Question
My ex partner adopted two dogs 3 years ago. We broke up a month ago and he agreed to give them to me since he is busy with work. I am afraid he changes his mind and asks me to give them back. Does he have the right to do so? I have already registered the dog's chips under my name and in American Kennel.
Answer
People who give away their animal generally have no further rights to that animal. People can ask for an animal to be returned but that does not mean such person has any legal rights to the animal or that the person to whom the animal was given has a legal responsibility to return the animal. Ideally when ownership of an animal is transferred, the people involved would enter into a written agreement which makes it clear that one named person is relinquishing all rights to the animal to the other named person. The agreement should be dated and include a description of the animal.
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