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.
Can an animal shelter require me to have my dog neutered if my dog got out of my house?
Earlier this year, I reached out to a rescue to help me re-home some puppies because I was overwhelmed. Five of my dogs all got pregnant and had babies just days apart. Before the puppies were born, I was already struggling, but I was managing. After the puppies arrived, I became completely overwhelmed, so I finally sought help. The woman from the rescue came and took the puppies. She said that because of their age, the mother dogs had to go too. I asked about getting them back, and she assured me I would, even drawing up a contract stating that after the puppies were weaned, I would get the mother dogs back. Unfortunately, she did something I never expected: she posted about the situation on social media, painted me as the bad guy, and called the police, who arrested me for animal cruelty. This is far from the truth. While I acknowledge I had too many dogs, I was not cruel—I provided food, water, and daily outdoor time for all of them. That is why I reached out for help in the first place. Now, the woman won’t answer my calls, and the pound is not letting me see the other animals they took from my house. I don’t know what to do, but my animals are my life, and I need help.
A breeder gave me an adult dog she retired and said she had his vaccine and health records. She was supposed to give them to me with the dog but didn’t, saying she forgot and would send them to my vet. Now she is refusing to provide them. I told her that this must mean she did not vaccinate him. She became angry and said she was coming to take the dog back. I’ve had him for almost two months. Can she legally take the dog back, and how can I obtain his vaccine records from her?
How much would it cost for a lawyer to help get my emotional support animal back from people who claim that I abandoned the animal? What would I do if I am denied getting the emotional support animal back? Would I file a civil suit for the amount I paid for the animal and everything else I paid for, or would I sue to have the animal returned?
What can I legally do if my husband, that I am going through divorce from, stole two of my dogs that are both microchipped and one of them is my actual emotional support animal for my PTSD from the death of my baby. What are my legal rights? I know where he lives now. He is completely ignoring me. It is causing me extreme emotional distress and he is well aware.
I gave my daughter my dog a couple years ago. They have always been around each other and she lives alone and is always out and about in a not so good part of town, often by herself. My dog is a sort of intimidating dog from his size alone. He's a yellow Lab/white Shepard mix. I felt he would be a good detterant protection for her. A couple years went by and no problems. She was good to him. Took him to vet appointments regularly, kept him fed and watered and in general good living conditions. She allowed me to take him in May of this year, out for a few hours without her. He went from 80 pounds to under 40 when I saw him recently. Is this grounds for me to take him back? He was also matted from sleeping on urine soaked bedding. What can I do?
I never signed a foster agreement, but I was fostering 4 cats that we got when they were 3 weeks old. They are now 14 weeks old. We fell in love and decided we would adopt 3 of them. The last kitten never got adopted and we adjusted our lives to accommodate the last cat. The organization went radio silent. And now they are threatening me because we decided to keep the last cat. I have two questions. Do I legally have to pay the adoption fees? What is my legal right to ignore this organization?
A friend of mine has a service animal, that is a registered service animal, and when he separated from his abusive (mentally and physically) ex-wife she withheld his service animal from him. What can he do under law to get his service animal back?
What can I do if a Pit Bull kills or bites another little puppy in our neighborhood? No one seems to do anything about it, but it's a danger to our community.
Where can I find a pro bono lawyer to help me retrieve my dogs when they were taken September 2024, and I couldn't figure out what wrong animal control did until April 21st 2025. I need a lawyer to help me with this what are my options?