Q: We broke up, I took the dog. All the vet stuff is in my name, and I've paid for it. Is it my dog?
He hasn't been chipped. But he may have been registered by the breeder.
A: Have the dog chipped and registered to you and then it’s your dog.
A: Every Divorce case depends on the facts who paid for the dog, who owned the dog prior to the couple getting together and 100 other facts that can be brought up. Normally registering a dog is from the breeder to the purchaser. You can't just register the dog with the AKC without the breeder or owner signing over the AKC registration. Anyone can get a dog chipped, vacinated, and registered with the county even a stolen dog. But the AKC registration is more like the title to a car and is proof of ownership. I can think of nothing which would be a better proof of ownership than the AKC registration from the breeder. Taking the dog is not ownership. Paying the vet bills is some proof. Paying the breeder for the dog is better and closer to ownership. AKC registration should be the best test of ownership.
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