Q: How long is it until an animal is considered abandoned in Massachusetts?
I currently have a restraining order against my ex partner he left his snake here it has been 2 weeks and I have fed the snake and taken care of the snake for this period of time and informed him he needed to come pick him up and have heard nothing how long legally is it until the animal is considered abandoned and I can then say the animal is mine legally
A: You have a restraining order. There's going to be a lot more flexibility before the pet is considered abandoned. He cannot communicate with you in any way, shape or form without violating the restraining order, nor can he come to the house unattended. There is no bright line rule on the number of days it takes for something to be abandoned. This is particularly true where the departure is involuntary. You would probably be safe if it's more than 90 days, and notice has been given. If you're looking to be safe, do it in writing.
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