Dog ownership

[nellyboo2]

Hi...
my mum purchased a pup for my son for Christmas last year.
Dog is registered in my name, microchipped, vaccinated etc, all in my name. I pay the bills. I buy the food, toys etc. I walk the dog and train him. He lives with my son and I.
A few days ago I ended up in hospital and my mum took the dog to her house so she could care for him whilst I got better.
After one day with the dog, she sent him to some kennels. I know the owner and am happy for him to be there.
However, my mum is now trying to find another home for my sons dog....
he is a handful, and has been a pain; but aibu? She’s acting like he belongs to her and she can do what she pleases. Help!!

Well just tell her not to!

Easier said than done. She’s trying to get custody of my son too. She’s told the owner of the kennels that he is her dog and under no circumstances am I to collect him

Do you get any kind of certificate of ownership with a dog?

Your dog is microchipped under your name and contact details therefore he is your dog. You are the registered owner.

If your mother takes him away or sells him without your permission it'll be classed as theft.

print off the proof that he is your dog from petlog which has the microchip/owner details. The kennels will give him back to you. You should have the log in details or at least something from petlog

Perhaps in future place your dog in kennels instead of asking your mother.

He is your dog.
Tell the kennel owner to check his chip.

However surely the bigger issue is your mum trying to get custody of your son

The custody side is being dealt with. She gifted me a car 18 months ago and is also trying to get that back. Proper evil cow. Will be removed from life ASAP.

I didn’t give my permission for him to be put into kennels. My mum was taking care of him whilst I got better. She couldn’t cope with the dog, so asked a mutual friend who has kennels to look after him.

Asking a mutual friend who has kennels to look after a dog she couldn’t cope with isn’t the same as putting your dog in kennels!!

No, to some extent it’s not. But the kennel owner/friend is now ignoring me. No choice but to go to the police, unfortunately.

The dog is yours since he is registered to you

Unfortunately microchip details are not proof if ownership. You need to prove that you have registered the Dog at the vet and pet ins is in your name.

Yep. Got all that. He’s being sold tonight. Police aren’t interested.

So you have told the police your dog has been stolen and they do not care?

I would contact RSPCA and tell them the kennel owner is selling stolen pets.

Have you been to the kennels?
Have they refused to return the dog?
I cant believe the police aren't interested, its theft if you have done the above.

I don’t want to go to the kennels and cause a scene; there’ll be a little boy there, so am being respectful. Also, as they are on a farm, they have guns. If he’s not sold or moved on, I’m sure there will be this scenario “he got out and worried our sheep so we shot him”

I’m also stuck as no phone credit means i can’t call anyone

You are not causing a scene you are collecting your dog, if they refuse to give him back call the police.

Take the full paperwork to kennels - so microchip paperwork, vet registration receipts from vets, insurance documents, etc. Tell them to return the dog or you will report them for theft and selling stolen goods.

You should report the dog stolen to the microchipping company. And put his details out to all local vets as stolen. The police will take the theft of an animal seriously so long as you really do have the above documents to show ownership.

You have internet. You can message the police on FB.
You can also message RSPCA on line here

Also the above is not causing a scene unless you make it so by being aggressive.

Everything BLUE said, especially about flagging him as stolen with the microchip company. You can also list him as stolen on DogLost. Get him up on local FB groups (local selling ones, local dog related ones, rescue ones, etc.) if you can.

There is a firm of solicitors (Doglaw) who specialise in the law as it applies to dogs and they deal with ownership disputes. There's no single thing which is considered absolute proof of ownership but they do list the factors that are taken into account when the Court is deciding who is the owner of the dog. From their page on ownership/custody disputes:

"The Court may have regard to many factors including:-

Who bought the dog / Whose name is on the contract with a rescue
Whose name is registered with the Kennel Club
Whose name is registered on the microchip database
Who is recorded at the vets practice
Whose name is on the insurance certificate
Who is the one who actually looks after it."

If everything you say in first post is accurate then you're clearly the owner of the dog and neither your mum nor the kennel owner have any right to rehome him.

I would contact the kennel owner any way you can, point out you have proof the dog is yours and make it very clear that if he's not returned to you that you'll have no choice but to report them to both the police and the local council.

Just collected him. He’s fine albeit smelly. Thank you all x