Legal rights to a dog I fostered: Will he be depressed if returned?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. This can certainly be a confusing situation for Pepper, which may explain why he was confused when he returned the last time. If Pepper is going to a bad environment, I would try and talk this over with his previous owner and ensure him that Pepper is much better off in the environment he has been in the longest. Unfortunately, if he gave you temporary care of his dog, technically Pepper still is his dog. You could also ask the man if you could adopt Pepper from him and pay him an "adoption fee" and make it so that if you adopt Pepper, he no longer has ownership and is no longer allowed to take Pepper for visitation. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'd be careful getting updates from the receptionist. They tend to not have any medical background or even the full story. I would call to ask to speak with the Vet who saw your dog or the practice owner or manager. Get the true story. Maybe they can tell you which shelter and if it wasn't expensive you can pay your bill. I doubt they had you sign paper work under false pretenses. We as vets don't want animals to suffer or die with out treatment. That is why we offer to take over their care at our own expense. There is a lot of emotional and compassion fatigue with in our profession and I can be 100% sure they did this to benefit your pet and not to purposely hurt or trick you. Good luck!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about how things are going with you and Daphne. These situations are always tough on everyone, including the pet. Have you thought about sharing her and letting her stay intermittently with your ex? Might be a good solution if you can both agree on the terms. That way she will never be in this situation again, as both of you will be spending time with her separately. I hope this helps. And I wish all of you and Daphne a long and happy life.

As I'm reading your question again, I think maybe you're asking if Daisy is better off with you or with you son. That's hard to say. She may adore him, but be much happier and healthier with you when she's properly cared for. You can always have her go back to your son if she seems miserable when he's gone. I would put her needs for proper care first.

I'm not sure if Zoee already has an owner or not. If she does have an owner, because she isn't technically your dog, it would not be recommended for you to take her get fixed. There could be legal issues with you taking their dog, getting her fixed, and then trying to keep her for yourself if she already has an owner. You can certainly speak to her owners to see if they would be willing to allow you to take her as your dog, and then you could get her fixed. At that point, if you fixed your fence, then yes she will likely stay with you. If Zoee is a stray and is living on the streets, then I think it would be lovely of you to take her in, get her fixed, and give her a home :-)

That is a very tough situation for you to be in! Moving to a new home can be stressful for a dog, but if Coco was there for six weeks without a problem, then that shows she can adjust. I would discuss honestly with your son that you would like to keep her, and let him know how close you've become with her over the last six years, and how much it would hurt you to have her live with him. In six years, you have developed a very deep bond with Coco, and you could discuss with your son that he could come and visit with her anytime he likes, and she could visit with him. I think it would be quite hard for you to give her up after all this time, and you need to be honest with your son about your feelings.

Hello! If often takes some time for a pet to adjust to their brand new home and family. Most dogs need a few weeks to become confident and comfortable in their new environment. It would be helpful to know exactly what she is doing that is causing you to be concerned though. If you'd like to resubmit a question describing the possibly depressed or adjusting behavior (ie. hiding, pacing, licking, chewing, growling), I may be able to better advise. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!