Legal issue regarding a dog

Hello,
My daughter has mental health issues that has led to years of me feeling like I am in an abusive relationship. She has been given a significant amount of money for her 21st and is using it as a deposit on a house with her boyfriend. I need her out at this point, however, she brought home a 4 month rescue pup in August, 2018 and since then we have fallen in love with this dog. My daughter never, ever gets up to walk the dog in the morning. My husband does it. I have just had a bust up with her over the fact she keeps going out during lockdown to meet up with her boyfriend. This has been probably the 4-5th time so far. Today she left out home at 11.30am and now it’s 11.18pm and she is still out. Anyway, an argument happened via messenger and without giving you my life story I am over the whole thing and need her to move out. This is my issue. I’m not going to let her take the dog. She never walks him. She is irresponsible and he’s the best dog ever.
What is my legality on this? Anyone faced it? I’m going to try and research but the day she moves out, I’m just going to not let her take the dog and if she calls the police then she can. I bought the dog his last big bag of food although I’m not sure if that counts for anything. I just know I’m going to fight her for this dog and I wondered if anyone else knew what my chances were?
Thank you!

short version if she signed any papers then the dog is hers by law …. until...… it is proven legally that she is abusing the dog in any way including neglecting the dog. in other words unless someone has contacted animal control and lodged a complaint against her and the dog was legally removed from her care after she signed ownership papers with the rescue she got the dog from, you will have to turn the dog over to her or she can have you charged for dog napping. (holding her dog against her will)

my suggestion sit down and talk with your daughter, offer to take care of the dog until she gets in a stable home of her own. formally write out yours and your daughters agreement and both sign and date it in front of someone that has no connection to the dog, a neutral person to all involved. once you have her agreement that the dog can stay in your care for a specified amount of time, you will have legal grounds to not hand over the dog.

Could you contact the dog pound and explain your situation and ask if they could help you legally get the dog surrender to you?

You could just offer to buy the dog. If your daughter is looking to get a home of her own she will need all the money she can get.

If she wants to take the dog the dog is legally hers regardless of who did / didn’t walk or feed the dog. I’m not sure the issue around her visiting her partner. Here in Australia that would be allowed and if they’re on the brink of buying a house then ....
I can’t help but feel you’re doing this out of spite because you’re angry.

Well I love dogs and totally understand your feelings in this situation. If your daughter does not put forth any effort in taking care of the dog, then she doesn't seem to be too interested in the dog. I guess there are 2 ways to go about this......an honest way and a dishonest way. the honest way would be to do what openeyes and amandalouise suggested. I think those are both very good ideas as to how to handle this provided that your daughter is mature enough to honor those arrangements. If it's a situation where you think your daughter will not speak to you much or visit much once she moves out (one of those grudge holding type people) then you could go the less-than-honest route by sending the dog to live with a trusted friend and tell your daughter the dog ran off. once your daughter moves out, bring the dog back home to your house. If your daughter ever were to discover somewhere down the road that the dog was with you, just say you found him one day.

Lovethesun,

Did you seriously, honest to god recommend stealing her own daughter's dog? What would even make you think to suggest that? That's illegal and wrong and horrid and pathetic on so many levels.

The dog belongs legally to your daughter. It's very sad and painful to hear that she won't take care of the dog, so I understand your desires to care for the dog yourself. Unfortunately, the dog is legally hers, and you cannot legally take the dog from her, unless, like someone said, animal abuse was called. Maybe on the plus side, once she's out of your home, she will be forced to care for the dog and walk the dog herself. Let's hope!!! If not, then you could call the animal abuse line and rescue the dog -- but you would have to be privvy to that information and have knowledge of whether she is actually caring for the dog. I feel so sorry for this poor animal. I hope your daughter takes greater responsibility when she moves out. Sometimes, that;'s all it takes is a wake up call to be out on one's own.

Sorry, but the dishonest route is definitely not a good idea. I, too, am not sure why this would even be suggested.