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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.

Who gets custody?

I bought the dog but he did give me some money towards her. We share expenses and both take care of her. I carry pet insurance, and I work from home and he doesn't. We will be living in same area so I would be willing to share custody but he may not be willing. Do I have to take him to court over her?

By |2023-04-24T14:36:43-04:00February 13th, 2023|

Negligence of Groomer.

We dropped our dog off for boarding and grooming. When we picked him up they had cut all of his hair off without any explanation. He is an American Akita, his coat may never grow back and will never be the same. He is suffering psychologically and now he cannot be in the sun due to possible skin cancer and he cannot be out in the cold.

By |2023-04-24T14:47:11-04:00February 13th, 2023|

Animal control took my dogs.

How can I get my dogs back including a service dog? The county has not charged me with anything yet has taken my dogs whom are healthy & well loved.

By |2023-04-24T14:44:31-04:00February 2nd, 2023|

Custody of puppies birthed while fostering.

Was fostering a dog to own from a shelter and was going to get her spayed but then found out she was pregnant. Instead of returning her to get spayed and aborting the pups, we decided it was in her best health to let her birth the puppies in our home. We then got the mother spayed, yet the shelter is now claiming ownership of the pups born at our home...saying they are the Shelter's property because the mother was still their property. Do we have any claim to these pups?

By |2023-04-25T12:52:21-04:00January 17th, 2023|

My adopted pet almost died.

My niece adopted a puppy from a foster organization. It seemed unwell from day 1, by day 5 he had stopped eating and had diarrhea. They took him to a vet who had to do emergency surgery at a cost of $2,900. He had a dog toy in his stomach which the vet thinks was inside him when they bought him. Does anyone bear any responsibility for this huge vet bill?

By |2023-04-21T12:40:23-04:00January 13th, 2023|

My neighbor stole my cat and will not give him back.

My cat who is really like our child was stolen by our neighbor one night as I let her out for some fresh air when they grabbed her they told our security guard at our apt that it was cold and they would return her in the morning. It was caught on video when they grabbed her my wife called police who mistakenly told her a cat is not property in CA. What can we do? It has now been a few weeks and we are heartbroken . We can't get help from our landlord or anyone.

By |2023-04-21T13:07:07-04:00January 13th, 2023|
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