Welp another "World Turns" event in my neighborhood. I live in a small town that is located in the country, I have 1.5 acres. Well my GF has got me in the middle of another mess. She is or was friends with people who lived in tiny apartment complex about 5 blocks away. These people have various animals at their house and Know we are suckers for animals. Well in September right before my dog Rocco was murdered these people left town for a week and we brought over their TWO Border Collies and Rabbit since I have a shed with hay and such and a big fenced-in area. Well they came back and took the one Border Collie they were attached too and asked if we would keep the rabbit and other Border Collie because we have the room. And this was on Sept 21. I was skeptical of keeping another dog because we had 3 at the time but we said sure. I bought the rabbit a hutch we keep inside during the winter and everything was going great. The Collie is named Amy and has bonded well. Those who have me on FB may have seen the video of us using the blower on the deck and she chases the snow. Well to get to the point these people contacted my GF via FB messenger stating that they want the dog back. I mean 6 months have passed and these people now want their dog back. We had messaged them several months ago asking for ownership in writing twice, Being ignored both times. Now they want the dog back and GF told them no, you gave her to us and Amy has bonded and is happy. I contacted my attorney and he told me that possession is 9/10 of the law and that we should keep the dog because we have photos and videos of the dog and copies of ignored message etc. Well the people sent us a message earlier today threatening to bring the sheriff to get the dog and I contacted my attorney and he said tell them "to let them come."
Well, it didn't go as well as planned. The deputy asked if we had proof that the dog was ours and I said well it's been here for 6 months? and my GF showed them the messages that were ignored. The deputy called his superior and they both claim that we have no proof that the dog is ours. I get on the phone with the attorney quickly and he said the deputy must be a "yahoo." But what do you believe? So here were our options given by the deputy. 1. We can arrange to give the dog back. (Attorney said no) 2. We keep the dog and he would have to start the paperwork to charge my GF with Dognapping but we would still keep the dog until it went to court 3. arrange to purchase the dog, Which I did not want to do because if I offered to buy the dog it would be like admitting that the dog wasn't mine. So the deputy tried to contact the guy who reported us as criminals many times through the evening and he didn't answer. The deputy called and was annoyed by the guy but said if the guy continued to push this tomorrow that he would be out here starting this over again.
What a bunch of shit? If the dog was theirs, Why didn't they come and see it past 6 months? Why aren't there messages before asking for the dog back? Why have they not provided any assistance caring for the dog in 6 months? And then to top it off wanting to charge my GF with DogKnapping? this just isn't right and everything my attorney says the cops have refuted. My attorney says possession is 9/10 of the law and they say it doesn't work in this case and they "Don't care if we had the dog for 3 years, there is no evidence they gave the dog to you." Isn't the fact that we have had the dog for 6 months without any contact or inquiries enough evidence? My attorney says dog napping in the case is BS and they say it can be a felony. This is a big lesson and I had an eerie feeling not having anything in writing could come back to bite us, No pun intended.
This will be totally unjust if we have to give the dog back. My GF is applying for the post office and doesn't need anything on her record.
Well, it didn't go as well as planned. The deputy asked if we had proof that the dog was ours and I said well it's been here for 6 months? and my GF showed them the messages that were ignored. The deputy called his superior and they both claim that we have no proof that the dog is ours. I get on the phone with the attorney quickly and he said the deputy must be a "yahoo." But what do you believe? So here were our options given by the deputy. 1. We can arrange to give the dog back. (Attorney said no) 2. We keep the dog and he would have to start the paperwork to charge my GF with Dognapping but we would still keep the dog until it went to court 3. arrange to purchase the dog, Which I did not want to do because if I offered to buy the dog it would be like admitting that the dog wasn't mine. So the deputy tried to contact the guy who reported us as criminals many times through the evening and he didn't answer. The deputy called and was annoyed by the guy but said if the guy continued to push this tomorrow that he would be out here starting this over again.
What a bunch of shit? If the dog was theirs, Why didn't they come and see it past 6 months? Why aren't there messages before asking for the dog back? Why have they not provided any assistance caring for the dog in 6 months? And then to top it off wanting to charge my GF with DogKnapping? this just isn't right and everything my attorney says the cops have refuted. My attorney says possession is 9/10 of the law and they say it doesn't work in this case and they "Don't care if we had the dog for 3 years, there is no evidence they gave the dog to you." Isn't the fact that we have had the dog for 6 months without any contact or inquiries enough evidence? My attorney says dog napping in the case is BS and they say it can be a felony. This is a big lesson and I had an eerie feeling not having anything in writing could come back to bite us, No pun intended.
This will be totally unjust if we have to give the dog back. My GF is applying for the post office and doesn't need anything on her record.