Legal Question: Dog Ownership

[alittleoffkey]

Okay, so the girl I got Molly from sent me a text last night demanding Molly back.

The girl lived with my parents for several months (five, six? something like that), and Molly, being a young untrained dog who wasn't given much attention, would pee in the house and chew on stuff. My parents didn't want that there (and my mother was really the only one caring for the dog) so they told her she had to get rid of her. The girl knew I was looking for a dog and asked me to take Molly (who was Nervosa then, after Anorexia Nervosa because she was so thin :doh: ), because she knew she'd be well cared for. Molly wasn't the huge dog I wanted, but I renamed her and she's turned out to be the perfect dog for me. :)

This girl was living with them so she could find a job and get her GED - they were just helping her get on her feet. Unfortunately, she decided she'd rather lay around, sleep all day, and play games online all night, so she got kicked out last week.

Anyway, suddenly she wants Molly back - after I've taken her to the vet, had her dewormed (it took three times she had so many), had her fixed, fed her for months, trained her, bought her toys and paid for the usual puppy-trouble damages. The girl says she never gave me Molly, that I stole her.

I have the receipts from every time I took her to the vet. This girl doesn't have a job, and can't afford to care for Molly. There isn't anything she can actually do, is there?

[WashingtonBay]

Well, it would end up as a small claims case, where you'd have to recall exactly what was said at the time she 'gave' you the dog. Her dollar damages for a grown mutt dog are next to nothing, she'd be suing for the dog back, and in that case, I think if she actually won that it was not a gift, then you certainly can counter-sue for your costs of upkeep and veterinary.

[gaited07]

I you have anything, even a text that states she gave you the dog. Get statements from anyone who heard her say "she gave" you the dog. Keep all receipts.
For old text messages, you can usually get the old phone records to get these messages. We use to get a BOX full of paper with 18,000 texts a month from our son's phone ALONE!

If she still demands the dog, announce that she would have to pay not only these fee's but $25 a day board fee's on said dog.

I wouldn't worry about it too much til she contacts the authorities but have all your proper docs ready if she does:)

WB is right with the small claims court. She would have to file against you and this is not exactly cheap. If she has no job or etc, I would guess to say that she is all talk at this point.

Just keep all receipts and communication records. Be careful of what or how you respond back to her and if anything, so NOTHING except that she GAVE you the dog.

Good luck:)

[shelsnsaus]

Check with your local animal shelter regarding these sorts of laws. Here, if you have a dog in your possession for 30 days with little or no contact with the owners the dog can be considered abandoned and re-homed (or kept) and is legally yours. IF you would choose to give the dog back you are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable vet fees and 'boarding' fees. The local animal shelter, who would deal with this more often than the average person, should be able to help you more. Every area is different.

[alittleoffkey]

If she still demands the dog, announce that she would have to pay not only these fee's but $25 a day board fee's on said dog.


Conveniently, I dog sit... and that's how much I charge a day for sitting a single dog.

[Horseaholic]

I talked to my friend who's in law school right now. She said it's very important whether or not the free loader paid for Molly or what. If she just acquired her (didn't adopt her from a shelter or pay for her from a store or breeder) then you're the owner because a. she has no proof that's her dog and b. she hasn't paid for any care. If she does have paper work that Molly belongs to her then KEEP THE DOG until everything is resolved. She has to pay all the fees you've acquired while caring for Molly (and she'll most likely flake - therefore forfeiting Molly to you.) She said whatever you do don't give the dog back until it's resolved.

[JackieB]

I talked to my friend who's in law school right now. She said it's very important whether or not the free loader paid for Molly or what. If she just acquired her (didn't adopt her from a shelter or pay for her from a store or breeder) then you're the owner because a. she has no proof that's her dog and b. she hasn't paid for any care. If she does have paper work that Molly belongs to her then KEEP THE DOG until everything is resolved. She has to pay all the fees you've acquired while caring for Molly (and she'll most likely flake - therefore forfeiting Molly to you.) She said whatever you do don't give the dog back until it's resolved.

This.

No way in hell would I give her Molly unless a judge told me I had to do so. It's not going to get to that point. I'm sure of it. And if she even gets as far as court with you, she would have to reiumburse you and your family for all expenses.

[vicklynn]

Yup. Im with the keep the dog bunch.

We also charge $25 a day for boarding One dog. Extra expenses, ie. vet, ect, the owner pays.

[cowgirlup@idaho]

She sounds like a real piece of work :mad: She's probably mad that your folks sent her packing and this is the only retaliation she can come up with. Everyone gave you great advice, keep the dog :cool:

[dame_wolf]

I'm with Cowgirl! This is a feeble attempt at revenge for being kicked out of your parents place. Keep the dog!

[alittleoffkey]

Thanks ya'll. The girl never paid anything for Molly, so that's not an issue. I told her she was just mad and she needed to cool off and think this over... then she just got pleasant. :rolleyes: I'm hoping it'll just blow over and she'll move on with life. Maybe someone will talk some sense in to her - I already quit answering her texts.

[Remali]

I'm with Horseaholic and JackieB. Unless the dog is registered and the girl's name is on the dog's papers... it sounds like she let her dog go to you and now is just mad and reacting to being kicked out.

[cowgirlup@idaho]

- I already quit answering her texts.

Perfect! ;)