There are at least one or two things I don't know, so I suppose it's possible. That sounds suspiciously like a sea lawyer legal opinion, though. If were in that situation, I'd let the person who intended to claim the dog know that I would be charging him for food, boarding, training services, and vet bills for the two years I kept "his" dog. That number would come in above what could be claimed in small claims court, so I'd have an attorney send him the itemized charges. Even if you can't legally prevent the person from taking the dog, you can at least make it painful.

 

Let me tell all history.
I am american and came to Brazil January, 2007 to be with my boyfriend, he is brazilian.
I didn't have how bring a dog to here that time. So my friend said she could take care of her. I always email them asking about my dog and telling her when I could, I would pick her up again. They were fine about that. I have all emails.
Now that I finally can go to USA and back when I want, because now I have brazilian permanent visa, they said I owe them 5k!
So we asked for reciepts, and after 3 days, they said they wouldn't let me have her back because I abandoned her and I am a stranger for my dog.

This person said they only took my dog to vet one time, it was last month. So I sent a brazilian t shirt and $50 dollars.
I will pay all I owe for them, but I think a Chihuahua wouldn't waste 5k in 2 years and 9 months!
That's why we asked the reciepts.

And she said my dog is hers now. I mean, she doesn't send how much I owe, just say I can't take her back and I have all emails she saying I could take her back.


Now I am going there, if they don't let me take her back, I will go to the cops and report a kidnap. Show all emails and prove the dog is mine.


I hope this can help clear things.
So, can they do that?

 

After almost 3 years, she's not really your dog anymore. Most notably, not from the dog's perspective. I told you how I would handle it, and it appears the current caretaker is going somewhat that way. Without knowing the parties involved, I can't say who is more wrong, but I'll bet neither of you are 100% in the right. If her current home is satisfactory, I'd say the best thing for the dog would be leaving her where she is.

 

Well, we have all emails that we can prove we tried to send dog back by flight and they wouldn't let.
They always said it would be no problem to wait and we pick dog later.
Now that we are going there, they want us to pay 5k and keep the dog.
They don't have how prove dog is their and we sent shirt, money, etc.

 

I think after three years, you've abandoned the dog and it's theirs. Unless you have some sort of written agreement or proof that you've been paying them to board your dog - IN ADDITION TO - regular vet expenses. I mean, dogs cost money (food, toys) and require time and effort. It is unreasonable, IMO, for you to expect to get the dog back after all this time.

And I really don't think it's fair to the dog, either.

 

We were in contact every day and always asking them for my dog.
As I said, I tried to bring her by flight and they didn't let.
She went to vet only 1 time and I sent her the money. I will pay all, but she needs to show me reciepts.
We have all emails they saying it would be fine for me to go and pick her up.
Why not fair? When I sent them a shirt for my dog, she looks sad because shirt had my smell and she did remember me.



I have been researching every article about dogs. I found some informations we shall know. Dogs are smart. They just don´t have sense of time. Read below.


"To be able to make a somewhat complete analysis about the span of dog memory, it is important to differentiate between associative memory and real memory. It is said that if a dog does not have some sort of exterior stimulus that he is not able to think about or remember parks or places he has been in before. But as soon as dog hears his owner's voice, smells him or perceives his presence at a distance, his associative memory activates or comes to life. This same type of reaction seems to happen to people that have not seen each other in months or years and their immediate reaction is as if no time had gone by at all. Some veterinarians say that after a dog has been away or separated from his owner for over ten hours and after the dog's tension and desperation has gone from having left his home and owner, that the dog is then able to inverse the situation. It seems that the dog is able to change the hostile or anxious feelings he had. Some people say that the dog's emotional tension leaves him as well as the image of his owner in his mind, which then allows the dog to peacefully live his life with another owner. Whether this is true or not is beyond our knowledge. Some people believe it while others don't. If it is true though, how would we explain certain behaviors the dog does when he has lost his owner because of death etc. and they reject any invitation into a new home? There are many cases of dogs that have run away, rejecting any help and that actually look anxious sad. There are breeds that do not get completely hung up on their owners and these types seem to accept change a lot easier than others. There are others though, that just don't accept new owners. These dogs are only able to have one owner. This might be because of a predisposition or generic characteristic but the truth is that some do not accept a new owner easily."

