Q: Stolen dog in small claims dog; police refuse to get involved
my friends dog has now been stolen TWICE by the same family. She has the paperwork, Bill of sale, and the dog is chipped, but the police said all they could do was make the family return the dog collar but not the dog. The dog managed to get away from the family the first time we got her back and had appeared to have been very neglected. My friend came home and her dog was gone and confirmed the same family from before stole her dog again. The cop said small claims was the only option but we are concerned about the dog in the meantime and fear the family with flee with the dog or sell it off as a bait dog when served with papers. Also safety concerns regarding retaliation and intimidating by said family
A:
If the police say you need to go to small claims, then that is what you need to do. You cannot control the future actions of other people. Sue for $10,000, and if they destroy the dog, you can make them pay full value. Unfortunate but that is all you can do. If seeking money, small claims can issue injunction for them to turn over the dog and to cease taking possession of dog, be sure to ask for it.
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