Old owners of dog want him back….?
So about 2 weeks ago I posted a question asking if anyone else thought it was wierd that the previous owners of my dog wanted to "visit" him. Well suprise! They want the dog back.
It’s been a little over a month that we’ve had him and he’s doing so well! He loves us and our other dog and we love him. Him and Ziggy (our other dog) are inseperable.
So anyway I never called them back saying they could come see him. A week later I get a text saying basically that the kids missed the dog and they wanted him back. We nicely replied that we couldn’t do that. They’re reply wasn’t so nice, it basicaly said "No we want our dog back, we’re trying to be understanding with you but we want him back". We replied simply that we were sorry.
Then today I was home alone and the husband showed up! I was home alone and didn’t answer the door. I’m a very petite girl and knew that he wasn’t going to be happy so didn’t risk it and pretended no one was home. He slipped a note under the door saying they were talking to a laywer and would take legal action if they had to and that they would keep coming back until they got the dog back! I called my parents and they came over. Shortly after that the wife and her sister showed up and got nasty with my dad saying they were coming to pick up the dog and he wouldn’t let them. By this point we had called the police because it seemed like they were staking out my house.
We think they showed up again but the cop pulled up and then they were gone. The cop got the story, looked at the dog to make sure that he was ok and then called them telling them they couldn’t contact me in any way or show up at my house or they would be taken in for trespassing.
So they kept calling! My bf finally sent them a text telling them to leave us alone and she called one last time saying she couldn’t understand why we were being rude and why were saying she was harrassing us when they wern’t and told us to enjoy the dog. I pray that is the end of it and they really do leave us alone.
I was so worried I was sick. But I still feel bad for the kids. I know I did the right thing since they didn’t seem to take very good care of him and really didn’t seem to care who took the dog in the first place. They just wanted him gone.
Did they go overboard? Or do you think I just should have given them the dog back?
Related Information:
Tagged with: bf • cop • dad • inseperable • last time • laywer • love • parents • petite girl • reply • risk • ziggy
Filed under: How To Get Him Back
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I have read both of your questions ….
When the previous owners relinquished their dog to you they gave up any and all rights that they had period!
Giving a pup or dog away is not an open adoption.
After a dog is surrendered they have no rights for visitation or for deciding that they now would like to have the dog back. Once relinquished , surrendered and or having re-homed their pet they have absolutely no rights what-so-ever to the animal.
I would document and save any and all information regarding their communications with you as well as the times of each incidence of their coming to your home. I would also try and remember what they actually said as to why they were looking to re-home their dog when you initially spoke with them and when you decided to take the dog into your home.
They of course can take you to court, however by doing so they would only look foolish as no court would grant them what they are looking for. They can contract attorney’s if they wish but would be hard pressed to find one that would take the case as they have no grounds to stand on.
For your piece of mind, I would get a restraining order placed against all of the people sending messages and coming to your home. No sense in feeling uncomfortable within your own home.
Then if they continue you will have the documentation from court as well as all the information you saved about the harassment.
Have you taken the dog to the vet? (Should have been done immediately after taking the dog into your home) This would show that you have have ownership and are being responsible for his well being. Did the previous owners give you any paperwork on the dog? This would also be helpful but not all together necessary.
I am sure from the actions of these people that the dog is in a much better living situation.
As for the previous owners going overboard………. Yes Definitely ….. Just because they are remorseful for the decisions that they have made does not mean that they have any rights over the dog they did not want .. regardless of the reason.
Feeling bad for the children is one thing , but I would feel sorry for them for the environment that they are living in more so than losing their dog. It would be easier on the children to miss this dog and know it has a loving home rather than have given the dog back to them so that at some point they again decide they do not want him and re-home him yet again.
Enjoy your new dog, I am sure he is much better off and is quite happy being a part of your family.
Now forget about them and have a Merry Christmas (or what ever holiday your family celebrates) they will get over giving their dog away and more than likely are only doing so because of the kids and not for the best interest of the dog.
I don’t know what the original story was, but I’m assuming that they gave you the dog because they couldn’t look after it for some reason.
They do not have the right to demand their dog back and you shouldn’t feel pressured to do so especially seeing as there must have been a reason why they no longer own it and you do.
Edit: Just read the question you first posted, and yeah, you shouldn’t give the dog to them.
They seem unstable and making a dog go back and forth between homes can be very distruptive to its development
nope dont u dare give that dog back it will be very harmfull to the dog swithching emviroments back and forth and you dont want to give the dog to them if he wasnt getting taken care of hun
They surrendered a dog to you. They gave care and ownership to you. You are providing that. The cops are right, they are breaking the law. If they contact you one more time, you contact the police and have them thrown in jail where they’ll rot. They cannot legally cause this kind of problem in your neighborhood on your property. You did the right thing. The kids will get over it.
KEEP IT
IT’S LEGALLY YOURS
I have a problem similar to this. My sister has had this amazing dog for about a year now. Then one of our cats became very ill and is in the hospital right now. A few days ago, she decided that it was too much to handle with her “baby” (cat)in the hospital and the dog left with her. While she was giving him to the new family, I was upstairs crying for about 2 hours. I couldn’t believe she was giving him away without even considering how much I loved him. Yesterday, she said to my mom that she had made a huge mistake giving him away and wished she hadn’t. I want him back so badly but now he’s gone forever and my cat could die too. I never wanted to lose them both. But now I feel like I have no choice but to ask my mom and sister to ask for him back. I know it sounds mean but I just keep hoping that he destroys their home or something so they have a reason to give him back.