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Pet Legal Q&A

///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.

My kitten was being held for me while I was getting an apartment and my friend gave the kitten to her neighbor, how do I get my kitten back?

My cat was being held for me by my friend who ended up letting her neighbor hold on to her for a few days because she got scratched in her face. Then the neighbor tried saying that it was her cat that she held onto it for almost a month when my friend did not have the cat for a month she only had her for at least 5 days.

By | 2018-05-21T16:54:33+00:00 April 24th, 2018|

Lost emotional support animal

My son's emotional support animal got out. I was told that some people in a neighborhood in the area where she was last seen are known for taking in strays and keeping them.

By | 2018-05-24T10:02:15+00:00 April 24th, 2018|

Can I have my dog returned?

I had a dog of which I named Puppy. Puppy had previously been snatched up by the pound and I paid for him to be released to me and have all of his shots taken care of. A few months later the same dog catcher went into my yard and took my dog and claimed he found my dog in the road. The dog catcher came because a neighbor called the pound because my small dog would sneak through the gate to see her pit bull in heat. The neighbor did not even notify me before calling the pound.

By | 2018-05-24T09:28:26+00:00 April 24th, 2018|

Cat attacks dog on leash unprovoked

A few months ago, as my wife was walking a foster dog we were taking care of up the stairs to our apartment on a leash, a cat charged down the stairs and attacked the dog's face. The dog defended itself and clamped down on the cat. My wife then put her hands in to try to separate the two animals, when the cat bit and scratched her hand to the point of needing stitches and seeing a hand surgeon for consultation.

By | 2018-05-21T16:56:23+00:00 April 20th, 2018|

Abandoned dog

A former friend left her dog with me after asking me to take the dog. Three years have passed and she wants the dog back.

By | 2018-05-24T10:07:13+00:00 April 20th, 2018|

Negligent Rescue Organization

My husband and I adopted a 2 y/o lab/shepherd mix on 4/6/18. The dog was initially living in Texas then transported to Virginia in February 2018; the same rescue organization has branches in TX and VA, and they both coordinated his care. I had asked before adopting him if he had any significant health issues other than being overweight and was told no. We took him to the vet the day we got him and found out he was heart worm positive and has been since at least since December 2016, as he tested positive for it in June 2017 and it takes six months for the test to come up positive.

By | 2018-05-21T17:01:55+00:00 April 15th, 2018|

Ex kept my dog

I purchased a dog individually in 2015, while living with a girl. I just moved out about a month ago. When moving my stuff, she physically took possession of my dog and threatened to call police if I came near her to retrieve dog. I have not had access to the property since to get my dog.

By | 2018-05-24T09:44:45+00:00 April 15th, 2018|

My niece left her dog with me while she was ill and wants her dog back after I cared for it for a year

My niece was ill last year in March 2017 and she asked if I would take care of her dog until she was well and I said yes. She came and picked up the dog from my house in April 2017. The very next day she brought the dog back and said I just cant handle this dog and left it at my house. Now after a year of caring for the dog, and trips to the vet and groomer, she wants the dog back.

By | 2018-05-21T16:50:44+00:00 April 13th, 2018|