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Pet Legal Q&A

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.

Can my sister legally give my dogs away or let them loose without my permission?

I live with my sister and her and I had got into an altercation. She advised that she will no longer care for small senior dogs while I'm at work. She said if I don't take them with me when I leave that she will take them to the pound or let them loose. I've decided to move back home to California in 30 days but in the meantime, I cannot take my dogs with me to work, nor can I take them everywhere I go because of the weather temps here so I quit my job. She doesn't want them on her property unless I'm here. I believe it's an act of control and revenge. Can she legally give my dogs away or let them loose without my permission?

By |2023-06-20T16:53:40-04:00June 20th, 2023|

While my brother in law is in prison, I have cared for his dogs and my children are very attached to them and they are very attached to us. He may decide to take them back because of their health. What can I do?

My brother-in-law went to prison for 5 years he is still in prison he asked if we (my husband “his brother” and I could take the dogs in we said yes easily as dog lovers. We had the dogs over a year nearly two. One of the two dogs has a tumor, and I can’t afford surgery. Now he wants to take the dogs and send them to his aunt so she can get medical care and keep the dogs. I’ve invested a lot of money in these dogs, and I don’t want to give them up. By law am I obligated to give them up. His name is still on their microchips. But I’ve been feeding and housing them for the past year and half me and my children are very attached to them and they are very attached to us. What can I do?

By |2023-06-20T16:49:11-04:00June 20th, 2023|

My dog I took to an animal shelter but desperately need back.

I got a dog we picked up on the side of the street. My daughter and I fell in love with it, but my husband said it had to go. So we drove it to the Huntsville humane, but my daughter hasn't stopped crying since, and to be truthful, I've had a hard time too. I need to get the dog back, but I don't see him on the website yet. It's been almost 1.5 days, and I'm getting worried. Will they even let me get him back after my husband told them his name and info? How can I get him back?

By |2023-07-17T16:42:12-04:00June 20th, 2023|

Breeder lied about Purebred Status. What can I do?

KSL Breeder advertised Purebred White German Shepherd for $500.00. A year later I did a DNA test to find out he is not a purebred White German Shepherd, but only 66.7% White Shepherd and 20.8% Husky and 11.5 Shiloh Shepherd. Can I do anything?

By |2023-06-20T16:31:52-04:00June 20th, 2023|

Parental neglect.

I am a minor who is coming into possession of a cat. I love this cat with all my heart, and I will pay all necessary fees to keep her alive. However, my family refuses to keep this cat at our house, so I am sharing custody of this cat with a friend of mine. She is allowed to keep this cat; however, her stepfather is a mean drunk and has a history of giving away pets in the house for money or otherwise. There is no other place I can keep this cat. If her stepfather removes the cat, what can I do about it, and what legal repercussions can I enforce? If he lays one finger on my baby, I swear to God I will throw the book at him. Please help.

By |2023-07-17T16:28:04-04:00June 20th, 2023|

My teacher’s neighbor stole her cat and put it into a shelter, and the cat was sent to a pet store. Is that legal?

My teacher has a cat that she loves dearly, the cat is microchipped. However, her neighbor stole her cat and surrendered it to a shelter, and they didn't even bother checking the microchip and making sure it was her who was surrendering the cat. Now the shelter wants to charge her $100 and sent the cat to a pet store to be adopted. Is that legal? For both the shelter to do that, and her neighbor to have stolen the cat like that?

By |2023-08-17T11:15:19-04:00June 20th, 2023|

After agreeing to split cat care, my ex informed me he was abandoning them and leaving me the responsibility entirely. Is there a way I would be able to get him to pay petimony?

My ex and I adopted 3 cats while we were together. He insisted on getting the 3rd (who I love with all my heart), and I agreed to it as long as we would split cat care evenly in the event we broke up, which he assured me we would. We broke up a year ago and since then I've taken care of them mostly, he's been splitting costs and feeding them a few days a week and staying with them if I go out of town. Yesterday, after moving some more of his stuff out of my apartment, he informed me he was abandoning them and leaving me the responsibility entirely, then blocked me. I looked up petimony but it seems like that might be only legitimate through divorce, we were never married but lived together with cats for 3 years. Is there a way I would be able to get him to pay petimony?

By |2023-06-20T15:30:41-04:00June 20th, 2023|

My beloved pet was killed by my neighbors’ German Shepherds. Can I sue the neighbors if their dogs come into my yard, and should I record it for better evidence?

My dog was killed in the morning April 30th, 2023. The next day at 1 am, May 1st, 2023, the dogs get out again. I'm terrified they may hurt my other small dogs. Dog pound dispatch came on April 30th and took pictures of my dead dog and talked to neighbors, then left. Can I sue the neighbors if their dogs come into my yard, and should I record it for better evidence?

By |2023-06-20T15:11:40-04:00June 20th, 2023|
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