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?

What a total cow she is! Dumped her dog because of her boyfriend and now wants it back? You've got good advice here. She is legally yours and I'd go to the police. She's harassing you.

@PineapplePatty thank you, I have sent her a message this morning stating this and another around 15 mins ago blocked her number again, the calls and text messages from unknown numbers have also stopped for now x

Absolutely! I'm just meaning that the fact that you had to use a code to change her chip details means that having deleted her messages from 6 months ago doesn't matter at all, if/when you're asked (by police) to prove that you didn't steal her, which is likely what the crazy previous owner would claim.

@dronesdroppingzopiclone - I am defiantly going to the police about this. It's awful how someone can treat a dog like that isn't it getting rid of her for a boyfriend then wanting her back! She didn't even come with a bed when I got her they made her sleep in the kitchen :( x

@MountainPeakGeek - I will be taking the letter I received confirming the details have been changed with me in the morning and hopefully this will get sorted!x

The police don't tend to get involved in 'stolen' dog disputes as dog theft is a civil matter but Im sure they will be interested in the threats and harassment. You are Bellas owner not this roaster that sold her.

@Bookworm4 - I am hoping they will give her a warning and make sure she does not contact me again, I will be receiving a new simcard with a different number soon too x

I'm glad Bella has such a good mum, I'm owned by rescue bull breeds ( of a variety) and they truly are wonderful, loving pups 🐶

@flyinghigh1 omg I hope this gets sorted for you! I have my two little dogs and I couldn't imagine what I'd do without them. Dogs aren't just pets- they're family! And you are little Bella's mum now..
I hope everything gets sorted for you xx

@Bookworm4 - they are amazing I couldn't fault Bella one bit!x
@PhoebeBear - it's heart breaking to see how people can just pick them up and dump them like they are nothing! They really are family and how anyone could just drop them like there nothing is awful. I'm hoping that it's sorted in the morning I have ended up taking the SIM card out my phone till my new one arrives x

I'd maybe give 101 a call tonight if the texts have stopped incase the nutbag comes round for Bella.

Poor child. With a mother doing what she has, the false promise of the dog sounds like the tip of the iceberg.

If the previous owner’s dd is so upset now, why wasn’t she upset at the time when her mum sold Bella? That, on its own, makes me think she is trying it on, with the guilt trip, and you shouldn’t give it any credence at all.

Bella is part of your family now, and that is where she should stay!

YANBU. Dogs are living creatures with feelings. They get attached to people and homes very quickly, it's cruel to pass them around like that.

Tell the woman to piss off. If she comes to the house looking for the dog just phone the police.

My DB had a similar situation to this OP and in the nicest possible way to is better to try to take the emotions out of this and focus instead on practicalities. It's unlikely the police will view this as harassment unless there is strong evidence it were on a number of occasions and that contact involved a threat. Unless she has directly implied or stated she will try to take her back, no threat has been made and it would likely be a civil matter. I would just call 101 for advice, no need to visit a station as you can call your local constabulary anyway. Especially as no crime has been necessarily bee committed yet even though this person is upsetting you.

Microchipping details aside I would seek to establish further evidence that ownership was exchanged- any emails etc from pre loved would help- screenshot any messages from this person and any/all calls from her associates and print them.

Emotions run very high when it comes to pets and clearly hers are as well as yours. If you are worried she knows where you live I don't think sending the police round is going to help you there tbh, I would suspect animosity will be far worse afterwards in fact. The police may well contact her but a police caution or warning is quite different matter and would require evidence of crime or behaviour the police deemed a minor crime.

If you have contacted her and stated the dog is legally yours and the paperwork supports that. You have no interest in selling the dog back and do not wish to be contacted again/will contact the police immediately if she is seen in the boundary of your property and don't hear from her, that's worked surely?

Changing your number is wise but you can't change your address. As I say, we had a nightmare with this. It takes an awful lot to prosecute for harassment and uphold a restraining order and the police were very helpful but clearly have better things to do than deal with civil disputes. How horrible she was or not to the dog or you, how much the dog loves living with you or how lovely she is or how much you love her compared to them isn't their concern or remit and I say this as a huge dog lover who loves my own to pieces. When DB got a court ordered restraining order they just sent their friends over and you are back at square one.

I hope you are able to get some advice from the police nonetheless, hopefully the notion of police involvement is enough to deter her anyway, I'm sure it would most people. Pre loved never seems to be a thing but trouble when it comes to pets.

It's important to let her know that you have reported her to the police and are going to the station tomorrow to show them the messages that she sent threatening to steal Bella, which is obviously a crime. Make sure she knows that, because if the police don't go to her (or take a while to go and see her), at least this might scare her.

Op you are in the right, however I would advise you to unblock the numbers. The messages she is sending could be used as evidence against her. As distressing as they are it’s better known than unknown. I would unblock and put the phone on silent or read and ignore

"Bella? What Bella? Oh no, that dog died. Heartbroken. This bullmastiff? She's called Josie. So sorry, bye."

I would not contact her again, but I would unblock numbers so you can show messages to the police.

Gather up any and all evidence that you are your dogs legal owner..

Microchip transfer details.
Bills for vaccination, food, veterinary care, insurance.
Advert for her sale.
Messages from previous owner stating you bought her and she wants to buy her back (this is her admittance that she is now your dog!)
Evidence of training classes or having a trainer/behaviourist out to you.

All of this stuff, whatever you have, evidences that this is your dog, you pay her costs, you take her to training, you insure her, you have her chip with your details on it.

It is likely that the police will simply take note so they know the history should anything happen, but you may have a case given she knows where you live, for harrassment/threats and they might go and speak to her.

Some people shouldn't be allowed pets it discusts me! I look at my 2 golden baby's and love them like my children. I just don't know how people can discard them like that. I'm so glad Bella has a lovely mum

Go to the police station right now. That’s crazy! She’s likely to break in and steal her if she thinks it’s okay to send 100s of abusive messages to you. You poor thing it’s just awful.

@Midnite, lol :D

Looks like you’ve done everything you can OP, let’s hope she gets the message you won’t be bullied & backs off. Hope all is ok for you & Bella (& Badger)!

Does she know where you live? Or your surname? Hopefully she gives up soon and gets a different dog. Or no dog! I can't understand people who sell their dogs! Ok, limited circumstances such as being made homeless, etc......but not to move in with a bloke,

I hope all is going okay OP.

We got one of our dogs when a lovely friend could no longer keep her (neither dog's nor friend's fault). Friend knew how much id admitted the dog and asked me if I'd like her. I jumped at the chance. It was when my Dad was dying and was the one bit of brightness in a dark time. I bought her so she was 100% mine, though I knew my friend would never try and get her back no matter how much she wanted her. Friend still sees her and sometimes it's hard to see the bit of sadness in her eyes, but the dog is part of our family and she's going nowhere. I'm always incredibly thankful that my friend hasn't asked, I can only imagine what it's like for you with this effectively stranger on your case. I really hope she backs off and shuts up.