hello everyone!
I'm new to forum, but just needed some advice!
Will give you all a bit of background information first!
I have 8 dogs altogether, I work in a vets, but didn't want to take this problem in there as I seen them more as colleagues than friends, I wanted to ask advice from people who don't know me or my pets and can give non bias advice!

So basically, we have had our little J for about 2 years now and got her at about 9months old. We heard about her through word of mouth and the guy brought her round to us, we knew we wanted her straight away, and he said he don't want her, and just left her in our garden, he had no contact with her as a pup, she was nervous and petrified of everything!! Me and my partner offered him money and he said he didn't want anything as he didn't even want J anyways!
We have stayed In touch with him as he is friends of friends, and my partner has worked with him in the past! Skipping forward to now, or this week. He has turned very petty over something he was asked to do! He was asked to move from one building to another before doing an afternoon of work. It's all kicked of spectacularly petty on Facebook (the route of all arguments I guess!) we don't know why he's got so petty and can't understand where it's came from! He has been very threatening towards my partner and the people he works with, threatening to poison all my dogs, an harm people. He called my partner today and said he wants J back or he wants money for her.
Now call me the petty one, but first he is not getting her back! She's my baby! And second, what right does he have to ask for money 2 years later?!?! I am furious, and don't really know what to do!

Does any one have any advice on where we stand?
Personally I would love to report him for threatening us and my dogs, but I know nothing will come of if!

Thank you very much for any help I advance!
X

I believe the legal term would be that he has abandoned the dog and therefore has no right to it at all. I you want to get it from the horse's mouth, call the phoneline of the dog law solicitor Trevor Cooper, would perhaps cost you a tenner or so for the call but will give you peace of mind. I attended a seminar with him and he covered cases like these. http://www.doglaw.co.uk

Thank you!
I think we will call them for the legal advice!

Im sure possession is 9/10s of the law as far as this case goes.

If the guy is threatening your partner then you should report this to the police.

I agree, if he is threatening you especially if those threats are written (on Faceache perhaps or texts) then copy and print those comments and report him to the police. A visit from the police may make him think again before kicking off. As he has given the dog to you and had no further input in the care and keep of the dog then I don't see how he can have any rights over it. Perhaps you have some receipts to show the money you have spent on the dog such as vet bills, insurance. These sorts of things will show that you have been financially responsible for the dog since he left her with you.

If you present him with a bill for the upkeep of 'his dog', he will run a mile. Two years of food, vaccinations, vet bills and the going rate for home board will run into thousands.
The threats must be reported, if anything should happen (heaven forbid)then it will be a lot easier to prove it was him.

Ditto everyone else, as said Trevor Cooper will back you up, nothing to worry about at all. :-) The dog is yours and you cannot give something away and then try to charge for it :-D :-D silly man. I understand your worry as no-one likes being threatened and especially someone threatening animals you love, it makes you panic even if an idle threat, your vet records, insurance and microchip details will all back you as the owner along with food bills, don't worry. :-)

It is always a good idea though to anyone else being offered a dog to have it signed over with the date, and to even just offer £5 given with a receipt to cover yourselves, if there is not a KC registration of transfer given.

> If you present him with a bill for the upkeep of 'his dog', he will run a mile. Two years of food, vaccinations, vet bills and the going rate for home board will run into thousands.

This!  I had a similar experience two years ago when I fostered my brother's dog as he'd effectively made himself homeless, but having seen the state of her and the immense pain she was in from numerous ignored medical conditions (that he was fully aware of I might add) I refused to hand her back.

He kept trying until I detailed the costs I'd already incurred from getting her right, boarding fees, and projected ongoing costs for her medical problems.  I haven't heard a word from him since!

ETA I should point out that like you will have, I had everything on my side re. ownership - vet records going back years, upkeep costs, and the vet bills themselves of course.  I spoke to Doglaw and they said that basically, he didn't have a leg to stand on as even when she was with him, the records were in my name (he lived with me and my dad previously and I looked after her then) so to all intents and purposes, she was my dog.  The only thing I didn't have was her microchip in my name - but that doesn't prove ownership of the dog, only the chip so it was irrelevant anyway!

I think the definition of ownership hangs as much on long-term care and custody of the dog as on anything else. Certainly anything that can be brought as evidence that the dog has lived with you and been cared for by you over a significant period of time, would put you in a strong position.

Also - in order for him to take you to court etc - he would have to spend LOTS of money - I highly doubt he would - report him, sounds like a nutter