Custody

I need assistance getting my dog back from a rescue organization that placed her into foster care. My dog was originally a stray that I took in and cared for. While I was unexpectedly delayed and stuck out of town trying to return to retrieve my dog and my belongings, someone took my dog without my permission and surrendered her to an animal shelter. He had many opportunities and ways to contact me and let me know what he planned to do, but he never informed me. When I finally demanded that he tell me where he had taken my dog, he refused for several weeks and even months before finally admitting where she had been surrendered...

My cats were in my car with me while I was out driving, and I ended up getting arrested. My cats were taken to the animal shelter, and animal control told me that I could pay the required fees and get them back. When I went to retrieve them, the woman at the shelter gave me the amount I needed to pay. After I walked back to my car, she called the police and falsely claimed that I had yelled at her. I never raised my voice. As a result, I was arrested again because of fines in another county, so I was still unable to get my cats back. I want and need my cats back. There have never been any issues regarding how I care for them. They are healthy, well cared for, and very loved. The shelter employee also claimed that my cats had fleas, but I know they did not. I feel like the shelter is lying, but no one has explained anything to me. What can I do to get my cats back?

I am with Hotel for Dogs and Cats, a 501(c)(3) rescue organization in Pensacola, Florida. We have been operating for 17 years. My question concerns a microchip dispute. Another rescue organization microchipped a dog seven years ago, kept the chip registered to their rescue, and then adopted the dog out. After seven years, the owner surrendered the dog to us in poor health. We were aware that the dog had a microchip and contacted AKC Reunite three times. The dog’s new adopter also contacted them. On the third call, we were told that the chip had been “locked.” AKC Reunite then contacted the original rescue, which claimed that, even after seven years, the dog should have been returned to them. Meanwhile, we had the dog re-microchipped, and our veterinarian advised the new owner to register both chips. We never imagined that another rescue organization would respond this way...

I made a mistake, and I want to take it back. I lied to the animal center about a dog I said I found wandering on the street, even though I actually knew the dog. It hurts so much that I cannot sleep, and I have not been myself. The situation is making me depressed and miserable, and it has mentally affected me a lot. Please help — I want him back with me.

Hi! My roommates, neighbors, and I have been taking care of several neighborhood cats. We have all purchased food for them at different times, but I bought the outdoor cat house, treats, and toys. I spent many days bonding with one cat in particular and allowed him to come into my room, where we bonded even more. He got used to waiting for me on the porch and coming into my room at night to sleep under my bed. I also have pictures of him. I recently found out that my roommate took him to be neutered (although I am not sure if that is true) and then gave him away to someone else. My questions are: Can I file a police report, and can I get the cat back? Thank you for your time.

In the state of Georgia, does an animal shelter have the right to neuter my dog if I do not want him to be neutered? My dog got out one day and was taken to the animal shelter. They told me that he has to be neutered before I can get him back.

I am a foster for a rescue that adopted out a bonded pair of 6-month-old kittens nine months ago. In October, the adopters claimed they had not bonded with one of them and asked to return him. I told them that the kittens were bonded and must be returned together. They agreed to work with him more and provided updates that things were improving. Two weeks ago, we received a phone call that the kitten they had tried to relinquish was sick. After a vet visit and agreeing to help take care of him, they relinquished him to my care. They also agreed to give me back his brother as long as we reimbursed them for the vet bill. Two days later, they decided they wanted to keep his brother at any cost. What can we do to get his brother back? They are very bonded, and this is a breach of the agreement because the first cat was very sick for two days before they took him to the vet.

My rescue took in four cats from a homeless family living in a car. The cats were in bad shape. One of those cats was microchipped. We tracked the chip back to the vet who implanted it. The vet notified us that the chip was registered to a completely different family than the one who relinquished the cats, so the family the cat was chipped to was notified. The husband (the previous owner of the cat) stated that his ex-wife kept the cat after their divorce, and when she fell on hard times, she gave the cat away. The husband is now stating that their daughter would like the cat back. We are not able to transfer the chip to our rescue unless the husband agrees to the transfer. In this case, does the original family still have legal rights to this microchipped cat?