A friend has had a pup returned to her due to a home breakup the pup is still registered in her name unfortunatley papers werent returned with pup and now buyer wants pup back breeder has reasons they do not wish the pup to return to the buyer

As the pup is in breeders name is the pup legally breeders?

Surely if the pup was given back to the breeder then it is hers to do with as she likes couldn't she say she had someone interested in the pup and when it was given back she rehomed it.

if the pups original buyer still has the k c papers and has filled in their details and sent them off to be processed then the change of ownership may be being processed so there may be a problem if the original buyer wants the pup back, even though you wouldnt really want to offer them a second chance you might have to if the law is on their side as the legal owner. im not sure if there are any clauses that might help or a contract the breeder originally had signed etc etc.
i hope that your friend is able to discuss with the buyer her worrries and convince them it is best at this time that the pup be rehomed by the breeder as the home is unstable at present and maybe for sometime in the future. it is so difficult in this situation unless there was a contract signed up for home/marriage break up , pup to be returned etc. good luck

The KC registration doesn't prove ownership(several court cases in the past have proved this)

If the puppy has been returned then it has been given up & legally the property of the breeder-how do I know because my GSD Elvis was returned & then the old owner tried to "reclaim"him & took me to court-cost him an arm & a leg & I kept my boy

yes moonmaiden,  i forgot that, it can turn into a court case like it sometimes does for children

I  even had to take my boy to court, it was quite funny really as his previous owner told the court my boy was pining for him when in fact he totally ignored him in court even when the previous owner called his name, the judge wasn't impressed by that claim