A custody fight over a dog that led to the end of a small-town mayor's political career was resolved Thursday when the ex-mayor was ordered to return the contested Shih Tzu to her neighbors.

Grace Saenz-Lopez, the former mayor of Alice, Texas, had agreed to dog-sit "Puddles" last year. Believing her owners weren't properly caring for the dog, the ex-mayor told them upon their return that Puddles had died, then kept the dog.

Three months later, a relative of the neighbors saw the dog, renamed Panchito, at a grooming business.

In court, Saenz-Lopez insisted that Rudy Gutierrez and Shelly Cavazos had neglected the animal, but District Judge Richard Terrell in McAllen ordered her to give the dog back to the couple, the Associated Press reports.

Saenz-Lopez resigned as mayor once a recall petition began circulating. She had held the office since 2003. She still faces two felony counts of tampering with evidence and concealing evidence. A preliminary hearing on those charges is scheduled for Tuesday.

You can read the full AP story here.