Question
Is it illegal to keep someone’s pet and refuse to give it back in California? What would happen if the pet owner decides to sue the person who is refusing to give back the pet? What if someone lost my pet when he was helping me to take care of my pet for a while? Can I sue him or ask for compensation?
Answer
Pet theft is against the law. The police may be contacted although the police do not usually get involved in pet custody disputes. If a person agreed to pet-sit and then refused to return the animal, a civil lawsuit may be commenced (replevin action) to try to get the animal returned and/or for money. A pet-sitter who loses an animal may be sued for money based on his/her failure to exercise proper care. If a lawsuit is commenced, the court will consider the evidence and determine rights and amount of monetary compensation to be awarded, if any.
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