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.
While my fiancé and I were at work, the person we rent from (our landlord) entered our private space and removed my dog from the property without asking us first.
My neighbor had a dispute with me. Their dog had bonded with us when she was two months old. She would come out to the backyard through her pet door several times a day, and we would visit with her every day. They have a chain-link fence between our properties. When the owners would take her for a walk, we would join them, and they would let the dog go into our front yard, and we would visit and play. Now, we haven’t seen the dog for weeks. They don’t give her access to the back or front yard.
After paying a person who is supposed to be selling a dog upfront, they keep asking for more money, such as gas money and extra fees. Now they are asking us to fill out a registry paper that requires our name, driver's license, social security number, and address. Is this normal, or is it a scam?
I am not a breeder, but I have a litter of puppies from an accidental mating for which I need to find homes. I want to prevent future accidents and do not want them to reproduce. I am considering requiring new owners to sign a notarized agreement stating the animal would be spayed or neutered when age-appropriate.
Our chipped 13-year-old dog wandered from home while we were away. He was picked up and taken to another town's Humane Society. However, they never contacted us and gave him away. Do we have any rights in this situation?
My dog didn't make it, and now we have a $5,000.00 vet bill. I am disabled and make $1,000.00 a month on disability. What, or is there something I can do? Can the ex-wife be responsible because the dog lives with both of them?
I paid a cat breeder in full in June 2023. She operates a closed cattery and promised a kitten in December. However, she offered me a kitten from a different cattery, not under her care, and is refusing to refund me. She is attempting to shift blame to me for not accepting that kitten. What are my rights in this situation?
I recently re-homed my dog, on social media they looked like a good family. In person they were really nice and dog friendly people. Upon further digging I found the family who took her follow and participate in illegal breeding and dog fighting. Upon finding all this I messaged the people telling them I made a mistake and would actually like her back. I got blocked. But I’m wondering is there a way to go about getting the dog back? If I get the cops involved can they do anything to help?
I apologize for any confusion in this situation. Recently, a woman passed away, leaving her dog. The legal executor of her will registered the dog's microchip in their name. They then legally transferred ownership to my mom. After a call from another family member who claimed ownership, my mother, confused about the custody, gave the dog away. When she informed the legal executor, they reported the dog as stolen. The current possessor refuses to return the dog. Should we file Small Claims and a Replevin Action? Please help!
I picked up a stray cat that I had encountered every day on my morning route after it ran up to me. At the time, I couldn't keep it, so I called places to find someone to hold it until I got an apartment. The foster owner said I could contact them to get the cat later, but they gave it to another foster who now wants to keep it.