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.
Nursed the dog back to health, but can the owner claim the dog back if they search for it?
My ex-girlfriend and I got the dog together. I paid the majority portion of her cost, all of her vet bills, and all of her food supplies. I have documentation under my name for the vet bills and registration. Her argument is that we got the dog registered as an ESA under her name. The only reason for this was that we were living in a breed-restricted apartment that did not allow our dog size. She has served me some papers for court in March, and I would like to know how I stand on this?
Had to put our 4-year-old boxer in foster care... The foster person decided, without asking for permission or any contact, to take our dog and got him neutered... What can I do?
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?