Ask to meet with the shelter manager and find out why. If they don't satisfy you ask the police if you can file a complaint with them for not giving you your property. Maybe call the state ASPCA first to get an idea of the law regarding shelters.

Your case can be pursued both criminally and civilly.

With respect to criminal prosecution, it is not your decision whether charges are filed. The local police department that responded to your call and the district attorney for the county in which this incident occurred have complete... View More

Courts in PA generally do not get involved in animal custody. Discuss it with the lawyer handling your divorce. Possible if it was known to be jointly owned that the SPCA may have some liability but I don't see it, under the law.

I doubt you can sue her for theft since your uncle handed the dog over to her. Maybe if you offer to reimburse her for the vet bills she'll return the dog. Since she seems to care enough for the dog to spend a decent amount of money on her, perhaps the nicest thing you can do for your dog is... View More

I think at this point, it's pretty safe to say the dog is yours. If he wants the dog back, let him file a lawsuit against you in small claims court and then he can try to convince the court otherwise. At the very least, if a court would ever order you to return the dog to him, it would only... View More

Check with a vet and the humane society. They'd be the people called if there was a suspected problem.

You can try the police--it's conversion of a dog, but your civil remedy is what the dog is worth in market value, not it's value to you. Sorry, that's the law.

Suggest you discuss with a family therapist how to proceed as getting legal may end up breaking one or more... View More

Spend more money than the dog is worth. Fact is if you return to Japan they may not allow the dog in, and vice versa. Time to realize that this person did something wrong and just remember the vet bills are now all his responsibility.

I suggest that you go to your local district court and file a civil complaint, seeking return of your dog.

your dog warden should be able to tell you.

I'm afraid you're going to have to be a little more specific in your question? Were they taken to a shelter by someone? Were they stolen from you?

Pennsylvania does not recognize any "custody" of pets. In Pennsylvania, pets are property - just like a lamp or a sofa. If two people want to fight over a pet in court, one will get it and the other won't - and a judge will decide who if you two can't.

Best of luck to you.

Most likely the girlfriend will keep the dog: it was a gift from boyfriend to girlfriend, and she has been the primary caretaker for the pet.

The question of ownership is the key one here. It sounds like you have some good evidence in your favor on that point. Depending on how much value you place on the cat- you could hire an attorney to write a demand letter for you. The eventual suit in Maryland District Court would be for detinue-... View More

Under Pennsylvania divorce law, pets are considered property, like furniture or anything else in your house. If you two can't agree who gets the dogs, a court certainly will -- just like it would distribute any other pieces of marital property. There will be no "custody" order for... View More

Have you discussed this with your lawyer? How were the dogs acquired? Did you purchase the from a breeder or a store? Did you adopt them from a rescue? Are you the one who took them to the vet? Usually, under any of these circumstances, there's a name listed as the new owner. Honestly, the... View More

I'm not quite sure there's a good answer to your question but here's what I think. Unless the dog is a pedigree with papers, whoever adopted/bought the dog originally would be considered the original owner. In my experience, when people then give the dog away, unless it's to a... View More

No.

Depends on agreement. If you agreed to keep the cat and return whenever that's one thing. If she said she was leaving the state and never contacted you that would be abandonment.

Check your lease. You haven't said what breed of dog he is. If he is strong enough to pull a stake out of the ground then chances are no court will side with you.

Second, he knocked someone down. That's aggression. You may think it's cute. The fact you wrote the above says... View More