Accused of dog theft - URGENT HELP NEEDED

[DomesticM]

Hi guys, in desperate need of some legal help here.

To cut a long story short, my uncle and auntie are horrid people who openly admitted to having 4 kids just to be able to claim more money in benefits. She hasn’t worked a day in her life and he hasn’t kept a job for longer than 6 months - they’re just disgusting people. Due to them owing an obscene amount of money to various banks etc they were made homeless and couldn’t look after their dog.

Me and my mum, being nice people took the dog in so he wouldn’t be put in a kennel. When he arrived he had a serious skin infection and fleas to the point that he could barely stand. He was constantly shaking and would flinch when we went to touch him, it was heart breaking to see a dog in this state. They never walked him, washed him or took him to the groomers to get his hair cut. Not only was he in such a bad state, but they didn’t even have a soft bed for him - they brought over this horrible plastic dog bed but without any cushions or even a blanket. Animal cruelty doesn’t even cut it.

So we took him in about 11 months ago and not once have they given any money towards food etc or even come to visit him. They haven’t even asked to see how he is. He’s now got a full coat of fur, his weight has improved and he’s just a happy little dog again. Fast forward to last week when we got a message saying that they’ve been rehoused and can take the dog back. Now, us knowing what they’re like and exactly how he will be treated asked politely if he could stay here until they had a more stable environment for the dog to live in. They said no and that they want the dog back otherwise they will take legal action (while also accusing my mum of stealing the dog, over feeding him (they haven’t even been over to see him) and being abusive calling her a crap auntie to their child who is failing school because he misses the dog). It’s all rubbish because there is no low they won’t stoop to, to get what they want.

We need some advice as what to do next. We can’t let them have him back because they mistreat him to the point that he’s getting ill. If they were to take legal action, what measurements can we take to stop them taking him back? We’re doing this purely for dog’s welfare, not because we’re greedy.

Any help will be greatly appreciated so we can ensure that Rory is kept well.

[superlightr]

Its difficult and upsetting Im sure but its not your dog.
Give it back. The police could be called as its theft.

If concerned about its welfare call the RSPCA.

Another option is to offer to buy the dog - money may appeal more to them from how they sound. Get a receipt signed.
Hope you can find a way to help the little fella.

[Pica-Pica]

Just as superlightr says.

[S100HP]

"sorry officer, I have no idea what you mean. They told us we can have the dog on the understanding we paid the vets bills, which we did, look"

[The Mad Monk]

S100HP said:

"sorry officer, I have no idea what you mean. They told us we can have the dog on the understanding we paid the vets bills, which we did, look"

No, don't debase yourself by telling lies.

Report them to the RSPCA, which is what you should have done in the first place.

[eskidavies]

Please find anyway possible not to give Rory back ,and keep him in his now forever home ,

[Thats What She Said]

Money talks

Give them £100 to crawl back under their rock, and get them to sign a receipt giving your mum full ownership.

[Red Devil]

OP, is the vet who treated the dog aware that it belongs to your relatives?*
You'll need to get him/her onside if you refer this issue to the RSPCA.**
Which I would do, as it's the obvious counter punch to any threats of legal action.

• Some people should not be allowed to own an animal.

• You never know, there might be a fairy-tale ending: you get to keep him.

[Spoon Burner]

“Sorry uncle, dog ran away a few days ago, didn’t have the heart to tell you”.

Cut them from your life live happily with dog.

[Who me ?]

As RD says- might be worth getting RSPCA involved , and ask them for help.

[NickGRhodes]

Do you have evidence of mistreatment ?

[anonymous-user]

I would call their bluff. Let them take legal action, I doubt they will spend money on legal action when they could spend their money on fags or whatever their vice is.

Whether you manage to keep the dog or not sadly it'll be easy for them to get another ...

Good luck and well done for looking after it.

[James 33]

Please under no circumstances let that poor dog go back to them. Would the police really be interested and doesn't sound like they can afford to go to court over it.

[InitialDave]

Sometimes, the kindest thing is to have them put down.

Not the dog, obviously.

[Heaveho]

Is there any way you could re-home the dog somewhere they wouldn't know about? Dogs run away or get lost all the time, if you get my meaning. Whatever the outcome, the dog can't go back there. Personally, for the sake of the dog, I'd risk legal action, but I can imagine that approach isn't for everyone. Surely the vet you use can vouch for the condition the dog was in when you first took it in. That would have to go some way to having an outcome favourable to you.

Whereabouts in the country are you?

Edited by Heaveho on Friday 13th July 00:04

[alabbasi]

Don't lie, if you have pictures and vet bills just take them to court and over the welfare of the dog and sue them for the vet bills. If they're what you say they are, they're not going to want to spend the money to litigate it.

[elanfan]

Just call their bluff and say see you in court and it will be our word against yours regarding th3 ownership. Evidence you’ve paid for vets fees, etc would go in your favour. Evidence of the state of the dog provided by your vet could be used by RSPCA to potentially have them prosecuted and even banned from keeping an animal in future.

Feckless people probably don’t have the wherewithal to follow up their idle threats.

[anonymous-user]

As suggested, ask them how much they want for the dog.

Anything else like just keeping it could cause issues if these people are as disgusting as you say, damage to home, car or other property won’t be out of reach for them and then you’ve got to prove it was them. The cost of repairing one scratch or replacing one tyre may well be enough to buy the dog.

[anonymous-user]

superlightr said:

Its difficult and upsetting Im sure but its not your dog.
Give it back. The police could be called as its theft.

No one in there right mind could give a dog back if the op has described the situation. Fight your corner I would risk it.

[gazza285]

My SIL is the same, however as non of the rest of the family are in contact wither her, she has no influence over our lives. Why do your family maintain contact?