"you must have made some impression!
dogs can always remember smells, if you gave the dog some food or played with her or did something that made her happy last time she saw you odds are she would never forget you. she might not recognize your face but she'll remember your smell and that you were nice to her.
we often forget how smart dogs can be!"

She is tiny and fragile chihuahua who loves to be on my side everywhere I go. I would be selfish if I took her to here Brazil first when I did not know what Brazil was like. I thought it was best for her to stay there for a while. We settled down everything here in Brazil for a while due to his green card complicated. I have had to wait a long time to get my permanent visa so I can travel out and back in as many as I want without return flight ticket. I know she will remember me when she hears and smells me. She would think I left her yesterday. Dogs have good sense of smell and hear more than humans. I am a good owner to her. I think of her first before me. At first, people thought I was selfish for leaving her there and then again, I did not know how Brazil was like. It was my first time to travel out of the country. I did not know how living would be like here. I realize it was not a big deal. We have a good place, people, etc.. I feel much safe and know she will be OK when she comes here. I have wonderful neighbors who have a cat and york. She can still have a playmate. She will be more than happy to be with me again. I know from my heart. When you know your dog very well, you will know your true instinct! She is like my daughter. I always check up on her and make sure everything´s OK. I never abandon her. If I were, I would not bother to bring her back. I will fight to have her back and for her. When I saw a picture of her with my dress I bought for her, she looked so sad like I am not there yet. I believe she smelled my scent on the dress. (The truth, I slept with it before I posted it to her. That is how we "smell" communicate with pets. )

*Sorry, it´s a big picture, but look at her. Can you say aww?

I need your faith and support! I am trying to find my rights to prove them. Thanks for listening.

 

Ok, let me say it loud now.

WE HAVE ALL EMAILS AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD RETURN HER TO ME. I TRIED TO SEND HER BACK BY FLIGHT AND THEY DIDN'T LET ME. I WILL PAY ALL DEBITS I HAVE WITH THEM BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO SHOW ME PROOF.
I HAVE VET CARDS, FRIENDS KNOW SHE IS MINE.

I say it again. We have all her emails and we have how prove they didn't let us take her before.
Here in Brazil is fine and we already know everything.

 

Think about it from your friends point of view too. For three years now she has provided shelter, food, water, veterinary care, ect. for this dog. She has to have gotten attatched to it. She has every right to want to keep the dog. I understand that you want your dog back, but if she is settled there maybe it is best for you to let her stay. What happens if you get the dog to Brazil, and they find something wrong with it, or they quarentine it for a year? Would you rather take the chance of your dog living up to a year of it's life out in a cage? I know I wouldn't. If it were me in this situation, I would have taken my dog in the first place, or re homed her, and got a dog later on. You can't expect them not to charge you after three years of care. Estimate the cost of food and treats, and shampoo, and anything they mite use to care for your pet. Not to mention the cost of shots(which are done yearly) Maybe its best if you try to move on. Three years is a long time to leave a dog with someone, then attempt to take it back. Your court costs will be much higher than what you owe "your friends" for caring for the dog. It's just like you leaving your child with a couple for three years. It is abandonment. Imagine how the dog felt when you left and never came back. Even if you have vet bills and emails, police and court marshalls never know if you gave the dog to her. For all they know, you wrote the emails yourself.

 

Yes, she gave foods, and pee pad, that's it. And we paid for it!
She won't be take to quarantine, because when she gets here, my husband's step father will be there waiting and he is from army and he is a vet. He who would be the vet and sign her to get in right away.

 

I don't blame you for wanting her back. I also don't blame you for feeling disappointed and hurt after thinking you would get her back, and only finding out recently that your "friend" is claiming ownership. I tend to agree with the associative vs. real memory deal.

