If I train dogs and they are in my care until training is over and the owner has paid, can I keep the dog until the client pays the balance?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If I train dogs and they are in my care until training is over and the owner has paid, can I keep the dog until the client pays the balance?
Asked on November 22, 2014 under Business Law, California
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 9 years ago | Contributor
You cannot keep the dog. Dogs are chattel. You would be considered as illegally converting the owner's personal property to yours (i.e., theft, larceny, etc.). You cannot keep said dog. You can, howver, sue the owner for payment if you were not paid. If the owner has not paid, you should return the dog and sue for the amount of services in your contract. Your contract's language (what you both agree to as dog training services) will help you determine the amount.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.