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.


Mislead by dog breeder.

I paid $2200.00 for a dog that was supposed to be a pure breed mini-Australian shepherd. After a DNA test, it came out to be 48% Australian shepherd and 5 other mixed breeds. It's more collie breed. I asked the breeder for half of the money back due to the fact she wasn't a pure breed dog. She said she would give me the money back and I would have to surrender the dog which I won't. She misrepresented the dog and is in breach of the contract. Do we have any legal right to get all or some of the money back if we take the breeder to small claims court?

By |2026-11-04T17:29:15-04:00October 15th, 2026|

Am I able to get compensation for my dog’s death?

While I was in the hospital with pneumonia, my son took my Maltese Dog without my permission to his house where she was attacked by his Lab and Golden retriever resulting in her death. Can I be compensated for the vet bill and replacement cost? Is there anything else I can be compensated for. The vet bill was $3,700.00

By |2026-11-04T16:25:03-04:00October 7th, 2026|

Can I get my dog back?

If I have an ex-boyfriend who I left a dog with because I was scared of repercussions if I took the dog, can I get the dog back? She is microchipped in my name. I also have the messages proving that I am the one who adopted her. I also have vet records for her under my name.

By |2026-10-05T15:57:07-04:00October 1st, 2026|

Grooming negligence.

My puppy was hurt and the grooming business does not want to take responsibility for it. They are saying because of the agreement I signed they don't have to, but this has nothing to do with them sending my dog hurt home.

By |2026-10-05T15:53:22-04:00September 30th, 2026|

Can I still get my dog back?

My dog is chipped and everything, but the shelter did not contact anybody that they were supposed to contact. They just gave my dog to a rescue. Is there anything I can do to get them back?

By |2026-10-05T15:42:13-04:00September 16th, 2026|

My friend’s pitbull bit me and it required reconstructive surgery.

I was bit in my dominant hand by my friend's Pitbull in her home. It ended up infected and I landed in the ER. I went to see a hand surgeon and was put in a cast for 4 weeks. Still in lots of pain and was sent for an MRI. I had a damaged sagittal band which requires reconstructive surgery. It has now been 8 months and I'm still struggling with the hand and now my insurance has run out. She has no renter's insurance; can I sue the owner of the house?

By |2026-10-05T15:38:21-04:00September 4th, 2026|

My dog was shaved down without my permission by a different groomer than requested.

I took my full coated Pomeranian to a groomer. I requested the groom to be with the owner. They didn't tell me a brand-new person was grooming him. She shaved his back leg down to the skin which must have hurt him and then shaved his body down; I assume so it wouldn't look so bad, but they cut him down so much it caused post clip alopecia. I have taken him to vet specialist who put him on melatonin and now an implant, but it's been a full year and it won't grow back. I want to know if I can sue them for deceptive trade practices, or should I do negligence since I found out later the owner had retired, they never divulged this information. She also forfeited her LLC in 2023, and her son is still running the business under the LLC name. This is in Texas where pets are considered property.

By |2026-10-05T15:34:34-04:00September 4th, 2026|

How can I obtain true ownership of a dog from an abusive partner?

My actual boyfriend gift me and him as birthday gift a dog and he doesn’t treat him right when he is stressed or mad or the dogs does any kind of mess or pees or poops indeed the house he loses his head - and I want to break up with him because I can’t tolerate it anymore but I want to keep the dog - the point is he has paid the vet and food but that doesn’t mean he is mentally okay and he contaminated me of chlamydia and I can’t be with an abusive partner and let him the dog I can’t please help this in an emergency.

By |2026-09-09T11:12:07-04:00August 19th, 2026|
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