August 14th, 2009
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If you find yourself in the middle of a canine custody dispute you’ll need to prove you’re the legal owner, not the better caregiver, in order to win. That’s because under the law, pets are considered personal property.
Proving legal ownership requires showing that your name is on the following paperwork: Adoption application or breeder sales contract, veterinary records, city licensing forms, and microchip documents. If you’re not able to do this, legal experts say it’s best to negotiate early on with the other party – before tempers begin to flare – to come to a mutually agreeable solution. To help with those talks,consider hiring a professional mediator. Maryann Mott is a pet journalist and author. Her books and articles can be found at Petwriter.com and you can follow her on Twitter here. |