SUCCESSFUL STORY - VICTORIA BC. / APRIL 16, 2024
WE FEEL THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STORY TO SHARE.
Permission has been given to us by Holly
We think this will show that the NEW family law section, shows that this is a step in the right direction for animal owners.
Fighting for what is in the best interest of YOUR dog, we are now learning from Drew and Holly's case, is a step we should all get educated on.
We are very happy to have gone through this journey with Holly.
NEVER GIVE UP when you are fighting for YOUR pet.
Losing a beloved pet can be absolutely devastating, but with the emergence of new court
legislation, pets are now considered more than just property. Owners now have a potential
avenue for retrieving their lost companions that are rightfully theirs.
I recently left a 10 year relationship that had become abusive. The reality of starting over,
being alone, and dividing shared belongings is harsh and painful to deal with. What made it
even harder was the fights over who kept the animals we had come into possession of over
the course of the years. We had a Husky that was free to a good home and a Bully that had
been left with us by my ex-partner's brother that was supposed to be temporary, but
“temporary” turned into over 4 years without even buying a bag of dog food.
Both dogs have additional medical needs, The Husky Nina has an autoimmune disease
requiring regular immunosuppressant medication that is expensive, The Bully Drew needed
double TPLO surgery at only 1 year old. I was the primary caregiver for these animals and
worked the overtime to pay for medical needs, did the day to day care, and anything else
they needed. Because I was in a relationship, there was a real possibility that I wouldn’t get
to keep the dogs that I deeply love and have gone to great lengths to ensure they were
cared for.
After we had separated and I was in possession of both dogs, My ex-partner decided to give
his brother my address. The brother waited outside my house and when the dogs were
taken outside for a walk he pulled into my property and stole Drew. Despite the
circumstances that he was taken, that I had thousands of dollars of medical bills, and history
of neglect/improper care outside of my possession, I was told the matter was civil. I would
have to pursue any chance I had at getting my dog back through the courts.
I spent weeks reaching out to every resource, filed almost a dozen applications, contacted
the courts several times a week, compiled nearly 300 documents proving I was the rightful
owner of my dogs, and at the end of it all it was so worth it. I was granted sole ownership,
right of possession and police enforcement to have Drew returned. The new legislation in BC
allows additional factors to be included in the decisions the courts make in regards to animal
ownership. Despite the difficulty of navigating the court system, doing anything you can for
the ones you love does pay off. Sometimes the system works, and with the new legislation I
hope that the system continues to improve on these changes for the benefits of the animals caught in the MIDDLE