dog ownership laws

[archhippy]

Hello long time no speak eh?! Anyway our friend was given a dog who the owner and i quote said 'he was free to a good home' Then he was skin and bone cowering in a corner not wanting to play and he was two months and hes now six months old and thje owner came to 'collect him' but he is happy bouncy lively and teething chewing everthing he can get his paws on they werer banging on the door and she sent her six kids in groups of twos to collect try and get him but our friend got the police involved and yeah he was on his lead in doors in the shut up bedroom with me( not nice because he has nuclear farts!) they said he hasnot been neglected he is happy and healthy and he is signed to the vets under our friends name so there for he is hers. the old owner is now threatening to get the courts and rspca involved. what d we do and does she have whole ownership of the dog?

[woofgang]

As understand it, dogs are in many respects like any other property...so usual first steps apply, are there witnesses to the gift? anything in writing (probably not) any proof at all of the gift (ad in the local free paper, did the person offer the dog to anyone else? Secondly are there photos or witnesses to the state the dog was in when your friend got it? Any proof of how it got into that state? If there is, then your friend might well wish to take advice from the RSPCA herself. I don't think that the courts would be that concerned unless the dog is an extremely valuable pedigree animal and it sounds like the police are on the side of your friend. Its a good thing that the dog has been to the vet, presumably he or she would be able to report on the state of the animal when your friend first got him?...might be worth mentioning to the dogs old owner that the police would probably be interested in any threats, harassment or ensuing vandalism. This is only common sense stuff ans I am no legal expert, are there any legal eagles or (!) beagles online today??

[archhippy]

the dog insn't a pedigre he is whippet cross jack russell cross other bits he is valuble to us and he is a guard dog to my friend who is six months pregnant he is our alarm clock seven on the dot this morning a slobbery kiss.Unfourtunatly there is no written evidence of the dog being gifted but she (the old owner) had another dog who she allso gifted out to im glad to say this a far better home.She has literally just gone to the vets with him to get the written evidence and the police saw last night how well he is so all going well they should'nt contest her rights. unfourtunatly there are no photos of his arival well io dont think so,i will ask.Dispite the police warning her she set her three year old son to ask again this morning, i ask is she a fit mother? letting her kid out when theres a tarmac lorry outside.Any way thankyou for your help i have an annoying year nine reading over my shoulder.

[Ember]

Ask the police why she waited four months to reclaim the dog. Good wishes, hope you get to keep it.

[archhippy]

Hi there you guys good news my friend took the dog to the vets and he suggested that the dog was microchipped strait away so now the dog is registered to my friend the previous owner has no leg to stand on.And she is allso looking at a pet insurance scheme which the vet allso suggested.The only 'health' problems where a slight sunburnt nose,bless he loves his walkies i think suncream is in order and defunct due claws which have never work and are going to be removed as soon as he is one in june.