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?

Ring 101 now. It will make you feel better and safer. They will log it with your local police, who will ring you back. (I had to ring last week).

OP do you have any copies of texts/emails/paperwork from when you bought her? This woman sounds insane and certainly isn't cut out to be a dog owner.

Yanbu

The woman sounds absolutely batshit.

I would tell her to stop contacting you, and that you will approach the police regarding harassment if there is any further contact.

Also keep any proof of ownership to hand, just in case she pulls a crazy move like trying to call the police and say that you have her stolen dog.

@SosigDog - she will not be in the garden unsupervised and she will in no circumstances be left on her own not even for 2 minutes I have arranged for family to come and look after the dogs on the odd occasion I'm not here, the police station is the first place I am going tomorrow to report this and show them all the messages x

@Honeyroar - do you think it would be better to ring 101 now or go straight to the station in the morning? That way I can show them the messages
@Pinkyyy I don't have the original messages from when I got her six months ago but I have the ones that have been sent from various number from the early hours of the morning and throughout the day
@hibbledibble - I have a letter regarding the microchip details which are in my name and also her vet records which are also in my name x

This happened to us. 2 months after we got our second dog the owner phoned to say his wife wanted the dog back. I said NO. She had bonded brilliantly with my boy lurcher and was now part of our family and it would be very unfair to her and us. He was fuming but I said no way and goodbye and blocked his number. CFs with no thought for the dog. 2 years on and still makes my blood boil. 😡

just a thought - when I bought my dog and had his chipped changed to my name, I had to say who i bought him off, how much I paid and put the previous owners address so they could be contacted to say they'd sold him to me. Did you have to do similar? If so that should be on record with the chipping company.
I would go to the police tomorrow and they may go round and give her a warning to leave you alone - she's threatening to steal your dog and harrassing you. What a vile woman - I hope this all gets sorted out for you soon and the police warn her off.

@Tillygetsit - it is awful and so upsetting I'm sorry you had to go through the same! That's the exact same here bella and badger (the border collie) bonded instantly and would be lost without each other! X

God how stressful, what an awful woman!

This happened to us too and I was getting regular messages begging for our dog back. Mine didn't become abusive or harassing like this but I did block them in the end as I didn't want the emotional blackmail.

There is no way my dog would ever be going back to them. He's curled up between us now, snoring away.

Trevor Cooper is the go to for anything legal relating to dogs

www.doglaw.co.uk/ownership-custody-disputes/

If she's chipped to you, that's the main thing. When the details were changed, did the previous owner confirm a change of ownership that you know of? Even if they didn't the chip company would have tried to contact them to confirm a change of ownership. They would then either agree to this and the details would be changed to yours, or after a period of time if there's no response, they're changed to your details. Have you checked that the change of ownership was processed by the chip company? I see it daily where people think details are current but they aren't. Your vet's receptionist can help you with this if necessary.

How awful. This woman didn't particularly care for Bella and is now harassing you. Stay strong and stick to your guns. Keep blocking her and hopefully she will run out of alternative numbers to phone you from.

I am glad that you are considering reporting her to the police for harassment and for her threats to steal your dog.

I agree too that you could approach your local Animal Warden for advice as they are well versed in the law regarding dogs.

@KurriKurri - no I didn't have to do anything like that I had a transfer code in which I put in then put my details in then paid the fee for it to be changed and they sent a letter out confirming it had been changed, I will update everyone in the morning once I've spoken to the police x

OP just block all numbers you don't know until it blows over

When I rang I just asked 101 for advice on what to do. It wouldn’t do any harm to ring and that way the whole thing will be logged and you’ll have a reference no right now. Even if you take the messages to the station tomorrow it can all be added to the file. I just thought it might ease your mind and help you sleep tonight.

Don't worry OP, her chip has been transferred to you so you have proof that you are now the owner.

This woman is stupid to think that you would give Bella back to her, she is obviously now a part of your family. If her daughter if upset then that is her fault, it is nothing to do with you.

I wouldn't just ignore.id send one firm text or call first stating she was bought and is now yours,there shall be no returning and if she continues on this track you will hve noi choice but to call the police.and then ignore

If you had a transfer code (Petlog?) I'm sure that's all the proof you'd need that you legally own the dog, as the previous owner would have had to give you that code.

Ring 101 now just to get yourself onto the radar. Send the woman a text to say you won’t return Bella and clearly asking her not to contact you again. Screenshot and print out all messages she has sent you to keep as evidence and always make sure (at least for the next few weeks) you take someone with you while walking Bella (i.e a boyfriend or a mate) so the woman doesn’t get any idea about trying to dog nap her.

You bought her so she is yours .
Keep a log of all, and if you feel threatened speak to the police.

What kate said ^^

It's not your problem what the stupid, lying cow said to her daughter!

YANBU.

@HappyLife21 - I will not be backing down and hopefully the police give her a warning and she will back off, I hope she never gets another animal again!x
@ABC1234DEF - I have a letter from the chip company confirming the details had been changed as the previous owner of Bella already had a transfer code to give me x
@feelingsinister I'm sorry you have also been through this I don't honestly don't know what goes through people's heads dogs are part of the family not something you just chuck away and then decide you would like them back x
@Topseyt - hopefully the police will sort this out and i am calling my phone provider in the morning to send me a new sim card with a different number on x
@Nearlythere1 - all numbers have been blocked and I will be getting a new SIM card sent out x
@Honeyroar - I've had no more contact from them since around quarter to 11 if they do not contact me again I will be going to the police station in the morning and if they do I will 100% ring them x
@crazycatgal - the first thing I did when I got her was change all the details over I'm just so scared for her to be taken away from me x
@kateandme - the police will be seeing all of these messages and I should have a new number by Monday x
@MountainPeakGeek - I know that she is 100% legally my dog it's just scary thinking of someone taking her away x

@Takethebuscuitandthesink - she has not tried to contact me for around a hour now if she doesn't contact me again tonight I will go straight to the station with messages Bellas tucked up beside me snoring away. I am hoping the police give her a warning and I will soon have a new phone number. My father is going to come and sit with her while I'm not here (it's very rare she is on her own) and has also agreed to come on her walks with me x
@Cryalot2 - thank you I will be receiving advice from the police x
@Dieu - it's awful she has the cheek to try and guilt trip me there is no way I am letting this go!x

Good luck at the police station.

Send a message saying you'll not be selling her back under and circumstances then block her.