Pet Legal Q&A

My ex-roommate gave me his neglected dog he said because he was going into rehab and he would be better off with me. He is out of rehab and now saying it was supposed to be temporary. The dog has a microchip, can he take him away from me? Can I have my vet change the microchip information without the ex-roommates cooperation? Over time I fell in love and totally consider him my dog. I would be devastated if I had to send him back to that bad situation.

My sister had been gifted a cat about a year ago. After a week of having him she decided to bring him to my parents house so that they could care for him while she went to rehab. She hasn’t come to pick him back up after a year, and she does have an apartment now, as well as cares for a small dog. I paid for all his food and exams at the vet as well as a neuter, updated vaccines, and chip implant. She wants the cat back now, but I don’t believe she can care for him due to her addiction and failure to hold a job, as well as how she doesn’t properly care for the dog she currently has. Due to her failure to care of the animal before, as well as the failure to care for her current animal does that make the cat mine since I properly take care of him?

A coworker gave me a dog 2 months ago and asked if they could see him every now and then to which I verbally agreed to. Now they are asking to take him for an entire day, I replied that I do not feel comfortable with them taking him but they are more than welcome to come by or we can meet up at a park. They said this is not okay and that it was a one condition that they could take him home a whole day for me to get him. Can they take him back since I don’t have any papers other than vet visits?

My ex partner adopted two dogs 3 years ago. We broke up a month ago and he agreed to give them to me since he is busy with work. I am afraid he changes his mind and asks me to give them back. Does he have the right to do so? I have already registered the dog's chips under my name and in American Kennel.

My friend passed away unexpectedly. He leaves behind a year old golden doodle. His girlfriend of nine months and his family both want custody of the dog. His girlfriend lives in South Carolina and his family lives in Las Vegas. Our friend does not have a will indicating who he wanted ownership of the dog to go to. The girlfriend does have medical records from the vet stating the she was a co owner of the dog. Our friend bought the dog and had her for a couple of months before moving in with his girlfriend. Any legal advice for how this situation might resolve itself would be appreciated. Specifically if there is a section of the law I could point to to show the involved parties what the probably outcome of civil court would be, that would be highly beneficial to keep them out of court in this trying time.

I gave my cat, that I adopted to a friend because my mother would not allow me to have the cat in her house. Now , I plan to relocate, and I want to take my cat back. Is it legal to take her back? I am willing to give my friend all the money I would have spent to take care of her, as a currdicay. But do, I still have rights to the cat, since I am the one who adopted the cat?