Here’s a bit of background on this situation… On November 28, a family friend asked us if we wanted a dog or if we could help find a good home for it. A few days later, we found a family of 5 who were interested in adopting the dog. They already had the same breed of dog and could meet its medical needs.
On December 2, we took the dog and assured the family friend that it would go to a loving home. Within 48 hours, an adult man and his child came to my workplace and caused a scene, demanding to know where the dog was. I tried to de-escalate and said we could discuss this after my shift.
The story we got was that the dog was left with this family friend while the original owners searched for a home. The friend claimed it was their dog and told us to find it a home. We did, and now this mess has happened.
After work, I spoke with the original owners and explained how we ended up with the dog. We were told conflicting stories, so it was hard to know who to believe.
The next day, we spoke with them again and mentioned that the dog had already been rehomed. Getting the dog back would be tough, as the new owners were two hours away. We tried to set up a meeting to talk and possibly find a solution. But after two days of trying, they texted that they’d report the dog as stolen and make things difficult online.
Would we face any legal trouble if the current owners refuse to give the dog back?
After looking into the original owners, we no longer feel safe returning the dog because of their current situation. The man who confronted me at work admitted to harming stray cats for fun. The wife had even asked us to take care of her child because she couldn’t manage. They are currently living in a hotel and struggling to afford it.
They never took the dog for its shots or paperwork when they had it, and they knew this friend had lied to us in the past.
I wouldn’t want the dog going back to this family. They probably handed it off to you for a reason. Are you in regular contact with them outside of work? If not, I’d suggest blocking them and talking to your boss to make sure they can’t cause any more trouble. If the dog was never chipped, it’ll be hard for them to prove ownership. The police won’t have proof either, so it’s likely they’d be out of luck.
I’m not a lawyer, just have been around court stuff. Keep in mind this is just my opinion.
Quick answer: Tell them to report the dog stolen, you’re ready to talk with any authorities they send your way.
They’d need proof of ownership, and without it, the police will likely treat it as a civil matter. They’d have to take you to court, which is costly and time-consuming. They’re probably just trying to scare you into doing what they want. Make sure to tell your manager about this situation and ask them to make sure these people don’t come to your workplace again. Don’t get involved with them any more.
Since the original owners never did any legal paperwork, they can’t prove ownership. With their current situation, they’re unlikely to take legal action. Block them, let your bosses know you’re dealing with difficult neighbors, and tell the former owners to take a hike.
Just a heads-up, don’t get involved any further with the people who said the dog was theirs. They probably knew this would happen and passed the problem onto you.