But it is not merely about whether the dog still loves you. You'll be uprooting her from her home, her routines, and her sources of security. She will "remember" you, but she's going to have to get to know you (and her new environment) all over again.

Your complete lack of responsiveness to anything but what you want would cause me to worry that the dog may be abandoned in Brazil, if she becomes enough of an inconvenience.

You asked for opinions.

 

My mother in law's dog's vet and he is graduated in Harvard with PHD. He research for over 20 years about dogs and social. He found out dogs have no sense of time. 5 minutes would mean same as 10 years. They see their 1st owner, they want to stay with him back.

It is a sad situation, for you, but think about it ... it's been 3 years that this dog has bonded with the family, to give him back to you would basically be uprooting him ... again. Not only that, but sounds as tho the people would essentially be losing a lot too - it's always hard giving up a loved one
It sounds as tho these other people have loved & cared for the dog & you did trust their responsibility enough to leave the dog with them in the first place, so I don't think there's any concern for her well being.

If they really loved, they wouldn't be using my dog to try get money from me. 5k is insane when she went to vet only one time.

Over the course of three years Im sure she provided more for that dog than food and pee pads. Maybe she won't be put in quarentine, but think about all the illnesses you are exposing her too. I can understand the feeling of losing a dog and wanting it back. I had a pit bull that got stolen and I knew who did it. But, even though I had all my paper work, had his vet records, the police told me there was no proof that he was my dog. I couldn't get him back. No court is going to award a dog that has been left for three years back to it's original owner. They are going to think "Well if you truely loved the dog you wouldn't have left it in the first place" and as much as you may hate hearing it, I would have to agree. There is no way that I would give back a dog that I have been putting my time and money into for three years. Specially if the owner won't pay me back. If she keeps the dog, you shouldn't have to pay her, but if you get the dog back, you will probably lose a friend. I know I wouldn't continue communications with someone who put me through all of this.

That's what they said. Foods and pee pads, only. We have all emails.

You gave her $50 bucks and a tshirt.. Have you actually been paying the cost of food and such for 3 years? If I was the friend I'd be creating a board bill for the time and effort and multiplying it by 3 years.

I understand the situation is sad.. but she's had the dog for three years.. emails or not. I'd cut my loses as I don't for see you winning this in court.

My mother in law's dog has gone for surgery twice, vet 2 times a month, special foods and in 3 years they didn't waste more than 500 dollars. They don't want to show us the proof, we said we will pay.

I am sorry you miss your dog, and am sorry that the arrangement did not work out the way you wanted.

As far as law goes, no one here can help you. All you are going to get is advice on the dog. Most of us here will put the needs of our pets above our own wants and emotions.

Well really you should be asking these questions on a legal forum. Better yet hire a lawyer.

We already did.

Id have to agree. I always put the needs of my pets before myself. Im reproductively challenged, so my pets are my children. I would never leave my pet with anyone. When I travel now, I don't even leave my dog with my fiance! If she can't go with me, i don't go. They even go on vacation with us! La-la is my daughter. My furry, four-legged daughter.

I just calculated the cost of keeping La-la healthy and happy for one year. i could easily dish out $800+ a year, and thats BEFORE grooming charges. Multiply that by three. It's not cheap to care for a dog for three years.

My dog eats 1 bag of food per 2 months. It's about 5 dollars. It's insane. Lawyer said this is roberry and extortion.

I can completely understand how you are feeling and it's not fun. When I was 17 my family got a puppy (Buddy). He bonded quickly to all of us but mainly to me. He slept with me ever night, I did his training, everywhere that I went that was dog friendly, he went. Almost 2 years after we got him it was time for me to go to college. I decided to go to school far away from home and so I only saw Buddy on the visits I was home. I graduated from school and decided to stay in the area my school is in, which is far away from home (home is Georgia, I live in Massachusetts). So now, 8 years later, I see Buddy a few times a year when I go home to visit my parents. And he is still my dog. He goes crazy when I'm home and is my shadow.

