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Non-Married Couple and a Pet

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MDGQ

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New Jersey

A friend of mine lived with her boyfriend and she purchased a dog. They remained unmarried. The dog was considered "hers" between the two of them and she took care of the pet. The boyfriend became physically abusive and even punched the dog once breaking his tooth. Her boyfriend is a Police Officer and she came home one day to find he had changed the locks. He met her at the door and told her she was kicked out of the house.

She left and found a place of her own. She has been desparate to get her dog back and he will not return it. She has not divulged her new location to him for fear that he will "come after her" and she does not have a lot of money.

It has been a year since she moved out and when she has consulted lawyers, they claim to need money up front for a consultation.

Does anybody have any advice on if she has any case at all to get her dog back?
 


LdiJ

Senior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New Jersey

A friend of mine lived with her boyfriend and she purchased a dog. They remained unmarried. The dog was considered "hers" between the two of them and she took care of the pet. The boyfriend became physically abusive and even punched the dog once breaking his tooth. Her boyfriend is a Police Officer and she came home one day to find he had changed the locks. He met her at the door and told her she was kicked out of the house.

She left and found a place of her own. She has been desparate to get her dog back and he will not return it. She has not divulged her new location to him for fear that he will "come after her" and she does not have a lot of money.

It has been a year since she moved out and when she has consulted lawyers, they claim to need money up front for a consultation.

Does anybody have any advice on if she has any case at all to get her dog back?
A pet is property. She should file a small claims suit to try to recover the dog...or perhaps the value of the dog since he may have gotten rid of the dog.
 

mistoffolees

Senior Member
A pet is property. She should file a small claims suit to try to recover the dog...or perhaps the value of the dog since he may have gotten rid of the dog.
However, before going to the trouble, she should look at whether she has any evidence that the dog is hers. Did she buy it? Does she have receipts? Does she have witnesses who will say it's her dog (in person, not in writing)? Vet bills with her name on them?

Without evidence, if he claims that it's his dog, she's going to have a hard time winning.
 

CJane

Senior Member
Also, if it's been a year and he had no way to contact her (because she refused to reveal her location), it's possible the property could be considered abandoned.
 

Monte86

Member
Did she register the dog with the city? Get the dog shots in her name? Is the dog purebreed and register him/her as such.
I think she would have had lots of ways to get the dog back but it may be too late since its been a year.
 
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New Jersey

A friend of mine lived with her boyfriend and she purchased a dog. They remained unmarried. The dog was considered "hers" between the two of them and she took care of the pet. The boyfriend became physically abusive and even punched the dog once breaking his tooth. Her boyfriend is a Police Officer and she came home one day to find he had changed the locks. He met her at the door and told her she was kicked out of the house.

She left and found a place of her own. She has been desparate to get her dog back and he will not return it. She has not divulged her new location to him for fear that he will "come after her" and she does not have a lot of money.

It has been a year since she moved out and when she has consulted lawyers, they claim to need money up front for a consultation.

Does anybody have any advice on if she has any case at all to get her dog back?
Is that 1 year in dog years or people years??
 

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