What can I do if someone won’t give me my dog back? Here’s the Answer

Show Up In Court

If the above step doesn’t yield results, you and the defendant will need to go to court for the hearing.

The judge will hear you out and analyze the evidence and give the verdict.

If the judge rules in your favor, the defendant will be asked by the court to give back the dog.

The case can go the other way too if the judge feels that the defendant is taking better care of the dog.

How To Get Your Dog Back From Someone

What can I do if someone won’t give me my dog back?

In case you ever find yourself having to go the extra mile to get back your doggie, take the following steps.

What You Should Do to Prevent Your Pet from Getting Lost

As with any other type of situation, prevention is the best solution. Although you don’t always have control over everything that happens, it is definitely best to avoid getting into a situation where you have to fight to get your pet back from another person.

The following are some things that you should make sure to do on a regular basis:

  • Don’t ever leave your pet without supervision when they are outside, even if he is in a fenced yard. At the very least, make sure that you keep an eye on him from inside the house, especially if people can see and access the fenced-in area from the street.
  • Don’t tie up your animal or leave him in a car when you are going into a store or restaurant, even for just a few minutes.
  • Avoid letting your animals roam around outside. If you are walking your dog, make sure to keep them on a leash. If you have a cat, try to keep them as an indoor cat.
  • Make sure that all of your pets are spayed and neutered. This way, they’ll be less likely to run off on their own. People will also be less likely to steal them, as some people steal dogs in order to breed them.
  • Don’t go around telling people how much you paid for your pet. If people know that your pet was expensive, they are going to be more tempted to steal him.
  • Make sure that your pet has all the necessary identification. They should have a collar with tags, so that people who get close to them can see their name and your contact information. If possible, your pet should also be microchipped.
  • Keep at least one current photo of your pet. If they end up in someone else’s house, the other person may need proof that this is indeed your pet to release him back into your care.
  • What can I do if someone won’t give me my dog back?

    There are many reasons why people might steal pets. Usually, when this happens, the thief wants to get something out of it. The following are some of the reasons:

  • To get a reward for returning the animal.
  • To sell the pet to a puppy mill or breeder, if the animal is not spayed or neutered.
  • To “flip” a purebred dog, or sell him to an unknowing person for a handsome profit.
  • To enter a dog into a dog fighting ring. This is more common with dogs that have reputations as fighters, such as boxers, Boston Terriers, German Shepherds, and pit bulls.
  • To sell the animal to a lab. The good news is that a law went into effect in 2016 that prohibited the purchase of “randomly collected” animals by laboratories.
  • To get revenge on the dog’s owner. An angry neighbor, acquaintance, or family member can steal the pet and either keep him or dump him somewhere.
  • To have a pet. Some people might see your pet and like him. Instead of making an effort to find the owner, they might decide to keep him for themselves.
  • Of course, it is never okay to steal someone else’s pet. Whatever the motive of the person who has found the dog, they are taking a valued family member away from another household, usually for a selfish purpose.

    However, you can’t control their behavior; all you can do is everything you can to protect your pet.

    Ex Won’t Give Your dog Back? | Animal Ownership | BlackBeltBarrister

    I gave my dog away to a couple, and they gave her away to someone else. Is there any way i can get her back?

    A person who gave away his/her animal can certainly make a request to get the animal back and can offer to pay for the animal. However, generally when a person gives away his/her animal, such person has no further rights to that animal so it is typically up to the animal’s new owner to decide whether or not to return an animal or to sell an animal back to the animal’s original owner. It is so very important to carefully consider re-homing an animal before doing so, not after. Regrets do not equal rights. I hope the dog is doing well.

    PLEASE NOTE: Responses to legal inquiries are not meant to replace seeking legal advice from an attorney in your state. The materials in this website and any responses to questions are for informational purposes only and are not intended, nor should they be construed, as legal advice. This website, the information contained herein, and any responses to questions directed to this column are not intended to create and do not establish an attorney-client relationship. You should not rely or act upon any information provided on this website or in any response to your inquiry without seeking the advice of an attorney in your state regarding the facts of your specific situation.