SUNBURY -- A Northumberland County judge Wednesday halted the castration of a champion French bulldog pending an opinion from a second veterinarian.

The case involving 5-year-old Duffy, known in the dog-show world as Champion Rock & Roll Use Your Illusion and estimated to be worth $10,000, arose out of a disagreement between Susan Serovich, of Kulpmont, and Karen Robertson, of Paxinos, over a plan to neuter the dog.

Ms. Robertson was the original owner and breeder of Duffy and Ms. Serovich has had custody of the dog since October.

On Monday, President Judge Robert B. Sacavage ordered a hearing on the dog's proposed neutering be held before Judge Charles H. Saylor and Duffy be brought into court "for inspection."

Ms. Robertson testified at Wednesday's hearing that Duffy needed more attention than she was able to provide and she agreed to give him to Ms. Serovich on the condition the animal be kept "intact" for two to three years and made available during that time for breeding purposes.

"He's a valuable breeding dog," Ms. Robertson said.

Ms. Serovich said she agreed to allow Ms. Robertson to breed Duffy one more time and then he would be retired.

Ms. Robertson said she earned about $73,000 in the three years she's bred Duffy and that he's an award-winning dog who was once nominated for a bravery medal for scaring a burglar from her home.

She is paid $1,000 for his stud services and $3,000 for each puppy he produces.

When she turned Duffy over to Ms. Serovich in October, Ms. Robertson said, she still had two contracts to fulfill and could be sued for breaking the agreements.

"Despite his value, you never put anything in writing?" asked Ms. Serovich's attorney, Robert Goodman, of Frackville.

The agreement was not in writing, Ms. Robertson said, because "I trusted" her.

Testimony during the 2 1/2-hour hearing was frequently testy and at one point Ms. Robertson's attorney, Rachel Wiest-Benner, of Sunbury, referred to Duffy as "being held hostage" by Ms. Serovich.

The issue of the dog's ownership turned into a civil case last week when Ms. Serovich notified Ms. Robertson that a veterinarian had recommended the prize dog be neutered for medical reasons.

Ms. Serovich said Duffy's health appeared to deteriorate after Ms. Robertson took semen samples from the dog on Aug. 13 and 15.