Can ANYONE help with a Dog Ownership issue please

loulou7love

Hi All! 
I'm after a bit of advice please regarding dog ownership issues. 

We brought a puppy and almost immediately after purchasing him we had housing issues so we rehomed him to a lady and her daughter. 
 
A month ago the lady contacted me stating her daughters mental health had detorated so can't they cope with the dog and would we like him back. We took him back as our housing issues are sorted now thankfully. 

A few days ago the lady messaged me saying shes made a terrible mistake and can she have him back? We didnt respond. Then she sent us a letter offering us money as a good will gesture and If we don't agree she will take legal action against us as the dog was her daughters and its theft! 

We spoken to our vets, since hes been back home as the lady hasn't changed his microchip details like she said she would so our vet has sent off for a change of ownership for us but were clueless what to do. 
Is the dog legally ours if we have texts to prove shes given us the dog? 
 Thanks in advance 
(Edited post) 

onlyfoolsandparking

Wow it really is an essay! only one piece of advice that springs to mind, possession is 9/10ths of the Law, stop worrying about it and enjoy your dog.

Comms69

Nothing she can do realistically, without a court order.

If she wants to admit theft, then that's on her. (theft from her daughter that is).

Legally if you paid nothing when you got him back, it's a grey area. ALWAYS pay atleast £1. It means there's consideration (something in it) for both parties.

onwards&upwards

None of you deserve the dog really, I can’t believe you left a pup without it’s vital injections!!  Then you judge them for casting him aside which is exactly what you did first!!

Seeing as you have him now, with a paper trail, just relax and try to care for him more responsibly this time.  A dog is for life not just till you have to move house. 😡

sheramber

 I doubt she has been any where near a solicitor.
She has no claim on the dog if she was not the owner. It would be up to her daughter if she was the owner. 
 
 Who was registered on the microchip- her or her daughter?
For a change of ownership on the microchip registration you need a part of the form signed by the old owner . If   you do not have that the chip company will write to the registered owner advising them and asking if the dispute it. They are allowed 28 days to object.

You should always get written proof of taking over a dog- either a receipt for payment or a statement that the person is giving you the dog. 

  You could total up all your  costs for the dog - vet fees , food etc. and keep all your other evidence to show if it went to court. 
 Then I would  do no more.
Do not enter into any correspondence with her . Ignore any letters from her an await a court summons.
Only a court can legally  order you to return the dog after a hearing when you would be able to produce your evidence of the state of the dog when he was returned and what it cost you to put it right.

thorsoak

The creature I feel sorry for is this poor dog!  Sold to you without the requisite vaccinations and registrations - which should have been carried out by the breeder (and breeder is what your first friend is, when s/he has a litter of puppies, whether accidental or not), then having to be passed on to somebody else when your circumstances changed, then passed back to you again .....should have called him ping-pong puppy!    If you now have him registered in your name, have had his vaccinations up to date, have repaid what the second owner paid, then you are legally the owner.    Please try to ensure that this puppy is now in his "forever"home - if there is any doubt whatsoever that you may be a temporary home, I would suggest that you take him to a rescue centre which will research carefully any other proposed home, so that he is in a secure home.  x

geminilady

If the lady could not cope with him before that has not changed she would not be able to cope now,poor dog hope you have lots of patience to make him feel safe and secure.Also if I was you I would not leave him alone in the garden for a good while as the lady knows where you live.

loulou7love

onlyfoolsandparking said:

Wow it really is an essay! only one piece of advice that springs to mind, possession is 9/10ths of the Law, stop worrying about it and enjoy your dog.

Sorry it was such a epic essay! Thank you for the advice, it's much appreciated x 

loulou7love

Comms69 said:

Nothing she can do realistically, without a court order.

If she wants to admit theft, then that's on her. (theft from her daughter that is).

Legally if you paid nothing when you got him back, it's a grey area. ALWAYS pay atleast £1. It means there's consideration (something in it) for both parties.

Unfortunately, that's my worry that she may try to get a court order of some kind. We did mention money to her as she didnt mention it at all but explained we couldn't pay £500, she just wanted him gone asap and dropped him that day! 

Thank you for your advice x