Girlfriend Ran Away and Took the Puppy

[meee]

My question involves a relationship in the state of: Colorado.

Last week, a friend of mine returned home from work to find his girlfriend had packed up and left, taking their 4 month old puppy with her. The dog was AKC certified and paid for in cash. His papers had both of their names on it. She took the papers as well, but I'm assuming the breeder who is only a couple hours from here, has copies. She had also signed a lease with him, which she broke...along with stealing the rent money he had given her earlier in the week. She took the dog to Illinois. She wouldn't answer the phone for a couple of days, but finally did over the weekend and admitted to stealing the rent money and said she is not bringing the dog back. What can he do? Should he threaten her with a lawsuit over the broken lease and the rent money...hoping that will push her to give the dog back? The money is gone as far he is concerned. He really just wants to bring his pup back home, and is willing to go to Illinois to get him.

[aardvarc]

His papers had both of their names on it. She took the papers as well, but I'm assuming the breeder who is only a couple hours from here, has copies.

Then he can either sue her for his half of the dog's value, or he can offer to buy out her share of the dog's value and take the dog, if she's agreeable to that.

She had also signed a lease with him, which she broke...

Again, his remedy is to sue her for whatever damages resulted.

along with stealing the rent money he had given her earlier in the week.

Police report filed?

She took the dog to Illinois. She wouldn't answer the phone for a couple of days, but finally did over the weekend and admitted to stealing the rent money and said she is not bringing the dog back. What can he do?

See above.

Should he threaten her with a lawsuit over the broken lease and the rent money...hoping that will push her to give the dog back?

If sugar isn't working, that's really his only option. But it's rather pointless to threaten it unless he's willing to follow through with it.

The money is gone as far he is concerned. He really just wants to bring his pup back home, and is willing to go to Illinois to get him.

Even if he sues, he may not get the dog back. He may end up with 1/2 the value of the dog. The dog is registered to BOTH of them, and the court will ultimately have to determine how to split value and possession.

To make things more complicated, she's now in another state. He'll have to sue in Colorado, since that's where jurisdiction is. But he can't make her come back to Colorado for the court case. She can sit happily in Illinois, let him win his case by default in CO, and then relax while he tries to figure out how to collect on the court's judgement in IL.

[meee]

Ugh. Thanks for the response. Right now he is playing nice with her...saying he misses her and just wants to see them again. He does not want to upset or anger her at this point bc he already had a trip planned to IL this week, and I think he might go ahead and go and see if he can meet with her. He just really doesnt care about the money, since in his eyes, that can be replaced with a few days work. Not that this is the most mature solution, but if the dog were to chase him to his car, hop in, and leave with him...would her legal action be just as difficult to take? (the pup knows his who is master is and will most definitely follow him.)