Rightful Canine Owner

[sandyt]

My jurisdiction is: NJ

Unique issue. My previous employer had purchased a puppy for me. He was $1800 paid in cash, my name on the bill of sales and ownership papers. I had raised the dog since he was a puppy. About a year ago I moved in with her. After a falling out we had had in September 08', she had kicked me out of her house and i had to leave state due to personal medical reasons (this all taking place in NJ) She refused to give me my dog at the time of my departure from NJ, and claimed she has purchased the dog there for she was the "rightful" owner of him. Few months after being in Florida I attempted to contact her again through e-mail about pursuing my dog, she refused by neglecting to answer any of my requests. About a month ago she sent me an e-mail simply stating "Punk (name of my dog) do you want him". not opening this e-mail until 4 days ago i replied "yes. of course" she then sent a message back saying "too late I already placed him" That is when i had contacted the breeder and found out that my name is on the ownership/bill of sales records. I am just wondering if I have any legal standing in re-uniting with my beloved pooch, being since I am the rightful owner of the "property" and she had given the dog to another party without my notification or consent

 

[dee_dub]

You might be able to negotiate some kind of settlement with the new owner, and your ex might agree to refund the money to the new owner so you could get the dog back in order to avoid the messiness of a lawsuit. But you probably don't have any legal right to re-unite with your dog. You might have some claim to damages against your ex for wrongfully disposing of him. The only way to tell for sure what your rights are is to sue and let a court sort it out. Was the dog a gift or not, did you abandon the god or not, etc. You can see what the arguments will be.