Who has dog custody?

Question

So my EX-boyfriend broke all 3 rules I had, right around the time my dad died, no less. 
“Reign in your drug use, stop being friends with the stalkers that harass me when it conveniences your attitude, and don’t cheat”.
Well he did all 3 with the 20 year old stalker who posted my customer loyalty information, and that petsmart doesn’t seem like they’re going to do anything about her doing such a thing to breach my privacy. (Where can I recruit a ton of negative reviews at? I know someone on here mentioned it before)
Last night she pressed charges on me for “stalking”, and mentioned in the first sentence I went to her job “to tell my manager I was on drugs” (not true, I just told her about her posting a photo of my customer information from the grooming section). The rest she literally said everything she has ever done to me (threaten to kill me, posted me on a homewrecker website, stalk me, post my address, etc) and it landed me in jail for 2 hours 🙃. 
TODAY they must be bored or running out of meth... because they’ve been using texting apps to harass each other pretending to be me and she’s already bragged online she’s about to turn “me” in... (which law enforcement doesn’t fact-check, so I’m probably going to jail AGAIN with no questions asked because of those stupid apps) and they have the grand idea to post online that I killed his dog, 3 times. The girl is also saying “she killed OUR baby girl”. This bitch has never even met this dog? 🤦🏼‍♀️
He abandoned his two dogs over here, and uses the restraining order between us as why he “can’t” come see his dog, especially after one dog’s cancer diagnosis. Him visiting hasn’t stopped him before when things were good and he was actually working on being sober. 
He has NEVER paid for food, grooming, vet visit, pain meds, vaccines, etc. ITS BEEN ME, ever since November/December. 
Even one of his abusive rants back in December that I recorded, you can hear him say to keep one (the one that ended up with cancer last month). 
So in this situation.... how do you think this is going to happen? 
Even before the dogs lived with me, I took care of them as he was too strung out to even take care of himself. If I didn’t let them out during his 12 hour work shift, they would use the bathroom in the crate which would send him in a RAGE. He has told his oldest dog to die before multiple times, and has kicked the crates with them in it to the point they’re wobbly and bent to the point one of the doors don’t work right. 
I mean if the tables were reversed, I would get a police escort to get my dogs back, and wouldn’t stop until I got them back. I wouldn’t have left them for HALF A YEAR almost. He just moved in with his meth dealer, and now this stalker 20 year old, and hes making posts about how I “stole and killed his dogs” and he says this restraining order is why he can’t get his dogs. 
If he would stay sober and get a job and get his OWN apartment or something (something he hasn’t done in the 2+ years he’s been in this state)  then what would stop him from getting a police escort to get them? Or a court order? Instead he’s saying “I’m homeless because of her, so I can’t have my dogs”.  
Has ANYONE been in a court situation that involved pet custody?  
I don’t want to see them go back to him, and yes that includes when I was giving him another chance to redeem himself. I didn’t want him to be too high/in withdraw and neglect them. 
I love them too and I hope a judge will realize that I’m the better option if he tries to get them taken away from me.

She knows when I’m upset and she’s the best cuddle dog ever. When she was with him, she was put on a dangerous dog list because she attacked everyone and everyone all the time. 
She’s a changed dog with me, without him.

Accepted Answer

I suggest you get a lawyer. And sue them both. You have text evidence and online evidence that it’s her. And now that his in the mix he is guilty as well. She can get in a lot of trouble for lying to the cops to get you arrested. Take picture and screen shots of everything. She seems like she literally doesn’t give a fuck, and people like that are dangerous and I’d hate to see her escalate to a violent outlast towards you. I think it’s in your best interest and best for your safety at this point to speak to the police and a lawyer and show them everything. And please stress to them that you “feel as if my life is being threatened” because it really feels like she’s trying to hurt you any way possible. And I think you should get the animals. Also, does your ex have a P.O.? Because you can call them and let him know his pee is not clean and they will drug test him as well.

Answer

None of that other stuff legally matters. If you have paperwork stating you provide for the dog, it’s YOUR dog. Vet bills and registration in your name means you’re legally responsible for that dog.

Answer

First off I would have paper copies of your phone records to hand so when the police come you can easily prove you haven’t been harassing them. Then I’d get the dogs chipped, make sure their vaccinations are up to date, get them some insurance in your name, anything like that to legitimise your ownership. Then I’d start documenting everything they’re doing to you and reporting it so you can press charges for harassment

Answer

I’ve never dealt with a pet custody issue, but I do watch Judge Judy regularly, which I’m going to claim basically makes me an expert. She at least always factors in who put the most time and money into the dogs care, and who it’s bonded with, which seems to be you. 
I’m sorry to hear about all the drama going on, but I’m glad that guy is an ex now. I don’t judge the drug use on its own, but it sounds like he’s involved in all kinds of shady business. You can do much better. 💜

Answer

Oh I’m glad to hear that you’re moving away soon!
Like everyone has been saying, grab all the documentation for vet trips, grooming trips, getting them food, etc.  Espcially if there’s a paper stating the dogs are in your name. 
 Change your number, get phone records of her harassing you, screenshot messages, screenshot where they’re lying on Facebook, etc. and once you have all that information, block them both with one last text stating to leave you alone. Have all of this ready in case the police shows up
Get all this information into a folder, make copies, and take it to a lawyer. If I were you, I’d immediately try and get this into court. 
Also, I’d snitch. I’d tell his parole officer he’s back on drugs and put in an anonymous tip to the cops about the man he’s living with. Either they’ll catch your ex,’or they’ll catch him.

Answer

Also, does anyone know what happens if he falls behind bond payments?
I used his bondsman last night since me and him have had heart to heart talks about him before... he told me he’s behind and of course not answering his phone because he has an active warrant. 
Will he go back to jail again or what?

Answer

Having a dog is simmilar to child custody. 3 years ago (I was 15-16 years old) I filed custody for our family dog. My mum was losing custody of my sisters and I so I took our dog with us to my dads. When we went to the court house we filed a restraining order that also included our dog BerryBear. We filed BerryBear as our dependant just like you would a child. If you took care of the dogs completely you should be able to win the case.

Answer

The second that she posted your personal information online as an employee of that store is the second you should have retained a lawyer. This could have gotten taken care of so much sooner. I would still go get one and have them get all of this info in order and help protect you more. It’s hard to fight these immature battles on your own. I’m sorry you’re going through this  Remember to block them on social media and change your privacy settings to private and get A NEW NUMBER. I wish you the best of luck. I have no doubt your dog will be able to stay with you.

Answer

Keep all of your receipts. It serves as proof that you are the owner of the dog. A shelter told me about that once.

Answer

Is there anything with his name on it tying him to the dogs? If you have all the vet papers in your name, I would think that he couldn’t do anything to claim them as his

Who has dog custody?

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey