Steven and Dorreen Couture sat before reporters Tuesday in Largo, trying to put a child's face on their Hurricane Katrina saga.

On their laps sat their 7-year-old granddaughter Cassidy and 4-year-old grandson Steven.

After months of e-mails, phone calls and interviews, the Coutures drove two days from the New Orleans area to plead for their dogs, Master Tank the St. Bernard and Nila the shepherd mix.

"I'm making a plea," Steven Couture said as his grandson twisted and turned in his lap. "Please give me my dogs back."

Master Tank and Nila were rescued by the Pinellas Humane Society from the St. Bernard Parish of New Orleans in Katrina's aftermath last September. Soon after, the two dogs were adopted by two Tampa Bay residents who have refused to return them.

Pam Bondi, the Hillsborough County prosecutor who adopted the St. Bernard, which she has renamed Noah, said Tuesday she saved the dog's life.

"I legally fostered and adopted a dying dog who had a serious medical condition that long predated the hurricane," Bondi said. "Just like a child that's adopted, I plan on loving him, caring for him and providing care for him for the rest of his life because that's what Noah deserves."

Rhonda Rineker of Dunedin, who is listed as having adopted Nila, declined to comment.

Bondi says that the St. Bernard was an outside dog in New Orleans, where temperatures can reach well above 100 degrees. Moreover, she contends, the dog was dying of heartworms.

"Had he been properly cared for, I would have been driving him back to New Orleans myself," Bondi said.

The Coutures say, yes, the St. Bernard was an outside dog, but he was fed and watered every day and was taken to the veterinarian when needed. They say the dog was diagnosed with heartworms when it was 10 months old, but it was being treated and had been taking monthly medication.

Ceily Trog, manager of St. Bernard Parish Animal Control, also disputes that the dog was dying from heartworms or was near death when brought to the shelter. "If he had been as close to death as Ms. Bondi claims, he would never have been placed on a transport that would take (on a good day) over 10 hours to get to the destination," Trog said in a June 9 e-mail.

As a result of the Coutures' dilemma, Pinellas County adopted an ordinance June 20 that would make all adoptions conditional for up to 120 days after a state of emergency declaration.

Steven Couture said Tuesday he is a carpenter who is neither wealthy nor poor. He said his two grandchildren have lost their parents and their home in the past several years. "The only thing they have is these dogs and us," Steven Couture said. "...They want the dogs back. It should have never happened."

His grandson looked up at him and asked: "Are we going to get the dogs back?"