Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Maryland

okay, my question pertains to "custody" of a dog. I bought a dog, fairly cheaply, from a close friend and neighbor. I was even given a bill of sale. as my girlfriend and i got a little more serious she began to live with me. once things went south. I was kicked out, as we were staying at her fathers at the time. I was never allowed to receive any of my belongings. Including my dog. a few months prior, when things were fine, she and her father took the dog to the vets and omitted my name as the owner. since then she moved out of state with the dog and has now returned. she swears the dog belongs to her. she stayed a few nights at my apartment recently and it was not working out. I asked her to leave and when she did, she returned with the police for "her" dog. does the bill of sale not count for anything? even the neighbor i bought the dog from says that he sold the dog to myself. NOT HER. can she get away with this?


Asked on 2/24/10, 12:53 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jed Sorokin-Altmann Law Office of Jed Sorokin-Altmann

Note: I am not your attorney, no attorney-client relationship s forming through my answering your question, and my answer is general information and not necessarily a full analysis of your situation. For a fuller analysis, you should arrange an appointment with myself or another Maryland attorney.

Necessary disclaimer out of the way, your ex-girlfriend gets away with this if you let her get away with it. If you do nothing else, I suppose she gets away with it. With the bill of sale and testimony of the neighbor you bought it from, you certainly have a basis to sue for the return of your dog. It's not a question of custody, animals are treated like any other piece of property.

Are you guaranteed to win? Of course not. The other side might claim that it was a joint purchase, or that you gave your ex the dog, or something along those lines, and use the vet bills as evidence to support that.

I won't try guessing who wins in those circumstances, but you certainly have a shot at recovery if that is what you want to try.

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Answered on 3/01/10, 5:35 am


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