my dad has my dog and I'm a minor what do I do?

[ajb1029]

What is the name of your state? North Carolina and Texas(depends where the case takes place).

I am 15. I recently moved back to Texas after living with my dad for 6 months. Because it was a hasty move because of the conditions there, I flew back and left my 4.5 yr old golden retriever with promises to have her shipped back to me. Recently, when I talked to him he told me it was going to be at least 3 months for some crazy reason he would not tell me why. Then, when I confronted him about the time range he said that it wasn't 3 months but until "things settled down". So, my problem is, I want my dog NOW. Since I have had her for almost 5 years she has become a dear friend of mine.
Thanks for any and all of your help.
Amanda

 

[Alias_joe]

Unless you pay for the shipment I feel you are out of luck

 

[ajb1029]

That isn't the problem

That is not the problem, we can pay for it. He isn't willing to ship her he is keeping her at his house. With accusations that she got into fights here with my brother's amstaf. Which, isn't the whole truth, because sge DID get into a fight with her but it was in a kennel and it was over food.

 

[john123456]

Then, when I confronted him about the time range he said that it wasn't 3 months but until "things settled down". So, my problem is, I want my dog NOW.

Why not fly to NC and take possession of your dog?

 

[ajb1029]

My mom is convinced it would be stealing. Would it? I mean, I AM a minor but it's MY NAME over owner name on her papers. Would it be stealing if I took her out of state. NC to TX.

 

[john123456]

My mom is convinced it would be stealing. Would it? I mean, I AM a minor but it's MY NAME over owner name on her papers. Would it be stealing if I took her out of state. NC to TX.

Of course not, assuming you can prove you own the dog.

 

[stephenk]

do you believe your hasty move back to your mom is the real reason he is holding onto the dog?

 

[ajb1029]

Yep. He has a disorder called Narcisstic Personality Disorder(for more info go here:http://dslweb.nwnexus.com/jmashmun/npd/traits.html#contra ) He has a textbook case of it. Anyway, while I was there, he was engaged and threw my cell fone in the toilet because he believed " I was triangulating between him and my mom" which isn't the case because he was abusive to my mom and older brother when they were married. His fiance is crazy: example- After my dad threw my cell in the toilet I took it over to my friend's house and pluggged it in to evaporate some of the water because I was hoping it wasn't COMPLETELY ruined. Anyway sh*t happened and we had to go back to my dad's house, his fiances house is 2.5 hrs away from his. She went over to my friends house which was right down the street. Unplugged it. Took it to her house. Plugged it back in- my cell was one of those that makes a sound to tell you its charging, it made the sound. She claims "it was coming alive" and smashed it with a hammer 7 times. He has issues he really does. He is the king of manipulating people. example: I got into a fight with him and he kept telling me I was "changing for the worse" and I was "driving my friends away". He kept telling me this and kept teling me this until I believed it. I then called my friend to confirm this and he denied what my dad said and that everyone loved me and I HAD NOT changed. Please read the site listed above. If you want to email me to talk.My email is:ajb1029@gvtc.com, please, NO viruses!

PS He is holding onto to the dog so I will move back into a abusive household. It AIN'T GONNA WORK!!! SO THERE!

 

[hbreen]

Those in the know can correct me if I am incorrect, but if the dog is registered (AKC) and your name is on the papers, that would mean that he is holding the dog illegally. However, if you mom is concerned about getting the dog back, does she really want the dog in her home? And no, it wouldn't be stealing if she is YOUR dog (your name on the ownership papers).

HBreen

 

[JETX]

So, my problem is, I want my dog NOW.

You're not going to like to hear this.... but the other posts you have gotten are not correct.
The LEGAL fact is... this is NOT 'your' dog. As a minor, your parents have the legal ownership of EVERYTHING you have. This means 'your' furniture, the clothes on your back, your MP3 player.... and yes, even 'your' dog.

You are going to need to try to be mature and try to come to some agreement with your father (and mother) as to the disposition of this 'property' (the law defines the dog as 'property'!). If necessary, your mother may have to initiate a lawsuit (small claims) to try to recover 'her' damages for his keeping HER partial ownership of the 'property'.

 

[stephenk]

Not always true Jetx. If the ownership papers for the dog are solely in the poster's name, the dog belongs to her. She can file suit against her dad, even as a minor. Just like a car with title in the poster's name is hers alone.

 

[JETX]

Not always true Jetx. If the ownership papers for the dog are solely in the poster's name, the dog belongs to her. She can file suit against her dad, even as a minor. Just like a car with title in the poster's name is hers alone.

This may be a matter of jurisdictions, but that is not correct for Texas. In Texas, a minor doesn't 'own' anything.... it is owned by his/her parents, or in trust, managed by guardian or trustee.

 

[ajb1029]

Ok,
I know I don't "own" anything. But MY name is on those papers as the owner. My dad is the CO-OWNER! If I can't go to court because I am a minor can't my mom go for me? I am confused. Anyway, he claims that it is in "her best interest to stay with him", I have VIDEO and PICTURE evidence suggesting otherwise. There HAS to be a loophole on getting her back.
Amanda

 

[hbreen]

Good point JETX - something I had not thought of in my post - and now that dad is listed as co-owner (something poster had omitted in her post about owning the dog), there is another monkey wrench in it.

Sad as it is to say, JETX is right in this case.

 

[JETX]

Sad as it is to say, JETX is right in this case.

And why EXACTLY is that 'sad to say'???