Elinor D. Molbegott, is an attorney who maintains a law practice devoted to animal law. Elinor donates her time to answer questions from North Shore Animal League America supporters who would like to learn more about animal law.
The dog shelter gave my dog to the wrong person. This person claimed that they were the owner when they weren't, and I want my dog back. What can I do if the shelter won't resolve this?
I need help with retrieving a dog that was stolen from me. The courts dropped the case without locating the dog. What do I do?
I have two cats that are in my name, and I adopted them when I was with my ex boyfriend. We were together for over 2 years, and I got them at the end of our relationship. I bought many things for them that he still has. We came to an agreement that he would keep one cat, and I would keep the other, because he has a 4-year-old daughter so I didn't want to take them both away from her. However, I was letting him keep them both until I was settled, and the agreement was for me to be able to visit the daughter and my cats in the meantime. The kittens are now approximately 6 months old. I adopted them and took them to all of their first vet visits. Now he isn't letting me even see them and has broken contact with me. Am I able to have a police escort me to go and get them?
My sister and her boyfriend adopted a cat about 3 years ago, but she has left the cat in my and my mother’s care for three years. She has her own apartment, but she took in two dogs instead of this cat. She pays the medical bills, but we house, feed, and change his kitty litter. Does she have legal custody of him because she pays his bills, and at any time can she take him from us because of this?
My ex has legal ownership of our dog. However, he moved to Toronto (4 hours away) and works too much, so he left the dog with me to take care of. Now, 2 years later, he decided to come to the region and wants the dog back, even with his same schedule that is too busy to take care of a dog. Do I have a case in the courts seeing that I have been this dog's guardian for the past 2 years? He has only seen the dog twice a year for the past 2 years.
I was leaving my apartment to drop my dog off at the daycare, and I usually set my window down halfway for her. As we were leaving, I had to stop to let a new tenant that was walking her dog cross the road. She didn’t cross the road but continued to walk towards us at the edge of the asphalt so I could drive through. I put my car in gear, but my dog (who gets along and plays with 90% of the dogs at my apartment complex) jumped out and ran over to meet this new dog. The owner freaked out and snatched her dog off the ground by the leash. The interaction was no more than a second. I got out of my car and went over to grab my dog to put her back in the car. At this point her dog was yelping, not sure if it was from fright or whiplash. I went to see if her dog was okay and saw no blood. My dog was accused of biting her dog and I was summoned a $250 vet invoice that she wants me to pay.
My sister left a cat in my car for what was meant to be only one week, and it has turned into four years. She agreed to pay for the cat's toys, food, and vet bills, etc. After one payment in the first month, she has never taken any interest in the cat or it’s well-being. She has never asked about the cat or even seen it except once, and the cat was very afraid of her. She is currently on drugs and squatting in a local house. To shorten this, she wants the cat back, but she has no way of taking care of the cat. Is there any legal way of taking custody of the cat?
I was given a puppy for free and he had something wrong with him and needs surgery. I didn’t think I would be able to afford it, so someone from a rescue center collected him from me. A few hours later, I contacted them stating I had the money for his surgery and treatment and that I wanted him back. They told me no. I didn’t legally sign him over to them, and he’s still micro chipped in my name. Is there any way I can get him back?
My friend had an 11-week-old puppy for a week. She tried to get rid of him the first day she had him. After a week, she brought him over saying he has worms and fleas and that she doesn't think she can keep him because she can't afford it. I told her to leave the puppy with me until she found a job so she can afford it. I've had him for a week and have spent $400 on this puppy at the vet. It has come out that he is very timid around new people and has bad anxiety and separation anxiety. Now my friend is trying to get him back and refuses to tell me if she has a job or not. Is there any way I can keep this puppy so he doesn't go to a home where he's not taken care of? How should I go about this?
We got a lab puppy a few weeks ago, and I had noticed she was walking funny, but I just thought she would out grow it. Then she stopped putting weight on it, so the vet did x-rays and nothing is broken, but she has drawer syndrome on both knees. Basically the ligaments are lose. She came with a 1 year guarantee but of course the lady I got her from says it doesn’t cover this. I know she’s had this since I’ve gotten her. Is there anyway I can have her help pay the medical bills?