My alcoholic ex wants the dog

Well done, Felicity. You can all sleep well now. Very best wishes.

I hope to goodness you have nothing to do with this man and am glad your dog is safe.

Is he ever going to take you to court over this? I doubt it. Does he have a key to your home? I doubt it.

So just forget it!

Great news, Felicity53!

Thank you all again. I took everyone’s advice. I went to the vet and got her chip details and changed them. Then I got excellent advice from a specialist lawyer. I think Nelly might sleep safely on my bed for the foreseeable future. A fine bedfellow. Unconditional love with no complications. Xx

If I were you I would claim the dog was a gift to you - therefore your property regardless of who paid for it. He would have to prove otherwise and if he's an alcoholic I very much doubt he would be able to do this or stand the stress of a court case. Don't let him see you're upset it will give him a sense of power.
Incidently there is a herbal remedy called kudzu root which studies have shown reduces the appeal of alcohol to heavy drinkers. Sounds like he could do with some.
I hope you keep YOUR dog!

Just a thought, sounds as if your children are quite adult, if you all say you bought the dog surely no one would believe him if he tries to get it legally.

I hope the legal beagles have been able to help, but it might help others to know that Dogs Trust have a fostering program for people in domestic abuse situations. They foster the dog for you until you are safe. I'm not sure if they would be able to help in this situation.
They're always looking for fosterers, BTW. I'm hoping to do that once my old girl is no longer with me.
I hope your situation improves soon x

Yes to all of the above. Keep the dog safe, for the children’s sake. If necessary, in a temporary foster home. Charities will help with this. Or I will! Your ex sounds a proper t@@@

Is it possible for you to get the dog microchipped to show it as your dog perhaps?

As others have said, try to get some legal advice and contact the Police.

I wish you the very best of luck.

Unless the dog has a chip, he would have to prove (legally) the following:

a. It's the same dog
b. Establish that he's the sole owner.

For someone with his checkered background and the fact that the dog has been with you for years, that sounds like a very tall order indeed!

He would touch that dog over my dead body! Can you move her to a friends or family for the time being just so you can be certain he can't get to her? Hopefully it's all talk and he's hitting out at the one thing he knows will hurt you but won't act on it. I truly hope things settle down and he leaves you in peace Xx

Happy to help, Felicity53 I've personally never had to use them but belong to a couple of dog forums and it's the one name that always crops up as "the go to expert"
We can all sympathise but they can actually help, I hope it works out for you x.

Tell the police the dog is yours, given as a gift by the horrible ex all those years ago.Tell him you've let everyone know, too, that the dog is yours. He won't be able to prove any differently I don't think.

Felicity53, how I feel for you. I have a sort of similar situation in that my husband is mentally ill and although I don't think he would abuse my dogs, he uses them as a weapon against me. The other day I was almost at my place of work when he phoned me and said that my puppy had got out and he didn't know where she was. He casually said he would go and look for her when he had finished his cup of tea and got dressed! As you can guess I was frantic, then I heard her barking in the background! I work in the legal profession and I don't think your ex can take the dog but I would certainly be very vigilant as to her whereabouts all the time. Not at all nice for you

So pleased that you are finding good advice here Felicity. I had nothing to give apart from a few nasty nouns for the ar—ole ex. All he best to you and Nelly.

Jenpax....and?

Thats great news, I really hope it all works out.

Well done FlexibleFriend!
So pleased Felicity53 that you are defending your Ddog against this bully.
Wishing you and Ddog all the best.

Bingo! Thank you so much Flexible Friend.I just rang James at Doglaw . He is sorting it all out because he understands the complexity of such a problem. It costs a bit but I can sleep tonight. I can’t beleve you’ve all done this for me.
Love to you all
Felicity ????

When I left my ex he got my 10 year old daughter to agree to him keeping her beloved dog for a few weeks because he would be “so lonely” on his own. Then a neighbour told us that he had.given the dog to his brother who lived 200 miles away, We went to the police who said that there was nothing that they could do about it, and warned us not to try to physically get the dog back. My daughter was heartbroken and never wanted to have anything more to do with him. Which was probably a blessing in disguise.

Contact Trevor Cooper Dog Law
www.doglaw.co.uk/ownership-custody-disputes/

I don't know the law but if he is continually abusing his retraining order, there must be only so many times that he can get away with it without some intervention.

There must be some comeback on him, if he continues to harass you, otherwise what is the point of the order?
Do you have proof that he would have the dog put down if he can't find a home for her? Would RSPCA be interested is they knew that?

First get the dog microchipped info already done. Then the police and tell them he is trying to claim ownership of the family pet and have another order slapped on him. Also might well worth contacting the RSPCA to warm them. Just tell everyone it was bought as a family pet and let him prove it belongs to him. Good luck

He's managing to push your buttons.
He justvwon't leave you in peace will he?
I'd just ignore him. What rubbish will he come up with next?
Wondering why you helped find him a place to live?