’s what I need to do,” Oyerinde wrote back. Yes that’s pretty clear.

But hold the phone sweet Mary—on June 22, another exchange of messages shows that Webb said she didn’t like how Kenzo looked after returning from a dog boarder. “I just haven’t been able to focus on what’s going on with him,” Oyerinde replied. I’m now lost. Who has the dog?

Maybe Webb, because according to her, she heard nothing from her friend until August 23, when Oyerinde showed up at Webb’s apartment to reclaim Kenzo, which clearly didn’t happen and so a confrontation ensued. Webb refused to give the dog up.

Did either one of them think to pick up the phone? Or is that too old school?

The Police weighed in, telling them they needed to settle the matter in civil court.

According to Webb, these texts prove Oyerinde’s lawsuit has no merit. “I’ve done nothing wrong,” Webb told The Post. “I’ve rescued animals all my life. I thought I adopted him.”

Could they co-parent? It has been known to work. If they put the pooch into counselling now, I’m sure he could lead a productive life and, with time, adjust to his new surroundings.

Ironically, little Kenzo may just be the envy of every dog in every pound and animal shelter in the US right now.

This was posted on Thursday, September 10th, 2015 at 6:47 pm and is filed under Crazy Sh*t Lawyers See . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.