Pet Legal Q&A Archives

I own a boarding kennel and my client’s attorneys haven’t been paying the bills.

My parents are former professional dog handlers and own a large boarding kennel in Northern California. Unfortunately, their main client passed away in April of 2018 with over 40 dogs under my parents' care. As part of his will, he created two separate trusts to care for his large number of animals (one cluster in New York and the other in CA). Unfortunately, the attorneys are very slow to pay. They agreed to pay up to the date of his death and then asked us to accrue bills until the trust was settled. In over a year we have only received one emergency payment and have had no communication in over 5 months. What is our recourse?

By Elinor Molbegott|2019-06-17T13:32:12-04:00June 17th, 2019|

I got a free cat from Craigslist and the previous owner took it back.

A guy was giving away a free cat on Craigslist and we accepted her. A day later, he said that he needed her back to take her to the vet for a shot and that he'll bring her back the next day. Now he is saying he isn't going to bring her back. My fiancé is now in tears because she has already lost a cat to cancer this year, and she doesn't want to lose another one. Is there anything we can do?

By Elinor Molbegott|2019-06-17T13:23:42-04:00June 17th, 2019|

Can my friend take back the cat that she gave me?

I was gifted a cat when a friend moved into a new apartment with an allergic roommate. Now after 408 days in my care, my friend is claiming that I was only fostering the cat and she wants the cat back. She says she has paperwork from the shelter to prove that the cat is hers, and she’ll do whatever is legal to take her back. She has lived in over 7 apartments in less than a year and the cat has thrived in my care. Does she have any legal standing? How can this be fair?

By Elinor Molbegott|2019-06-17T13:14:54-04:00June 17th, 2019|

Is it legal for my father to get rid of my dogs even though I’m 18?

My father is not an animal lover, but I do have 2 well-trained dogs. They have no problems whatsoever. I don't have the best relationship with my dad so he is constantly threatening to get rid of my dogs. It stresses me out whenever I leave the house. I do plan on moving out in the future, but right now I'm busy working and going to college. If their microchips and vet papers are under my name, and I feed and care for them, is it illegal for him to get rid of them?

By Elinor Molbegott|2019-06-17T13:09:35-04:00June 17th, 2019|

My dog attacked another dog. Am I responsible for the medical bill?

My neighbor's dog is always outside off a leash barking at people. Last week my dog got out of the house and attacked her dog after her dog was on our side of the pavement. When my dog got out, her dog ran home, and my dog ran after her. She took her dog to the vet and she has a $455 bill. Should I be responsible for the bill?

By Elinor Molbegott|2019-06-17T13:04:33-04:00June 17th, 2019|

I want my foster cat that was adopted back.

I am a foster parent and I was tricked by a customer. They adopted a cat from me and I did not notice that they put a PO Box into the address line. The driver license number is wrong too and her phone number is to her work place. Once I noticed, I asked her to provide an address, and she refused saying that she doesn’t feel comfortable doing so. I am very concerned about my foster cat. I have no idea where the cat is currently and she won’t cooperate. She told me that I signed the papers so now the cat is hers, and she said to take her to court. Can I legally demand the cat back?

By Elinor Molbegott|2019-06-17T12:56:00-04:00June 17th, 2019|