I want to get my dog back

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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Hello everyone,

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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57 answers
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    • Sky
    sky Icon representing the flag French
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    What’s the point in slagging off the girl?

    No more point than doing it to a lad the same age and his mum when we’ve only heard one side of the story. 🙄

    And I certainly haven’t offered any other solutions than those already suggested, as I don’t have any others to give, but I haven’t blamed anyone either: I just pointed out a significant fact that seemed to have gone unnoticed and shared how surprised I am by the situation – no need for anyone to get on their high horse. 😔

    Also, let’s be careful about calling her a "kid": we don't actually know how old these children are, to be able to move a 7-month-old puppy from one house to another (how far? what mode of transport?) without an adult being there, and then when an adult finds out, they consider it a proper gift and not just some "kids" messing about that needs to be sorted out quickly... 😧

    I’m not saying the OP is lying or that she’s not in the right (and I hope for her sake she manages to get somewhere before it's too late – just in case the puppy "mysteriously" disappears, if these people really are up to no good, it does happen 😒), I’m just saying we’ve only heard one side of it, and it seems there’s fault on both sides to begin with, so we shouldn’t just pile onto "only" the other lot (while we're at it), especially as, like Lorna said, there might be a few holes in the story...

    ...And ultimately, and I mean no offence, whether it's the initial mistake or the difficulty in asserting one's rights to get back this poor dog who didn't ask for any of this and is the one paying the price, the whole story is just mind-boggling. 😐

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    B
    Bangdji Icon representing the flag French
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    Oh blimey... What an absolute nightmare... The legal system is notoriously slow... I’d be worried they might try to get rid of the poor lad once they start feeling the heat. They could just hand him over to a mate and claim they never even had the dog, or some other load of rubbish. It would make me absolutely livid if someone stole my pooch like that. I don't know what I'd be capable of. Could you try the RSPCA? Or maybe get the word out on social media? You could even contact a local paper to share your story and explain how desperate you are to get your dog back. If the media shines a light on things, it might actually get the police moving... but I'm not sure if it's a good idea.
    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    We went there with the police last week and even with them present, they refused to give him back. The officers simply told them they were there to see if the dispute could be settled amicably. Since they wouldn't hand him over, the police told us to file a formal report so the matter could be settled through the courts. We thought the police had enough legal authority to force them to return him: but apparently not.

    So, that’s where we are a week later.

    The dog is still with them. We also went to the RSPCA for some advice. The microchip database has flagged the record. We’re anxiously waiting for an update on the second report because there’s been an attempt at fraud to change the registered owner.

    We’ve prepared a letter for the Public Prosecutor.

    Believe me, the whole thing is just madness.

    Everyone says we’re in the right, but why isn't the legal system stepping in faster and more decisively?

    Translated from French
    B
    Bangdji Icon representing the flag French
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    I’m sticking with my advice: the dog is in your name, so they are legally your property. Give the police a call and tell them that at a specific time on a certain day, you’re going to collect your pet and you’d like them to accompany you because you’re worried about things turning violent. Like I said, I’ve seen this done twice with horses and it worked. So, it’s definitely worth a go. Explain clearly that you have the dog's paperwork in your name, that you’ve tried to settle it amicably but it didn't work, and that you’ve already filed two police reports. And tell them that you are now going to get your animal back.
    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks Bandji. Do we know what the police are saying yet then?

    Could the RSPCA help at all?

    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks Bandji. Any word on what the police are saying then?

    Translated from French
    B
    Bangdji Icon representing the flag French
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    Alfdrew, the person mentioned in their first post that they’ve already reported it to the police twice. Firstly because the other person wouldn't give the dog back, and then for fraud when they forged their signature on the transfer of ownership papers with the microchip database.
    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Especially if the microchip database isn't doing its job, there’s even more reason to file a formal complaint.
    Translated from French
    B
    Bangdji Icon representing the flag French
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    But the microchip database has definitely been informed that the transfer papers should be cancelled because the signature isn't the owner's, right? We had another thread like this where a dog was passed on to the poster for a trial, and when she tried to return it, she found out the paperwork was already being processed by the registry to put the animal in her name (without her agreeing to it). I find it pretty shocking how with the database registry, you can just send in a form with any old signature to change a dog's ownership details to your own name. Don't they do any checks at all...?
    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Have you tried talking to them? If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to report it. Do you have all his paperwork in order?

    Never mind spending three hours at the police station—you’ve got to do what’s necessary, especially since the dog is being kept in an enclosure.

    If the police won’t take a formal report or just want to log it as an incident, you can file a formal complaint online—it’s not too complicated. Are you able to look into that? If not, I can do some digging for you tomorrow morning, just let me know.

    But definitely report the dog as stolen.

    And keep us posted! 🙂

    Translated from French

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