Ex-boyfriend won't give dogs back

Questioner

Dear Sir/Madam, After years of having a fairly satisfactory (undocumented) visiting arrangement for our 2 dogs, my ex no longer wants to give our dogs back to me. I have indicated that I want to terminate the agreement (multiple reasons) and my ex does not want to cooperate. With my last proposal, you 1 dog and me 1 dog, he initially agreed, but he has just withdrawn this agreement. The facts: Dog 1: jointly purchased, jointly shared costs/concerns. Chip/purchase agreement in my name. Dog 2: jointly purchased, jointly shared costs/concerns. Chip/purchase agreement in his name. The dogs and their passports are currently in his possession in Germany. The plan was for him to return both dogs to Spain in late summer 2023. How can I get my dogs back?

Lawyer

From a Dutch perspective I can give you some advice, although International and European law may be more applicable because of the countries involved. Under Dutch law, dogs are considered movable property. This means that ownership of a dog is established by a purchase contract or a registration (such as a chip registration). In your case, because one dog is registered in your name and the other in the name of your ex-partner, each of you would be the rightful owner of the respective dog under Dutch law. However, keep in mind that the situation may be complicated by the fact that an undocumented visitation arrangement was in place. It may be more difficult to determine how this arrangement may affect the ownership of the dogs and their return, especially if there is a dispute over the terms of the termination of this agreement. Since the dogs are currently in Germany and would be returned to Spain, International or European law may also play a role. Rules regarding cross-border ownership and the handling of pets after a relationship breakdown may be taken into account. I would therefore advise you to contact a lawyer or attorney who has experience with similar issues and is familiar with both Dutch law and international law. They can give you specific advice on the steps to take to get your dog back. --------------- Stichting Rechtswinkel.nl is a national organization with students and volunteers. The above advice is based on limited information and may be incomplete or even incorrect for your situation. Always consult a lawyer or attorney for your further steps. Read disclaimer: https://rechtswinkel.nl/disclaimer I would like to invite you to rate the above answer so that we can learn from your response.