Juan and Tina Rivero have filed their federal civil rights lawsuit in Pittsburgh against the Steve Courson Humane Society of Fayette County.
The couple says Juan Rivero signed an agreement letting an animal control officer take the dog "under duress" because he didn't understand precisely what the officer was saying.
Richard Huey, the officer named in the suit, says Rivero spoke "perfect English" and understood the transaction.
Huey says the dog weighed 82 pounds when it was seized and gained 50 pounds once it was taken to an animal shelter.
