Indianapolis, IN asked in Animal / Dog Law for Indiana

Q: Can I get my dog back after I haven't had him since June 2017?

I gave him to a friend of my family and told her that if she ever didn't want him anymore that I wanted him back if it was possible. In October of 2018 she asked if I wanted him back. Her boyfriend gave him to someone else before I could give her an answer. The day after Christmas I get a call from a vet, because he is micro chipped, that someone other than who he was given to had found him and brought him in to get vaccinated after finding him 2 months ago. I told the vet that I wanted him back and she relayed the message to the woman and gave her my number. The woman called me and agreed to meet me to get him back. She never showed up and told me on the phone that she wasn't giving him back. Is it possible for me to still get him back from her?

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1 Lawyer Answer
Alexander Florian Steciuch
Alexander Florian Steciuch
Answered
  • Valparaiso, IN
  • Licensed in Indiana

A: Once you gave up your dog to your friend, you effectively transferred ownership of the dog to someone else. You never intended to receive the dog back. Legally your friend owned the dog and could do with it whatever she liked at that point.

It is still possible for you to get the dog back from the current owner, but that is going to be through negotiating with the current owner and possibly buying it back.

Consult with an attorney in your area for legal advice. Any information provided here is just for general information purposes.

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