Q: What happens if someone steals someone else's dog?
Im pretty sure my neighbor stole one of my dogs last night, I'm working on getting proof, but I need to know if there is anything I can do about it.
A:
Contact the police ASAP and report your dog stolen. If you find out that your dog was not stolen and has simply run away, be sure to update the police and inform them that you found your dog. If you have evidence that it was your neighbor (video recording of them committing the crime, picture of your dog in their house, communications from them telling you they did it), be sure to provide that to the police as well.
As an interim step, if you believe that your dog was stolen, you can call up the local veterinarians around you and ask them to inform you if any new owners come in with a dog that matches your pet's description. If your pet is microchipped, they will most likely contact you once they scan it if an owner that does not match the microchip's information brings the dog in.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.