A former Ann Arbor kindergarten teacher and her beloved dog Gracie have been reunited after a summer apart, following what began as a contentious battle over whether Ann Arbor Public Schools or the educator owned the Bernedoodle, used as part of a school therapy dog program.
Charlotte Croson, an attorney who represented Alexandria “Lexi” Fata in a lawsuit filed in Washtenaw County Circuit Court in May, confirmed Gracie and Lexi were reunited in mid-August. The suit claimed that Wines Elementary School’s principal stole the dog after Fata had informed the principal she intended to move, as well as a series of missteps in trying to introduce a therapy dog program to the school and after the school PTO spent more than $12,000 for dog training.
Ann Arbor Public Schools board approved a settlement agreement in a board meeting on Sept. 11, but the terms of the agreement have not been made public. Croson said she and her co-counsel are satisfied with the outcome.
“Gracie is doing well to our understanding,” Croson said. “She’s happy to be home.”