Back in June my dog's brother came to live with me as the breeder could no longer keep him due to personal issues. I was under the impression that she would sort out the issues and we could negotiate him returning to her.

Fast forward to the beginning of September and I ask "what is happening" she calls me and reveals that it is likely she will have to rehome him. I said maybe he could stay with me, I'll have to think about it. 2 weeks later I contact her and say "yes, I'll take him on, let's have a chat about the details". She says she will call me when she catches some free time...

...

... it is now the end of November and I have tried numerous times to call her. Sent many many messages along the lines of "how about a call this evening?", "I dont mind if you are busy till late, no problem for me", "when will you be free to talk?". Apparently she is always busy. Sometimes she responds and sometimes not. Additionally I have sent photos and videos of her dog, he appeared in the Gazette because of me and she had no response. She has never actually asked me how he is doing or asked for photos, I always start the conversation.

So with an AWOL breeder, with evidence that I have been trying to get in contact, with evidence that he has been microchipped in my name since June, is it possible to get the KC involved in some way to transfer his paperwork? Through the board or something? Has anyone had to do this?

I know his KC number btw.

But obviously lacking Form 6 and the unique "Ownership Code"

That's a tricky one. It'd definitely be worth ringing the KC about it (but there's a long, long, long wait for them to answer the phone apparently). However if the microchip is in your name that at least identifies you as the 'keeper' of the dog. Unless you want to show or breed from the dog the registration papers aren't actually necessary (although nice to have).
It also might be worth getting a solicitor to send a recorded letter stating that if you haven't had the registration transferred to your name by X-date then ownership of the dog will pass to you.

Oh dear, I've heard of some people ringing for days on end for a response from the KC

I would like to have shown him and bred him, I have shown him for his breeder before and he is beautiful dog that could go really far, he already has 1 BOB from LKA (with limited showing). In fact I have already had requests for someone to use him and I have had to explain this situation that he is not technically mine yet.

I read on the KC website that if you are unable to negotiate a "progeny not for registration" you can take it to the board, so I was hoping you could do the same with ownership if I present evidence.

If it really is a lost cause I will have to castrate him and sell him I think, which would be a shame

Kennel Club registration is not considered proof of ownership, and is only relevant for Kennel Club activities, registering offspring, entering competitions etc.

Along with many breeders I have many past sold puppies still listed in my ownership on my Kennel Club file (over 40 last time I looked).

I would print out any correspondence that confirms that she agreed to you having him.

If you really need the KC registration then such written confirmation may help, but generally they would require something with the registered owners signature.

From a legal standpoint castrating and selling him could lead you into legal problems if you have no proof of ownership.

You could send a recorded delivery letter.

Set out an agreement to transfer him to your ownership, offering to buy him for a reasonable price, and Offsetting reasonable boarding and any other costs you have incurred since you had him.

Request that they send you his signed Registration document to transfer him, and a signed letter to lift breeding endorsement (if all health testing done), or a signed letter saying they will lift these when acceptable health test results are achieved ( these acceptable results to be stipulated).

If they are so busy you might draft these documents, in duplicate, include an SAE, so they only need sign and pop in envelope.

Yes I did want to show him and breed him.

In fact, and his breeder knows this, I was in discussion to get a female puppy that I had to cancel because of this situation. I had discussed using him with this female as my first litter if all worked out.

If she had just maintained communication I would have proposed a co-owner but I can't comfortably do that now with this behaviour.

If she's sticking her head in the sand to avoid this, I would suggest posting her a stamped addressed envelope with a polite cover note asking her to send his papers by return.

If they fail to engage, as I have suggested above, then send them a bill, and tell them you are returning him on 'X' date.

If they fail to pay the bill take to small claims, or simply rack it up to experience, especially if you want/need to keep on cordial terms.

I think the best thing you can do to begin with, is to try to keep this breeder on your side.

Move things on from 'can we talk this evening? text messages to an email - and text her to say you've emailed if you think she might not get it.

In the email, compliment her on the dog and his qualities and explain that you'd really like to see him fulfil his potential and to do justice to her breeding programme (flattery often gets you somewhere sadly!) and that you really need the papers to be able to do this. Try to smooze her a bit.

Then think about how to make it easier for her - often this kind of thing happens because it's just not a priority for the other person or the paperwork is daunting or whatever. So ask if there's a way you can make this easier? Has she mislaid the paperwork, if so could she email the KC or call the KC to get a duplicate? Actually, do you know what... find out from the KC if you can send another copy of the registration certificate to her address. They won't send it to anyone else, but if you call up, pay for it and have it sent to the owner themselves, they could still do it. (I've done this before when I've needed pedigrees and I don't want to trouble stud dog owners for them - I phone up the KC, pay them on the phone, and get the pedigree sent to the owner.) You could offer to do that, and then just do it if you don't hear back. You could then send her an SAE with your address on it - all the time trying to be really NICE and "just making things easier for you".

If all that doesn't work, then send her the letter by recorded delivery which goes through everything you've done to try to get the papers. And take a copy of that to the KC.

I'll have to try to somehow get through to the KC and see what they say, I'd rather not get legal involved .

I talked to my German friend and she said a similar thing happened to her, after 6 months of the dog being in your care the German KC will transfer the dog to you.

That's a good plan, I'll look onto what I can do. Throughout this I have been extremely nice, I've been criticised by my friends who say I should just turn up at her house and demand the paperwork but that doesn't sit right with me.

Kennel Club number "line busy"

> So with an AWOL breeder, with evidence that I have been trying to get in contact, with evidence that he has been microchipped in my name since June, is it possible to get the KC involved in some way to transfer his paperwork?

As I understand it from your post, and I could have picked it up wrong, but it sounds like the purchase/transfer hasn't been agreed, he still belongs t the breeder, I don't think you can transfer his paperwork or get him neutered or sell him, he's not yours to do any of that with.

Just read down the rest of the replies, great answers, I'm another for staying kind (as you have been) and trying to help as much as possible by sending sae etc and offering to get replacement paperwork, if she does want to let him go permanently.

It was very kind of you to offer to take him while the breeder is clearly having a tough time, just be patient a bit longer and if you can't then please return him, I'd be pretty furious if a friend that was looking after one of my dogs sold him to someone else!