I left my dog with someone who has since rehomed him. Where do i stand legally?

[Wu Banger]

I recently moved to Florida and had to rehome my dog with a family. I explained that if they had any problems, to contact me and my sister would have him until either i returned or he was found another home. Since then they have taken it upon themselves to rehome him with no notification to myself. They did not get anything from me to say i was signing him over but then i didn't get anything to say that they did not have the right to rehome him.

I am not happy where he is and want him back. but i don't think they are prepared to give him back without a fight!

Where do i stand legally on this?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Wu

[Wu Banger]

I rehomed him to another family as i was moving to the U.S. I said to the people who took him "if it doesn't work out let me know and my sister will take him and i will return". For whatever reason they took it upon themselves to rehome hime to what they thought i wanted - a family. It now transpires that the lady who took him did so to give to a friend and pretended he was for her due to not thinking her friend would get him due to being single and with no kids. That is the case and we would never have let her have him. The person who gave him to the lady will back me up that he was taken under false pretences. I am not happy he has been rehomed since at all - it was a very hard thing to give him up and now he hasnt been put with a family, i am putting my own life on hold to make sure he gets the best in life

[bednobs]

are you? Didn't you rehome him when you wanted to move? That dosen't sound like putting your own life on hold for the benefit of the dog

[Wu Banger]

Man, i hate it when people get all righteous on here. I rehomed my dog to what i thought was a good family. My partner and daughter had moved to America due to financial issues we were having and we planned to make a fresh start out here. Giving my dog up was something i never wanted to do but did so for the sake of my family. I could not afford to take him as it was going to cost over 1500.00 plus where we were staying did not take dogs - nor do many rented properies in the states. Since moving he has been rehomed where i am not happy with, so with a mutual decision, plan to come back to the UK and save up to bring him over

[boxtops]

Do you honestly think that the woman with whom he's living now is going to give him back to you, wu banger? As far as she's concerned, she's been given him legitimately. I am surprised that you let a pedigree dog change hands, under whatever arrangements, without getting it all in writing.

[Wu Banger]

Just got him back. Thanks to all passing on real help. I wish all folk on here could just stick to answering questions and not making assumptions and passing judgment without knowing all the facts!

[bednobs]

i suppose i don't really mean to sound righteous, because, after all you are not asking about the morality of it all, more the legal side.
In my opinion though, if you are coming back here just to retrieve the dog so you can take it over it might be easier to explore with the new owner if they will let you have him first. After all, flights back plus rent or whatever over here till you save up enough to take him with you seems quite a lot of money when you are struggling.
If you were paying food and vets bills for the dog, i would expect you to have a say; if they were keeping him (paying for his daily food and vets bills), i would expect they could reasonably expect the dog to be "theirs" and thus do what they want with him

[bednobs]

hey, just seen your above answer - good for you, hope it was a good reunion :)

[smurfchops]

Ju how did you manage to get him back ? I hope it all ends happily, every dog deserves a good and loving home. Good luck and give him lots of love, he must be wondering what was happening, poor thing .. :)

[smurfchops]

But how did you get him back between 18.53 and 19.00 on Monday - that was quick !

[Wu Banger]

Hi. It has been an ongoing thing for 2 weeks plus. I only posted on here as it seemed it was going to go pear shaped and needed advise. He is back with my sister who will look after him until i get back

[trt]

Will he know you when you get back, I feel sorry for him being messed around with different owners.

[Wu Banger]

Of couse he will know me - i only rehomed him mid december. I feel sorry for him too, that is why i am going back to make sure he is looked after