Here's another thought. Let her go with the idea that she can figure out if she wants him later. Wait a little while and than send her a check for the purchase price with "payment in full for yorkshire terrier named..." or something like that. She will need the money and probably cash the check and that will be the end of that.

Thank you, everyone, for the support and the advice. The more I think about it, the more I think maybe she is freaking out about this big move. She is moving to New York for school in a month, and she doesn't have an apartment or a job yet. I am really hoping that she is giving herself three months to truly let go.

She acknowledged to me that it would take something of a perfect storm for her to be able to care for the (my!) dog. She will be working AND going to school; she will have to find an apartment that allows pets; she will need to find a roommate, so the roommate would also want a pet; and she would ideally find a job that has a dog-friendly policy, like our company. Basically she will have much less time and money than she does now.

I'm really surprised that she is being so selfish, because I always thought of her as extremely sweet and soft-spoken. I guess I don't know her that well, though. I think I'm just going to keep the dog no matter what. I can kind of imagine her shipping him across the country, leaving him alone in a tiny apartment all day, and then saying, oh, my dog has gone psycho, tee hee!

I don't know how much she makes, but she paid well over $1,000 for this dog, and she told me that she didn't have enough money for his dental work at least two months ago... I don't think she bought him thinking that she was signing up for a fifteen year commitment.

That's tough. How long have you had him?

I hope it works out for you!

I've had him for less than a month. That's why I was willing to consider returning him, I guess. If it had been six months, I would never agree. That and I thought it would be horribly uncomfortable around the office if we had an ongoing dispute of this nature. But if she was willing to give up the dog once in San Fran, I don't think I'm going to give her a chance to do it again in New York.

well, i think the reason that she is being 'selfish' is because it's her baby. i mean, she knows she is not taking good care of the dog, but you know, she is still the mommy after all. so it is hard to let go. i think that's why she is acting the way she is acting.

even bad moms like/love their kids. but truly nice ones will decide to do what's best for the kids.

it's pretty clear that you can take better care of her. but only if your friend/co-worker decides to let you have the dog.

i think you have two options: 1) give the co-worker time to realize that you can take better care of the dog and hopefully she will make the right decision (for the doggie) but whatever happens is meant to be, even if it means for her to decide that she will keep the dog. or 2) i don't think your co-worker is the type to appeal to logic or reasoning. so if you want to try to prove to her that you really should be the one to keep the dog, then you need to appeal to her emotions. by letting her know what it would be like for the dog and how sad it would be to be left all along and unloved, no attention,...etc.. but you might know how to talk to her better because you know her personality.

i hope you will be able to keep the doggie!

Please dont give your baby back! She had time to think about rehoming before giving him to you. It sounds like she didnt take a good care of him and he better off with you anyways.

I'm not sure if this will help your situation but, a couple I knew hada dog that they were not caring for, their dog also needed some costly vet attention, and they were wanting to rehome it. They let some friends take him for a "trial period" to see if they wanted to keep him, in that time their child cried to have the dog back so they asked to have him back and the people refused because they felt the dog was not being taken care of. in the end the other people kept the dog, despite the couple hounding them for him back.
If you really feel that your dogs former owner wasn't treating him well then just be upfront about it, even if you hadn't paid her yet you had every intention of doing so when she finally got a price together for you.

I was just going to say..... get whatever you can in writing. AND during this time she is in NY...or even now..ANY emails you and her have ......keep. Document everything.
Even things she says, write down that day and date it and keep it in a journal.
Those are things that can make a HUGE difference in Court if it ever came to that.
She does not deserve this dog. This is a rescue and thank goodness this baby has you to fight for him/her.

Good luck!

:bravo::goodpost:

I'll get crucified for this....but he is not your dog. I understand he's better off with you, but he is not yours.

That being said...she obviously has "forgotten" how much work he is/was...she probably has given no consideration what expense will be incurred moving to NYC either.

I personally wouldn't agree to watch him any additional time. I'd tell her no to that idea.

You have the money together to pay her correct? Were it me...I'd flash that money in her direction...cause I'm betting she'd take it.

Hope it works out in your favor.

PS and get a receipt. ;)

I believe legally the dog is yours. You can't sell a car, give the person the keys, then 2 weeks later say Oh I guess I want the car back. Even if you haven't agreed on a price. If you decide to keep the dog and she sues you it will be a matter of deciding on a price.
I think sending her a check saying paid in full is a really good idea.

You will probably end up keeping him. Many people are "out of sight out of mind". That's my degree in psychology talking :D.

But, keep it honest!

That's pretty good news. I am betting she will not want him back. Maybe you could agree to keep him and once she is gone call her and tell her you want to finalize the transition and where can you send the check. Hopefully she will need the money with the big move. Good luck

I'm thinking once she moves to NY and finds out all she needs to focus in just to get settled in with school and all, she will realize she won't have time for the dog...and would probably could rather use a little cash right now....but if you end up giving her cash...please make it reasonable...do not give her more than she paid for the dog.....as for as vet care, etc. expenses...that's what she should pay for as long as the dog was in her possession/care. Good Luck & Keep us posted.!

I think what you did was enter into an oral contract which would stand up in court. They would of course make you pay for the dog, but atleast you'd have him. It must be very hard with the person working with you.