That being said, I know if I threw a fit and put the pressure on my parents, eventually they would maybe give in and let me bring Buddy to Massachusetts. I would never do that though. As much as I want him with me I want his happiness more than my own. He is happy with my parents. It's what he's known the longest. He has a great life down there and I know that even trying my best to give him a great life up here it wouldn't compare and eventually I'd probably have to give him back to my parents because the guilt would overwhelm me. And that would be another upheaval in his life.

Instead of being upset and angry about your friend's betrayal try really hard to think about your dog. Is she happy with your friends? Well cared for? Living a good life? Would you be taking her away from something good? If you would be taking her away from a good situation (even if you're bringing her into a good situation) I think you should reconsider taking this to the police/court. Give her up and know that you've done something good for your dog (that's a lot more than some people can say). If you're in a place in your life that you can keep a dog, care for a dog, and afford a dog start doing the research to find one that's right for you. Give a dog in a shelter a good home. Hopefully you won't have to move again and the dog you next adopt will have a true forever home with you.

Please know that I do understand how you feel and I sympathize with you I'm just encouraging you to think about allowing your dog to continue to live a stable, undisturbed life.

She was stable with me, and she felt i was close when i sent her shirt. She could smell.
This family only wants to get our money.

 

It is a sad situation, for you, but think about it ... it's been 3 years that this dog has bonded with the family, to give him back to you would basically be uprooting him ... again. Not only that, but sounds as tho the people would essentially be losing a lot too - it's always hard giving up a loved one
It sounds as tho these other people have loved & cared for the dog & you did trust their responsibility enough to leave the dog with them in the first place, so I don't think there's any concern for her well being.

 

You gave her $50 bucks and a tshirt.. Have you actually been paying the cost of food and such for 3 years? If I was the friend I'd be creating a board bill for the time and effort and multiplying it by 3 years.

I understand the situation is sad.. but she's had the dog for three years.. emails or not. I'd cut my loses as I don't for see you winning this in court.

 

I am sorry you miss your dog, and am sorry that the arrangement did not work out the way you wanted.

As far as law goes, no one here can help you. All you are going to get is advice on the dog. Most of us here will put the needs of our pets above our own wants and emotions.

Well really you should be asking these questions on a legal forum. Better yet hire a lawyer.

 

Id have to agree. I always put the needs of my pets before myself. Im reproductively challenged, so my pets are my children. I would never leave my pet with anyone. When I travel now, I don't even leave my dog with my fiance! If she can't go with me, i don't go. They even go on vacation with us! La-la is my daughter. My furry, four-legged daughter.

I just calculated the cost of keeping La-la healthy and happy for one year. i could easily dish out $800+ a year, and thats BEFORE grooming charges. Multiply that by three. It's not cheap to care for a dog for three years.

 

I can completely understand how you are feeling and it's not fun. When I was 17 my family got a puppy (Buddy). He bonded quickly to all of us but mainly to me. He slept with me ever night, I did his training, everywhere that I went that was dog friendly, he went. Almost 2 years after we got him it was time for me to go to college. I decided to go to school far away from home and so I only saw Buddy on the visits I was home. I graduated from school and decided to stay in the area my school is in, which is far away from home (home is Georgia, I live in Massachusetts). So now, 8 years later, I see Buddy a few times a year when I go home to visit my parents. And he is still my dog. He goes crazy when I'm home and is my shadow.

That being said, I know if I threw a fit and put the pressure on my parents, eventually they would maybe give in and let me bring Buddy to Massachusetts. I would never do that though. As much as I want him with me I want his happiness more than my own. He is happy with my parents. It's what he's known the longest. He has a great life down there and I know that even trying my best to give him a great life up here it wouldn't compare and eventually I'd probably have to give him back to my parents because the guilt would overwhelm me. And that would be another upheaval in his life.

