Dog theft accomplice sues dog owner

[Catherine]

I still can't believe this. As I understand American law, she is charged with knowingly accepting stolen goods. That is why she is on probation. 
They must not have had enough evidence to link her directly to the violent crime.  The fact that she knew whose dogs they were, makes me suspicious that she was in some way directly linked to the crime. She returned the dogs so she could get the reward. She had to know who owned the dogs  to know that there was a reward.

I can't believe they are even letting her sue the dog owner. How was that law suit even accepted by the system. 
She is on probation for a crime linked to the reward. This makes no sense at all.

I don't think Canadian law would let this happen. What about European law?