Question
I gave a dog to a rescue and before i could get back to my car I couldn't leave him I asked for him back and offered the fees they said no. What can I do? I want him out of that place.
Answer
People who surrender their animal generally have no further rights to that animal and the shelter/rescue that the animal was surrendered to generally has no legal obligation to return the animal. Many shelters/rescues will not return a surrendered animal, in part out of concern that whatever caused a person to surrender the animal will happen again. The decision to surrender an animal should be carefully considered before doing so, not after. Sometimes providing proof that the animal was well cared for (such as veterinary records) may help to get a shelter/rescue to change its mind but that depends on the shelter/rescue, the condition of the animal when surrendered, the reason given for surrendering the animal, etc. People who believe that their animal is being wrongfully withheld can sue to try to get the animal returned.
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