Instead of being upset and angry about your friend's betrayal try really hard to think about your dog. Is she happy with your friends? Well cared for? Living a good life? Would you be taking her away from something good? If you would be taking her away from a good situation (even if you're bringing her into a good situation) I think you should reconsider taking this to the police/court. Give her up and know that you've done something good for your dog (that's a lot more than some people can say). If you're in a place in your life that you can keep a dog, care for a dog, and afford a dog start doing the research to find one that's right for you. Give a dog in a shelter a good home. Hopefully you won't have to move again and the dog you next adopt will have a true forever home with you.

Please know that I do understand how you feel and I sympathize with you I'm just encouraging you to think about allowing your dog to continue to live a stable, undisturbed life.

 

It shouldn't be about the money!
It's about the dog!
Your still only thinking about yourself. How would you like it if you were settled in some where for three years, then someone threw you in a cage and flew you to a completely different country, where you know nothing? I know I would be pretty stressed out. I know what it's like to lose a dog. Maybe it's for the best that you take the money you are willing to invest into that dog and go adopt a dog from a shelter. Not only did you leave the dog in a place where it is settled and comfortable, but you gave a dog that probably would have been killed a good home. Your not just helping yourself, your helping others.

 

Think again and see who is asking money. We just want to pay her all debits we have and what they wasted.

oh ok... lets completely disregard the best interest of you pet for a moment, and talk about money.

If you had left your dog with a boarder they would likely charge you $30/night. (I am going cheaply here, not a top of the line boarding facility)

So $30 X 365 days in a year = $10, 950 x 3 years = $32, 850 for the full time.

I think you should pay your friend the 5K.

There is more to it than food, pee pads, and that one vet bill. There is time spent caring for the dog, walking the dog, bathing the dog. I have had my puppy for only a couple months and if I put a dollar value on the amount of my time she has occupied she would owe me $4,500 and climbing. That does not include her food, toys, leashes, collars, vet bills etc. Simply time that has been dedicated to her.

Your lawyer said it was insane.... does he get paid only if you win, or does he get paid either way...

So, we will pay. And lawyer is our friend, he won't charge us.

 

oh ok... lets completely disregard the best interest of you pet for a moment, and talk about money.

If you had left your dog with a boarder they would likely charge you $30/night. (I am going cheaply here, not a top of the line boarding facility)

So $30 X 365 days in a year = $10, 950 x 3 years = $32, 850 for the full time.

I think you should pay your friend the 5K.

There is more to it than food, pee pads, and that one vet bill. There is time spent caring for the dog, walking the dog, bathing the dog. I have had my puppy for only a couple months and if I put a dollar value on the amount of my time she has occupied she would owe me $4,500 and climbing. That does not include her food, toys, leashes, collars, vet bills etc. Simply time that has been dedicated to her.

Your lawyer said it was insane.... does he get paid only if you win, or does he get paid either way...

 

I totally agree with you.

Like I said I spend $800+ every year to care for ONE of my dogs, I have 3! If I'm insane for wanting to keep my pets healthy and happy, then I'd rather not be sane.

That $800+ includes the costs of:
dog food, treats, toys, flea and tick medicine, Heartworm preventative, shots, medication, ect. That before factoring in grooming supplies such as shampoo and conditioner, De-tangling spray, ect. or collars, leashes, harnesses and tags. I could easily spend more than that. Multiply what I spend on one dog every year by three.

5K isn't unreasonable for three years of care. I didn't have to factor in the time I spent with these animals bacause they are mine. Your friend spent the last three years caring for your dog. That means taking time out of her life to care for her, and spending out of pocket for the things needed to keep the dog healthy.

 

Just be happy your 'friend' kept the dog and didn't give he away to someone else. That happened to my Grandma.. two days after she gave her dog away, she went to her friend's house to see her, and her friend said it didn't work out and she gave it away to some people who wanted a dog.

 

We have all emails saying she would let us get her back and when we wanted to send her by flight (with vet with her) she didn't let.

When did you ask to have her flown to you? (After six months, one year? How long?) What was your response when they said no? And what reason did they give for saying no?