He Gave My Dog Away - HELP!!

[TJQOBrien]

What is the name of your state? Connecticut

We are getting divorced and he has to be out of the house in 3 days. Our separation agreement states that all property is mine and I have to pay him $25k upon divore (8/08/06). We were married 6 years and together 6 before that. He had a 1-yr. old dog when we met and she is now 14. She is my baby and I could not love her any more than I do now. He just gave her away and the police say they cannot help me because she was his before we were married. The paperwork says that all property is mine unless I specifically agree in writing - I did NOT agree for him to take the dog (much less for him to give her away). She is used to being treated like a princess - completely loved, sleeps with me every night, etc - and now she is chained to a tree outside in a strange place. How is this ok???????

 

[Some Random Guy]

Pay the new owners $50 for the dog and deduct it from the money you owe him with an explanation in writing.

He can contest it in court, but is really really willing to take the time to go to court and explain his actions to the judge?

 

[TJQOBrien]

The new "owners" are his ex-wife and her husband. They are loving that this is killing me inside - there is no way they will give (or sell) me the dog. This is like a bad movie!!!!!!!

 

[nextwife]

Pay someone they don't know to approach them with 100 cash to buy the dog for you.

 

[TJQOBrien]

I wish that would work but know it won't. This is not about money - it is about hurting me. Unfortunately, my Harley gets hurt in the process. There has to be some legal way to get her back.

 

[LdiJ]

I wish that would work but know it won't. This is not about money - it is about hurting me. Unfortunately, my Harley gets hurt in the process. There has to be some legal way to get her back.

Try moving up the chain of command at the police department.

 

[Ohiogal]

What exactly does the paperwork say? Does property include all that is in his bank accounts/saving accounts/retirement accounts?

 

[Bali Hai]

I wish that would work but know it won't. This is not about money - it is about hurting me. Unfortunately, my Harley gets hurt in the process. There has to be some legal way to get her back.

A female dog named Harley? Or is your Harley something else?

Sounds like you loved the stupid dog more than your husband. It's clear why he's divorcing you.

 

[TJQOBrien]

Yes..a female dog named Harley and YES at this point I love my dog much more than my husband. My husband has become someone I don't know and that is why I am divorcing him.

To Bali Hai: It is really sad that you feel a need or take any reward from meanspririted comments in a forum designed to support people going through like situations.

To LdiJ: I spoke with the officer assigned to my complaint and to the sergeant on duty. My gut says I will have to wait until Monday when I can speak with my lawyer and hopefully get a judge to rule that the dog must be returned to me. I would be heartbroken if my husband took the dog when he goes, but I would deal with it. It just makes no sense that he can give the dog away when she has a perfectly good home that she knows and loves here with me.

To OhioGal: The paperwork says that we both retain ownership of what is ours and that all property in the marital home belongs to me with the exception of those items agreed to in writing. I certainly did not agree to my dog being given away. The police officers interpreted that to mean that since the dog was his when we met (she was just a pup - now she is 14years old) he would retain ownership. I believe the verbiage indicating that in exchange for the $25k I must pay to him upon our divorce I receive ownership of all property not specifically agreed to be transferred to him that the dog would remain with me. I am hoping a judge sees it that way as well!

 

[stealth2]

To Bali Hai: It is really sad that you feel a need or take any reward from meanspririted comments in a forum designed to support people going through like situations.

I suggest you reaquaint yourself as to what this board's purpose is. It is NOT designed to provide support, but to provide general legal information. Period.

To OhioGal: The paperwork says that we both retain ownership of what is ours and that all property in the marital home belongs to me with the exception of those items agreed to in writing. I certainly did not agree to my dog being given away. The police officers interpreted that to mean that since the dog was his when we met (she was just a pup - now she is 14years old) he would retain ownership. I believe the verbiage indicating that in exchange for the $25k I must pay to him upon our divorce I receive ownership of all property not specifically agreed to be transferred to him that the dog would remain with me. I am hoping a judge sees it that way as well!

And the cops are exactly right. She was his dog. Not yours.

 

[Ohiogal]

To OhioGal: The paperwork says that we both retain ownership of what is ours and that all property in the marital home belongs to me with the exception of those items agreed to in writing. I certainly did not agree to my dog being given away. The police officers interpreted that to mean that since the dog was his when we met (she was just a pup - now she is 14years old) he would retain ownership. I believe the verbiage indicating that in exchange for the $25k I must pay to him upon our divorce I receive ownership of all property not specifically agreed to be transferred to him that the dog would remain with me. I am hoping a judge sees it that way as well!

TO OP: The dog is his separate property NOT marital property. And separate property is NOT covered in a separation agreement. Separation agreements deal with marital property.

 

[TJQOBrien]

I respectfully disagree - there is more to this than he had an item when we met that makes it acceptable for him to give it away at this time in the process. We are both under automatic orders (standard in Connecticut) where nothing may be taken from the home prior to finalization fo the divorce settlement. He has violated that court order - and in a contemptable way at that. I feel it shortsighted to malign someone who, while certainly wanting to comfort their own broken heart, is without question looking out for the best interest of an animal.

 

[ceara19]

I respectfully disagree - there is more to this than he had an item when we met that makes it acceptable for him to give it away at this time in the process. We are both under automatic orders (standard in Connecticut) where nothing may be taken from the home prior to finalization fo the divorce settlement. He has violated that court order - and in a contemptable way at that. I feel it shortsighted to malign someone who, while certainly wanting to comfort their own broken heart, is without question looking out for the best interest of an animal.

The "best interests of the animal" will mean just as much as "the best interest of the dining room table" that he owned before you married. The dog is PROPERTY and nothing more as far as your separation is concerned.

If you think the dog is being mistreated, call the humane society. If they feel the dog is being mistreated, they have the power to take the dog. Then you could adopt her from the shelter.

 

[Ohiogal]

I respectfully disagree - there is more to this than he had an item when we met that makes it acceptable for him to give it away at this time in the process. We are both under automatic orders (standard in Connecticut) where nothing may be taken from the home prior to finalization fo the divorce settlement. He has violated that court order - and in a contemptable way at that. I feel it shortsighted to malign someone who, while certainly wanting to comfort their own broken heart, is without question looking out for the best interest of an animal.

Nobody was maligning you. You were being told the legal viewpoint which just so happens doesn't agree with your personal opinion. Your personal opinion means nothing in a court of law where the law is paramount.

 

[acmb05]

I respectfully disagree - there is more to this than he had an item when we met that makes it acceptable for him to give it away at this time in the process. We are both under automatic orders (standard in Connecticut) where nothing may be taken from the home prior to finalization fo the divorce settlement. He has violated that court order - and in a contemptable way at that. I feel it shortsighted to malign someone who, while certainly wanting to comfort their own broken heart, is without question looking out for the best interest of an animal.

This means nothing that was marital assets, it does not include what was his before you married or what was yours before you married. As per the agreement, you get what you had and he gets what he had and you split the rest. Since he had the dog then he can do what he wants with it.

On a side note, if you let the dog sleep with you in bed every nite I would divorce you to.