Question

How can I get back the stray cat? I have dropped the cat at a Queens animal shelter so they will check her up and treat her if she needs the treatment and they told me that you have to follow up with the other animal center in Brooklyn. And I did tell them that I would love to adopt that cat! Also I did follow up with all the updates when it was time to pick her up. They rejected me on my face that you can’t have her I will show you more cats that would be more social. I’m very sad I do not know what to do. I want to get that cat back. I feel so emotionally connected to that cat. We found her in our backyard and we wanted to keep her! But we wanted to get her checked first and instead of giving her back to us they kept her. What can I do?

Answer

Generally when a person relinquishes a stray cat to a shelter, that person does not have any rights to that cat (surrender agreements usually make that clear), although shelters may allow the person who relinquished the cat to adopt after the expiration of the legal hold (stray cats must be held by shelters in NYC to give their possible owners an opportunity to retrieve their missing pets). It then becomes up to the shelter to decide on the cat’s placement. After an animal is rehomed, it becomes very difficult to get an animal returned so if you want to pursue this, contact supervisors at the shelter and/or consult with an attorney immediately who may intervene on your behalf.

PLEASE NOTE: Responses to legal inquiries are not meant to replace seeking legal advice from an attorney in your state. The materials in this website and any responses to questions are for informational purposes only and are not intended, nor should they be construed, as legal advice. This website, the information contained herein, and any responses to questions directed to this column are not intended to create and do not establish an attorney-client relationship. You should not rely or act upon any information provided on this website or in any response to your inquiry without seeking the advice of an attorney in your state regarding the facts of your specific situation.

Send Your Pet Legal Question Now!

Elinor will field as many questions as she can and they will be posted here on this site. Due to the volume of questions received, not all questions are answered. However, many individuals have similar questions. You may find helpful information in the categories listed below.

Ask a Legal Question