Former owner wants him back
 

I "adopted" my yorkie from a coworker. We work in a small office, and this poor dog was bored out of his mind. He was a classic "nervous little dog" who was always shaking a bit.

I started walking him because I really needed the exercise, and I figured he did too. I did not even like small dogs before I met this little guy, but needless to say, after a few walks I fell in love. I started dog-sitting for him, and eventually we agreed that she would sell him to me.

I told her that I would pay his original cost + all veterinary care. She told me that she would need some time to put all the receipts together, but I assumed it would come out to several thousand dollars. I took him home with me, and figured I would pay her whenever she got the final price together.

AND THEN today she tells me that she misses him too much and that she thinks she would rather take him back. I am heartbroken!


If I'm honest with myself, I know I'm very upset for my loss, but I thought we both knew it was better for him - she admitted to me that she almost never walked him, and this is a dog that does well with 90 minutes of daily exercise. He has not been properly socialized or house broken. And the kicker is that he needs $1,000 of dental work, which she cannot afford! I had been waiting to pay her first before scheduling his surgery.

If she says she definitely wants him back, I will give him back, but I am very upset. I don't think she is doing what's right for the dog. He became more strongly bonded to me than her even while she was still his owner, and I really think it's because she doesn't pay much attention to him. She does love him, but she's more into the fact that he's cute and she can dress him up. She does not take care of him as a dog.

I guess this is a lesson to me to legally buy a dog the next time around, rather than keeping it informal. :(

I don't think I remember reading in your post (and if you did post this I'm sorry for asking it) but how long have you had the dog for? It sounds to me like he is WAY better off with you. If you've already had him for a while, I would say that your sorry but that you two made an agreement and you've already bonded with the dog and he has already bonded with you. I mean I understand that it was her dog and all, but it doesn't sound like he was being very well taken care of and I would be extremely concerned about that.

I would do everything in your power to keep that sweet baby :cry:

I am sooooooo sorry! How sad for you and the dog too.
Paula

I am so sorry!!:( I hope you get to keep your baby!! How long have you had him?

What about you giving her the money and her getting a new puppy?

I totally agree!!

I am praying she changes her mind. If she doesn't, then I really hope she realized she needs to step it up for his benefit.

HUGS to you sweetie I'm so sorry :(

Ohhhhhhh, I'd have a really tough time giving that dog back. I think you should sit down with her and point out the fact that he NEEDS his daily walks, and that he also needs the dental work done, AND you two have totally bonded!

I really hope she realizes that he's better off with you. Good luck!

I would totally keep that dog, pay her the reasonable costs (original amount + vet receipts that she can produce) and be done with it. NO WAY would I give that baby back to someone who didn't care for him correctly.

Worst thing is that she can sue you for him...maybe she will decide it's not worth all the effort and let him stay with you.

I hope you can find a way to keep him.

I assume she knows about his need for dental work, and the cost. I'm concerned that if she takes him back, she won't have the dental work done. You might be able to use this to negotiate, tactfully telling her if he doesn't have the dental work done she'll end up with a toothless Yorkie.

Why would you pay her the original cost, plus all vet care, and the dog hasn't even been socialized or housebroken? Not only that, but it's been neglected and needs expensive dental work. This is a rescue basically, she could never sell him for that on the open market, don't let her take advantage of you. The problem is, you've made owning a dog look like fun to her, and so she wants him back, she's forgotten all the trouble they can be, and obviously she doesn't care for it as much or she would know it's better off with you. I wouldn't suggest that she get a puppy, she'll do the same thing with a puppy, and probably get sick of caring for that too. Return the dog to her, and either look or act like your looking for a puppy from a good breeder. I'll bet while you're looking she start getting second thoughts on keeping the dog, and want to sell it, but don't reward her irresponsibility, make her deduct the cost of dental work from the cost of the dog, should deside to buy. I also would be tempted to give her a bill for the amount you have spent on him. Sometimes, you have to be really firm with people or they will walk all over you, and she sounds like one of those people. Best of luck!

Okay, the plot thickens. She told me in confidence today that she is planning to relocate to New York next month. No one at the office knows. I guess originally she didn't feel like she was totally giving him up because I bring him to the office and she still gets to play with him. Now that she's going to New York, she realizes she won't see him at all.

She proposed that I keep him for a few months while she settles in New York, and then I guess she'll decide whether or not she wants him back. I'm thinking about saying yes, and then keeping him either way. Before, I was very concerned about causing tension in the office, but if she's leaving, there's not much connection there.

I have to say, it never occurred to me this would happen. I probably wasn't very smart about the price, but one the other hand, I knew that I was very bonded with this dog and that we are compatible.

She says that she knows it's selfish to keep him and that she would not be giving him the life he deserves. And honestly, a New York winter day would turn him into a dogsicle within minutes. He has to wear a sweater in San Francisco! And the tiny apartments in New York... I'm floored. I lived in New York for many years, and I know it takes a lot more work to care for a dog there than it does in NorCal.

On the other hand, I knew she wasn't super-responsible to begin with, given that she didn't take great care of him, so maybe I shouldn't be surprised at how she's handling this.

I'm still worked up, but I think it's probably going to turn out okay... I hope.

I would not give the dog back and to be honest I would probably just pay her the cost for the dog itself and tell her to screw off. If you don't have it on paper then it isn't really a "legal" agreement. Why should you pay for vet costs that she had and still pay for the dental work? that doesn't make sense. She doesn't sound like someone who should have a dog, who does she think she is saying oh you keep him for a few months and give him to me, no way NEVER!

I agree that if you do keep him you shouldn't have to pay for past vet expenses. Even paying her full price that she paid is a bit much when you are looking at an additional $1000 in dental work. It seems to me that if she wants to move to New York and can't afford the dental work she would be lucky to just get original purchase price from you and let that be the end of it. No one else is going to give her more so don't let her take advantage of you just because of emotions. Let her go and leave it open. In the event she eventually tries to get the dog back from you, if you refused she would have to sue you in small claims which means she would have to come back to California. If the court awarded her the dog they would have to make her reimburse you the dental expense and she couldn't afford it anyway. She would be lucky to just get her original purchase price which you are willing to pay anyway. She probably just thinks she wants him back because she sees him with you. Once she's far away she won't see him and will probably get less attached anyway.

How does she plan on getting him from Cali to NY? It doesnt sound like she is thinking things thru.She appears to be impulsive...I am betting if you "keep" him while she gets settled then she most likely wont come and get him. If you two make some sort of agreement you had best get it in writing. I dont think I would trust her very far!