what are my rights when it comes to keeping a dog.?

Question

some one i work with ask me if i could dog sit for a few weeks becouse he was homeless.( he not homeless any more ) it has been more then a month and i have ask him what was he going to do..after weeks of asking him he finally said that he was going to sell him and was going to but it in the paper..i gave him a few days and i got no answer, my husband called him and told him that he had to get the dog last night that we was not going to keep him till he got some one to bye the dog...we do love the dog and my kids love him to and would like to keep him but he wants to sell him for 600.$..but my husband says that we should not have to pay him for the dog since he has not given us no money since we have had the dog....
so someone help what can i do...

when he ask me to take care of it ..i told him that it will only be till he gets a pl to live,and he did but he can not have pets in that home..i also told him to make sure that he brings me food for the dog he did only once.he ask if he can visit the dog and i said any time and he has not..i don't want any money i did do it out of my heart..
but it has been some time and i have talk to him every other day about what he is going to do with the dog and he give me no answer..just ( i don't know) and when i did tell him that i was going to keep the dog becouse it has been to long and he has not made a move to take him back he went and said that he was going to sell..so i told him ok so pick up the dog now and he has not..

Answer 1

Possession is nine tenths of the law. Hand that creep a bill for boarding, check with your local vet for the going rate. Of course he will not pay up, then tell him to go to hell, and not to harass you any more. Do not let him have the dog, he did not do his job as a proper guardian for that animal. Be tough, do not take any crap off of that loser. (act like you know what you are doing, and like you have the upper hand)

Answer 2

Ok, since nothing is written down (no written contract),
it comes to verbal contracts.

He asked if you could "dog sit" for a few weeks but
you did not ask for compensation. Although you
may feel it isn't "just", he owes you nothing. You could
argue that he owes you for anything you purchased
(such as dog food, a kennel, etc.) and then spend
lots of time quibbling over the implications of what
it meant to accept dog sitting from such a person.
Not sure what a judge would say.

During the time that he wasn't homeless and you
contacted him, you never told him that you should
be reembursed for your dogsitting - so he still
owes you nothing.

Then your husband calls him and tells him to get the dog.
Again, he doesn't specify a "or else", but just says that it
isn't right.

Do you still have the dog?

I would inform the guy in writing that he must recover
the dog in, say, 1 day from when he receives the notice.
If he does not, you are going to charge him kennelling
fees for every second beyond that. Your kenneling fees
will be the last stated price for the dog - $600.00.

If after that time, he hasn't picked up the dog, then you
keep it in compensation for the money not paid to you.

If he really thinks he can sell it, he'll pick it up in under a day
and all you have lost is whatever you money you have
invested in the dog in the meanwhile (legally). Of course,
I understand, you'll also be missing a dog you love, but
legally, it was never yours.

If he does nothing, then he either owes you a pile
of money, or, more likely, simply the dog.

The point is, you need to create a paper trail. If you
get into a situation like this in the future, you should really
think about the consequences of making such a deal and
getting it on paper.

All of the above is a very litigious way of looking at the
issue. Maybe you can go to the guy and say "Look, we've
fed and housed the dog for so long, and we love it and
we think you should just give it to us."

I suppose, if you were feeling REALLY nasty, you could
ask for his proof that he owned such an expensive dog
to begin with. That is, if he is claiming that the dog
would sell for $600.00, he should have some paper work
for it (AKC, etc).

However, unless you have good reason to believe that
he stole it, that is simply taking advantage of his poor
finances.

Answer 3

Did you and the dog's "owner" ever have an agreement in regards to how long you were supposed to watch the dog, and what expenses you were supposed to get reimbursed for?

I think it's absolutely unfair for this person to dump the dog on you for an undefined time period, not pay for any of the dog's needs, and then expect you to shell out $600 to purchase a dog that he has as good as abandoned! I would be having some words with that person.

Ask this "owner" whether you can reach an agreement - a fair purchase price (If this is a mutt or dog that is not registered with the AKC, don't even think about spending $600. That price is ridiculous!) minus all the expenses you've incurred while "dog sitting" for the last x number of weeks.

Answer 4

This person is really taking advantage of your goodwill. However since you want to keep the dog try to negotiate a deal. He is never going to sell that dog for 600. Dogs that cost so much need pedigree papers and must be a sought after breed. Since you have boarded the dog for free all this time you can tote up your expenses on the dog and refuse to release the dog until he pays up for it. Ring up a boarding kennel or two and find out what it costs to board the type and size of dog you have. Refuse to let the dog go unless he pays up for board. You will see him climb down fast enough. If he can be mean you can also pay it back in the same coin.

Answer 5

by the sounds of things you have become attatched to this dog, and sounds like you are offering the perfect loving home for it. Not sure of the leagality of keeping him, do you know if the original owner bought the dog from a breeder (just assuming that might be possible due to the price he is putting on the dogs head) if he has maybe get in touch with the breeder and tell them the story they may be able to assist in rehoming dog to you. (just a thought only that one) my other thought would be maybe to get in touch with RSPCA or your local kennel club, they may be able to shed some light on what you can or can not do. I would have thought if you have been responsible for the animal for this time particuarly if the other owner (i use owner as a loose term only in relation to this person) has not provided you money for food and board for this time surely there should be something you can do possesion 9 10ths of the law!
Oh nother thought.......send dog to RSPCA and if owner does not come to collect tell the RSPCA that you want to adopt this dog over anyone else, they will contatct you if dog does become avail for adoption then you could pay just the $50 for rehoming? (just another thought of loop holes that you could maybe get around ownership issues)

Answer 6

Unless the man has solid proof the dog is his (like a Pet Safe Microchip), most states consider who ever spends the most money on the dog is the owner. In Arizona, one has to show proof of money spent, i.e. vet bills, dog food receipts, etc. Check with your local Veterinary Medical Association, or animal control shelter to know for sure.

Answer 7

Keep the dog. What can he do. You've been caring for it, boarding it, feeding it, etc. There is no record that he ever had the dog is there? His fault for not coming to get it after he was no longer homeless.

Answer 8

offer him a settlment, say since we kept the dog for ths amount of time, you will purchase the dog minus the cost of what it would have been to kennel the dog otherwise if you want the dog. So if you research how much you spent on food, vet costs, toys ect, and how much it would have been to take the dog to a kennel then take that and subtract it from the amount he would settle for then both of you would be happy.

Answer 9

I don't beleive you would have to give the dog back as in the area where I live as long as something is on your property for 30 days it is yours.
I would check with the dog officer in your area

Answer 10

Tell him to pick up the dog right away or pay for room and board for the dog. $600 should cover it. Put it in writing, as well. :)

http://www.thedivadog.com