Q: I was asked to petsit a guinea pig a few days. A friend of my ex roommate she really didn't even know me..
It's now been over a year and I messaged just to see if she ever intended to pick her up to which she said I can't pay you but if she's too much she could come get her she came in a ten gallon fish tank with a hide she could barely fit in.. knew nothing about guinea pigs but wouldn't even put a hamster in a tank that size.. started researching so I could give proper care.. I've spent hundreds on her care upgraded her cage twice buy her hay which wasn't provided have her on a way better food and feed her vegg daily.. Do I have to give her back she obviously has no intent to pay me and I've taken better care of the animal than she has. She's only once in a year asked how she was doing. I just feel she really doesn't care about this animals well being.
A:
Attorneys who handle animal/dog law matters would be able to advise best, but you await a response for four weeks. Although we see our animals as family members, the general premise is that they are considered property. So it could probably be argued that the other person did not expressly abandon the property (although they seem to have, in all but words).
It looks like you've shown the animal love and kindness - may that find its way back to you. You may have gotten yourself a guinea pig here, but if the owner reclaims it, you probably aren't going to go to court to argue elements of constructive abandonment. Good luck, and good for you for being decent to an animal... that's worth something.
Tim Akpinar
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