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.

A family member is a cat hoarder.

She is being evicted from my sister's 500 square foot apt for various reasons but also brought in 8 cats. My sister understands crowded conditions do not equal abuse, as she has an animal rescue and boarding background, but she says conditions are poor. They are moving out into an even smaller studio apt and planning on bringing now 11 cats. Her son, my sister's husband, plans to build a large catio for the cats but this was my sister's idea. The hoarder thinks she is doing nothing wrong, and it is likely she will just bring in more cats. Maybe other people have hoarders in their family would be interested in your answer as well.

By |2025-04-04T13:08:50-04:00March 26th, 2025|

Pet cremation mistake.

Our vet just let us know that the funeral home to which our dog was sent to get cremated at made a mistake and instead of doing a private cremation they did a group cremation. What can I do in the circumstance?

By |2025-04-04T13:18:44-04:00March 8th, 2025|

My neighbor is mistreating their animals.

My neighbor has two dogs and one cat. The dogs have obviously been outside for a long time. They have bruises, signs of abuse, and are extremely dirty. The cat was too shy to get a good look at it. Do I have the legal right to take the dogs (who are friendly; both let me touch them), feed them and patch them up, then send them to a shelter? Maybe I will keep them?

By |2025-04-04T13:16:24-04:00March 6th, 2025|

Reclaiming lost service animals.

My cat service animals for my mental state got out of my cousin's apartment, and they were gone for a while. They came back. The neighbor picked them up called animal control. I was in Portland for two months and I didn’t know what happened until I got home a week later that’s when I found out. I called five animal shelters where they were, this was three months later because I was looking for the one shelter that adopted them out. I want to reclaim them paperwork on them that I’m the owner service animal, veterinarian papers, and psychiatrist papers, and primary care papers. They are trained cats and if for my emotional support for my neuropathy. I’m desperate to get them back.

By |2025-03-26T14:58:21-04:00February 28th, 2025|

Dog passed on to me by friend wanted by next of kin.

My friend passed while her daughter was in jail. Her dog was given to me by police, now a month later the daughter wants the dog. I have licensed her into my name already and microchip. Do I need to return the dog? Her mother didn’t want her to have the dog, but I have nothing in writing but witness to the conversation.

By |2025-03-26T14:51:30-04:00February 26th, 2025|

Adoption refused due to same sex dog at home not being spayed.

Help! My mother, who is a senior wanted to adopt a senior female dog (7yrs old) Chihuahua mix from a local shelter. Recently, one of her dogs passed away, and the other dog left behind is showing signs of grief from the loss of her playmate/sister. Not to mention my mother for losing her dog. The shelter refused her application for the adoption of the senior dog because the dog she has at home (which is a female, same sex), was not spayed. There is absolutely no chance of the two dogs breeding. Why would the shelter deny the senior dog (sitting in a crate for the past 3 months) of the chance to live out its life within a loving home? Does a dog have any rights? Shouldn’t an adoption be on a case-by-case basis? Seems cruel to me. The woman I spoke to at the shelter said, “it’s their policy”. Meanwhile they have every cage full.

By |2025-03-26T14:41:53-04:00February 21st, 2025|

Someone else neutered and declawed my cat.

My cats got out and we’ve put posts and flyers up everywhere to find them. Supposedly someone found one of my cats, declawed and neutered them. Now you can’t just take someone’s cat and do that having a feeling that the owners are currently searching for them. So, my question is if can I take the person who neutered and declawed them to court and sue?

By |2025-03-26T14:35:29-04:00February 16th, 2025|
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