Q: My mother in law is keeping our pit for a couple of months until we move. She had him fixed without our consent.
She won't give him back and now says he is hers. She said she can do watever she wants because she said he's her dog. But she was just supposed to be keeping him a few months. She had him fixed without our consent. We want him back and she wont give him to us. What can be done? He is a $3500 dog.
A: If you have proof of purchasing the animal, I suggest you file a lawsuit to recover it. ( an animal is simply considered property under TN law). I expect she will say that you made a "gift", in other words, that you gave her the dog to keep, so try to find anything ( an email, or old text message) which confirms she was just babysitting the dog for you. Bad news is: this may be your word versus hers, and as the plaintiff in the lawsuit, the burden of proof would be on you to establish your ownership. Again, this is why you need a receipt, cancelled check, or pedigree papers proving you bought/own the dog.
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