Q: My parents gave me a dog as a gift in ny and i have witnesses saying he did...i moved to tn and took the dog with me..
Can they press charges for theft and what rights do i have to the dog
A: They can certainly press charges. You have a defense that this was a gift. Possession is considered important but is not conclusive. Who gave the dog the shots? Who took the dog to the vet? Who has the dogs records? Who walked the dog? Who fed the dog? Who initially paid for the dog? How long ago was the dog in your custody? Who named the dog? These are all important questions that need to be answered to establish ownership of the dog. Right now, your questions are hypothetical because there is no case. If the police call hang up and call a lawyer. If you get a summons to civil court, contact a lawyer right away.
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