Lawsuit over alleged dognapping at Yukon's Braeburn Lodge dropped

A lawsuit over a husky allegedly dognapped from the Yukon's Braeburn Lodge by an ex-employee has been dropped, with the parties agreeing to have no contact with each other for the next year. 

Lodge owner Steven Watson and manager Leigh Knox filed a notice of discontinuance in the case last week, bringing an end to a legal tussle over who truly owned the dog. 

Watson and Knox sued Laura Cumberland in February, claiming she had taken a white Siberian husky named Taya from the property.

While the dog originally belonged to Cumberland, who got her as a puppy while working at the lodge, Watson and Knox claimed they'd been caring for Taya since late 2022, including feeding her and bringing her to veterinary appointments. The lawsuit also alleged that Cumberland, who stopped working at the lodge in 2023, returned to the business earlier this year and took Taya with her without permission. 

The court file doesn't explicitly state why Knox and Watson discontinued their legal action. However, Knox and Cumberland both signed peace bonds in early April that appear to resolve the situation. 

Cumberland's peace bond requires that she have no communication with Knox or Taya and remain at least 100 metres away from Braeburn Lodge, with the exception of driving past on the highway or if she needs to check for mail at the local Canada Post office. 

The conditions of Knox's peace bond includes not communicating with Cumberland, and not being within 100 metres of her residence. 

Both peace bonds are in effect for 12 months. 

Dog willingly followed Cumberland away from lodge, statement of defence says

Cumberland, before the peace bonds were signed, had filed a statement of defence against the lawsuit —  along with supporting affidavits from a friend — that offered a different version of events. 

The documents claimed the dog was actually named "Teleia," and that Cumberland got her from a friend in Pelly Crossing. They also alleged that Cumberland never gave up ownership of the dog, and that she left the lodge in 2023 because she broke her back at work and had to get medical help in Carmacks and Whitehorse. 

While an affidavit from Knox filed with the lawsuit accused Cumberland of suddenly coming back to the lodge in 2024, entering private residences and taking the dog, Cumberland's statement of defence said that she had visited "numerous times" in the year prior. 

On the day in question, according to the document, Cumberland had stopped at the lodge to buy a cinnamon bun for a friend, and the dog "got excited" to see her. The statement of defence alleged Watson became "angry," "verbally and physically assaulted" Cumberland and "blocked her exit from the lodge." When Cumberland left through a staff door, the document said, the dog followed her and got into the truck she was travelling in. 

The statement of defence asked for the dog be returned to Cumberland. 

None of the documents in the court file explain how Knox got the dog back between filing the lawsuit and Cumberland filing her statement of defence.  

Cumberland did not respond to a Facebook message requesting comment. Knox and Watson's lawyer was not available for an interview.