It’s been two weeks since my step-daughter gave her dog—a 7-month-old Malinois—to a friend from her class. She gave him away on impulse after a row with her dad.
She wanted him back the very next day, but he’s refusing to return him. She’s been on the phone and messaging him all week with no luck. Last Saturday, she went to his house to talk to him, but he didn't want to know. She had to report it to the police last week for breach of trust, but the prosecutor didn't take any action and wouldn't give the go-ahead for her to take him back. The dog is still in her name on the microchip database because no transfer of ownership papers were ever signed. This week, after several chats with the registry, she found out that a transfer request had been sent; once she received the document, she saw that it was her friend’s mum who had signed the transfer form.
It clearly states that the registered keeper must sign, not a third party—thankfully!
So, she’s gone back to the police to report them for forgery.
What will happen now? Is she in the right? I reckon she is, as she’s the legal owner of the dog. We’re still waiting for a legal decision.
All she wants is to get her dog back. He’s currently living in an outdoor run with three other big dogs, whereas at home he was safe and sound and totally pampered.
We’re all heartbroken by this separation. She knows she’s made a massive mistake, so there’s no need to give her a hard time about it. But the person who took him is being dishonest and is currently getting away with breaking the law.
Do you have any advice or ideas on how to get justice so the dog can be returned to her?
Thanks everyone.
Translated from French
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I'm sad that this thread has turned into a discussion about my daughter-in-law. There’s no point talking about her any more. The damage is done and she knows it. So, ultimately, this forum is just being used to judge her instead of helping me—helping us—get back the dog we miss so much. Thanks anyway to those who gave us some suggestions.
A gift is a gift! Taking it back is stealing!
Your daughter-in-law has messed up and she needs to face the music; besides, why isn’t she the one posting here herself?
The fact remains that I’m not going to feel sorry for her. Whether it was on a whim or not, she made her choice and now she has to deal with the consequences.
I’m upset that the whole thread has ended up being about my stepdaughter. There’s no point even talking about her now. The damage is done and she knows it. At the end of the day, it feels like this forum is just being used to judge her rather than helping me—helping us—get our dog back. We really miss him. Thanks anyway to those who gave us some leads.
What your daughter-in-law did isn’t just "a silly mistake". It was a cruel act that shows how little she cares for her dog. Shifting all the blame onto her boyfriend’s mother is a bit too easy, really. Your daughter-in-law has shown a lack of maturity and "humanity" that makes me think that, no matter what, this dog should no longer be registered in her name. If you explain to this lady that you’re going to transfer the dog into your partner’s name and that he will continue to look after it, ensuring its comfort, proper training, and health, you could show her that, unlike your daughter-in-law, you fully grasp the gravity of her actions.
I've read this sad story carefully (sad for the dog, that is) and I'm starting to wonder what your daughter-in-law actually told her classmate to get rid of the dog. His mum might have a completely different side of the story and might just be trying to keep the dog safe. Personally, if someone came and gave me their dog of their own free will along with the paperwork, I don’t think I’d be giving him back any time soon. This 18-year-old girl wasn't looking after her dog properly according to the dad anyway, so isn't that even more reason not to want to return him? The fact that he’s in a kennel with three other dogs doesn't really bother me that much as long as the dogs are happy, well-fed, have plenty of space to run, and get lots of love.
I only know what you’ve chosen to tell us, but like @Sky, I have my doubts about the real reasons for giving him up. I always like to hear the other side of the story; it can be very surprising and eye-opening.
If the paperwork was handed over with the dog (meaning it wasn't stolen) and the lady has registered herself as the owner on the microchip database, there’s no point in reporting it or taking legal action; it won’t get you anywhere. When you're an adult and you give up a pet, you have to take responsibility for your actions—perhaps this will serve as a lesson...
At the risk of getting some stick for this, I wonder if the dog isn’t actually better off with the classmate and his mum. She’s gone through the proper channels to adopt the animal and probably wants to protect him from being abandoned again if the chance ever came up.
My take is that nothing good will come of it if you manage to get this dog back. What is she going to do with it when she eventually moves out? When the boyfriend starts coming first?
Fair point; I’ve thought about that too... but then people will just say I’m trying to pick on a kid 🙄😈
"Anyway, what was the final outcome of the conversation with those people? Has the mum not changed her mind after you laid out the facts to her? It’s a bit of a blunder that needs sorting out sensibly on both sides."
-> And another thing: has your daughter-in-law not spoken to her friend since? Couldn't they come to an agreement for him to give the dog back? 🤷
Oops, I was posting at the same time as Kiri ^^'
But what he says is spot on: was it you who reported it to the police, or your daughter-in-law? If the dog is in her name, she’s the one who needs to go and explain the situation to the police, though you can obviously go with her. 🙂
And having proof that you actually own the dog and have been looking after it should help: things like proof of purchase, vaccination records, vet bills... all stuff that you should be more able to provide after owning the puppy for 5 months than the other side could after just a few days? 🤷
That being said, and now that we’ve cleared that up, it’s true that it doesn’t really help the core issue because the paperwork was handed over at the same time...
And I’m sorry to say this, @Coconouney, but your latest summary does seem much clearer than the first one—at least a bit more consistent and complete. There were definitely some gaps in your original story, which is why we were asking so many questions... but no harm done in the end.
You know, it’s always easier to help someone when you have the full picture, and we definitely have a better idea of what’s going on now. 🙂
I still don’t have any other solutions to suggest beyond what the others have already proposed. It seems crazy that despite acting so quickly after the initial mistake, you’re still struggling to get a result...
I really hope for your sake (and for that poor puppy, who is the one suffering most in all this, if anyone’s forgotten) that your latest complaint gets sorted out quickly. 😔
But as Nordic said: if the dog’s paperwork was handed over at the same time, you can’t really claim it was stolen, and that’s going to make the process of getting the poor little fella back a lot more complicated...
The pet health record is definitely in your step-daughter’s name and not her father’s, right? That would have made the case much stronger with the authorities... 😞
