Previous owners want the dog back!

[flyinghigh1]

6 months ago I bought a lovely bullmastiff called Bella. The reason for her previous owners finding her a new home was that she was moving in with a boyfriend who had a elderly black Labrador who didn't get on with Bella. I met up with the dog who I already had and bella, made a couple of visits to see her and finally she came home with me. Since bringing her home she has brought nothing but delight to me and is spoilt and loved very much!
This morning I had numerous texts and phone calls off her previous owners saying how her boyfriends Labrador had been put to sleep last week and her child was crying she wants Bella back. The previous owner had told her daughter that Bella was on holiday and would be back next week! She tried to guilt trip me saying how upset her daughter was, tried to offer me money and then threatened to find me and come take her off me! She has been harassing my phone all day and honestly I'm fuming! Dogs are not toys, dogs are nothing something you sell then want them back! They are living animals. Bella is part of my family and I would never ever think about rehoming her.
AIBU to be absolutely furious and refuse for them to have her back?

I don't have the texts from when I originally bought her bought I have the ones from today harassing me for her back I'm not sure I will have to see if I can find her advert
@RLOU30 - thank you so much x
@Keepingthingsinteresting - everything's has been screenshot all details are in my name and my father is going to walk her with me for the next couple of weeks x

Just a thought. Pedigree dog? Did you get KC reg moved to you?
The issue is that if there’s no proof of transfer of ownership then legally they could (falsely) claim you stole her.
Note to MN at large. Run far from prelovws adverts for dogs.

Would the police class calls and texts from just one day as harrassment'? Not sure what criteria police would use to determine harrassment.

@keepforgettingmyusername - even if she tried she would never get her back i will be getting legal advice
@NameChangeJustBecauseICan - no I have one number and the previous owner is trying to contact me on many different numbers I'm not sure around surname but they know roughly where I live
@gamerchick - I am going to my local police station in the morning for advice she's safe for tonight we are having a big cuddle x
@Lockheart - I am going to the police station in the morning

Call 101 for advice and tell them that this person is harassing you and threatening to steal your dog.

I would also be tempted to send this person a final message telling her that you want no further contact and to stop harassing you and that any further threats and harassment will be reported to the police.

Poor pup. She was rejected once, now they want to uproot her a second time.

She is your dog, it would be really upsetting for her and you. No no no.

This woman is cruel and selfish.

Her number is blocked but she is continuing to contact me on different numbers! She is laid in bed with me now cuddled up and catching up and corrie I hope you mean Bella and not the nasty woman. 😁

What an awful woman, she can’t buy and sell and buy back a dog like it’s a car or a house. Bella has had a turn of fortune being with you.

If you’re worried, call the police and get advice.

That is so low to use her DD sadness that way!

@Wolfiefan - I would never buy from websites such as preloved my border collie is a rescue but a friend showed me her advert and i instantly fell in love with her
@NameChangeJustBecauseICan even though it has only been 1 days I have received over 100 text messages off this women!
@Lunde I have her number blocked but she is still counting to try and contact me from Unknown numbers
@Dippypippy1980 - is so upsetting she really is awful women! Gets rid of her dog for a boyfriend then decide she wants her back🙄
@S1naidSucks - definitely Bella this nasty women will not be coming anywhere near her!x
@GinZing - she is safe for tonight she's tucked up with me and her little brother badger and my father is coming to sit with them both whilst I go to the police station in the morning x

She sounds horrid but the truth of it is you may need to legally prove ownership. Preloved is shit.

@NorthEndGal - it's awful trying to guilt trip me and when I went to see her she was telling me about how her dd is autistic and had learning difficulties so I'm sure it will be very upsetting for her to thinking that Bella is coming home. What a horrible women this person is x

She's beautiful op. Good luck fucking off the previous owners. Maybe the dog warden could advise what you could do if they try to take her.

God, how stressful - what arseholes. Keep her blocked and if she turns up at your house report her to the police.

She also sounds unstable. If have received over 100 text messages in one day that is a huge red flag.

I wouldn’t normally be alarmist, but maybe ring 101 in the morning for some advice.

Keep a close on eye on Bella op don't leave her in the garden. I feel angry on your behalf. How dare she try to take her back. 😡

Yanbu op how awful.

To the daily fail ‘journos’ who love this type of post, get fucked.

Get the dog chipped to your name, call police just to let them know they have mentioned taking the dog from you. That way if it does happen you have proof. block her.

@Eliza9919 - thank you she's not everyone's cup of tea but to me she's perfect😍, hopefully the police station will have some advice for me in the morning x
@HBStowe - I will be getting advice from the police first thing tomorrow and if needed a solicitor
@Dippypippy1980 - I will be going to police station first thing in the morning my fathers coming to sit with the dogs while I am gone

@cushioncovers - she will be sleeping in the big bed with me tonight and I will be not letting her out of my sight! She has never cared for Bella or had her best interests at heart x
@ThatssomebadhatHarry it's very stressful I'm constantly looking out the window checking no one is there
@LilQueenie - she is already chipped to me going to police station first thing and she already is but keeps contact me on a range of different phone numbers and no caller ID

This is terrible. I've NRTFT so apologies if I am repeating what others have said. Do any of today's messages mention you buying Bella or is it implied by her offering to buy her back? Either way surely this strengthens your case that you bought her. Fingers crossed and sending big unmumsnetty hugs.

@2ofstedsin24weeksistakingthep - hi yes the first message which was sent at 3:30am stated the it was the woman who I had brought Bella from and asking her to buy back I politely wrote that Bella is now my dog and in no circumstances would Bella be returned to her x

I would send one final text back saying that Bella is settled and happy in her new home, it would be cruel to uproot her again and that you’ll never give her up, (you could add that she’s had enough of that in her life already). I’d also say you’ve logged all this harassment with the police and don’t want anything to do with her.

Then do log it with the police.

@2ofstedsin24weeksistakingthep sorry that should bought and then the messages and phone calls just carried on throughout the early hours of the morning the full day and all of tonight x

I’d be less worried about her mugging you while walking and more concerned that she’ll attempt to steal your dog, either from the garden or by breaking in when you’re out. Speak to the police ASAP and get them to warn her off. Then if she does snatch your dog there’s a police record of your ownership and the threats she made, and the police are more likely to be able to retrieve her if she’s stolen.

@Honeyroar - thank you I will unblock her original number she text me on and send her the message and then block her again , I will be calling my phone provider in the morning to regarding changing my phone number x