A hound called Coco has become caught up in a remarkable international custody battle after being ‘ rescued ’ by a couple who are now facing a lawsuit from a woman claiming to be the rightful owner . Coco was found wandering a beach in Aruba , in the Caribbean Sea , last October by husband and wife Lisa and Dan O ’ Connell , who claimed she was in shocking condition . The O ’ Connells , from North Attleboro in Massachusetts , said that they thought she was a stray . Scroll down for video . Coco was found wandering around on a beach in Aruba , in the Caribbean Sea , last October by husband and wife Lisa ( pictured ) and Dan O ’ Connell , who claimed she was in shocking condition . An Aruba resident called Cornelia Hajdinyak told the O ’ Connells that Coco was actually hers – and called Whitey Pinky . She has set up a Facebook page to support her claim . Ms O ’ Connell told WBZ-TV : ‘ She was dehydrated , she seemed hungry , she seemed sad . She absolutely looked like a dog that nobody was caring for. ’ Husband Dan added : ‘ The dog had many ticks on it and its paws were raw , either from the hot sand or the hot asphalt. ’ They both claim that the dog wasn ’ t wearing a collar and that no other form of identification was visible . Believing that they were being good Samaritans , they called a vet to get the dog treated then contacted an Aruba animal rescue centre to help process adoption of Coco . However , when they returned from their vacation they received a message from an Aruba resident called Cornelia Hajdinyak who told the O ’ Connells that Coco was actually hers – and called Whitey Pinky . The O ’ Connells launched a crowd-funding page to help pay their legal bill and keep the dog stateside . Ms Hajdinyak , in a Facebook page to support her claim , said that Whitey Pinky ‘ only lives two minutes from the beach ’ and is used to going there ‘ with her best friends Buddy and Wolly , which live just next door ' that they 'all know their way home ’ . As well as posting photographs and videos of the dog on the page , she published emails that she ’ d written to the O ’ Connells , describing how she found her in 2011 at the front of her house and adopted her . She wrote : ' [ Whitey Pinky ] loves running , hiking , walking , swimming , bicycling , being on a boat , catamaran or jetski , driving in the car ; there is nothing she does n't want to be part of ! ' She claims that the dog was 'confiscated ' within two days by the O'Connells , leaving little time for a proper search , but they argue that Hajdinyak waited two weeks before she began looking for her . The O ’ Connells remain determined to keep Coco , who they ’ ve become very fond of . They believe that returning her ‘ would put her life in jeopardy ’ . Now both sides have brought in lawyers in a bid to secure custody of the animal and the case is set to be settled in court . The O ’ Connells launched a crowd-funding page to help pay their legal bill , which has reached several thousand dollars .
Massachusetts couple found what they thought was a stray dog in Aruba . They called a vet , adopted the dog through a charity - and called her Coco . The couple , Lisa and Dan O'Connell said Coco was in shocking condition . However , now an Aruba resident claims that the dog is in fact hers . She is suing the O'Connells and has set up a campaign Facebook page .