Question
My daughter's friend gave us a puppy that she couldn’t have at her residence, and now my daughter's friend is claiming she wants the puppy back after she gave it away. She’s holding on to the tags for the puppy and pills for him, as a means of leverage to get the puppy back. After giving him away to us, do they still have rights to the puppy, or have they relinquished their rights?
Answer
Generally when a person gives away his/her pet, such person has no further rights to that animal. If litigated (and more people threaten to sue than actually do), the court will consider the evidence and determine ownership rights. Some courts have considered the animal’s interests too. It can be helpful to have on hand some proof of ownership, such as a license, microchip registration, veterinary records, etc. in the event a lawsuit is commenced or the police inquire.
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