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My friend and I shared ownership of a dog. When I was gone his nurse talked him out of the dog and he wouldn't tell me who he gave him to. I didn't know until a couple months later after he died where my dog went. And now she won't return any of my messages. I want my dog back.

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It sounds as though your friend gave the dog to this visiting nurse. You say the nurse talked him into doing this - how do you know that? You didn't even know what had happened until after your friend had died.

I do understand your wanting your dog back, and I sympathise, but what the dog needs is a stable, predictable environment. If he is now in a good home, the right thing to do for his welfare is leave him where he is.

What sort of messages are you leaving that the nurse won't return?

Come to that - how do you know the nurse has the dog, rather than took the dog to a rescue/rehoming center because your friend couldn't take good care of him and you weren't there?
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JoAnn29 Oct 2019
Its not the decision of the Visiting Nurse to remove an animal. Her responsibility is to call SPCA. Even then, she reports to a supervisor her findings and the supervisor handles the decision. I worked as a secretary for a VN assoc. Everything went thru my Dept Head. If this Nurse took this dog, she had no authority to do so. I would call the person who is her boss.
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Yes, the Visiting Nurse was wrong. Her job is to do what the doctor's orders say. She is not there to tell the person how to live their lives. Only if it effects the care she is giving. We had a nurse who was always giving advise. The clients didn't appreciate this and complained. The nurse was told about it. When a VN enters a clients home, it just that "their home". They can live the way they want even if its in filth. We could call APS but personally could not do anything. If we felt an animal was not cared properly for, we could call SPCA. This Nurse went over and above her responsibility to a client and should be reported to her supervisor.
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This won’t be considered stealing. Your friend gave her the dog, by your own account. The police will NOT settle this for you. It’s a civil issue. You’ll have to take the nurse to small claims court.
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AlvaDeer Oct 2019
Makes sense, small claims. And hopefully with good records.
Recently had a case with our dog rescue. Dog was living with homeless person in park. Homeless person incarcerated, and gave dog to another homeless person. That person gave the dog to rescue and it was placed in a home. Despite the rescue clearing it through Animal Care and Control (one month hold on dog), and getting "ownership", the police showed up at the new owner's home with the homeless person, and the dog had to be surrendered. As the policeman said "In San Francisco the homeless have rights". To my mind, the animals not so much. The dog had been emaciated and scarred from fighting.
So things vary city to city I think. In the end, try everything. I can only say that the "friend" who gave away the pet would not have remained my friend.
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If you have proof that this is your dog through your pet adoption, purchase records, as well as vet records and microchip, photos, etc. this can be considered "stealing". If you had only "joint proof" or all the proof is in the name of the person who gave the dog away, then it can't be. It would also be useful if you show proof that you posted your neighborhood or placed ads and notices about your "missing" dog. The police might settle it out for you, but if you have no proof you will get nowhere and it is a waste of your time, I would think.
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