Please help my dog
Please help us!
I adopted an adult dog from a breeder, signed a contract and all. Now they are demanding I return her and is taking me to court but I need help with legal fees as I've used my rent. This dog was in awful condition when I adopted her and I found out shocking and worrying things after adoption.
Long version:
November 2025 I took in a Belgian Malinois named Raven as part of a rehoming agreement with her previous owner. What I found broke my heart.
Previous owner had put an e collar on her at 4-5 months old, used very harsh corrections and destroyed this nervous dog's confidence. Worse yet, wanted to breed her 4 times. She was rehomed to me under breeding contract. I took her to three independent professionals — a vet, a behaviourist, and a dog trainer as her extreme fear worried me. I then told the previous owner what professionals said and that breeding her would risk her welfare. The previous owner wanted to visit after 1 month of me having her, I told them that it wasn't the best time as it was just after Christmas, the dog was still settling and I hadn't had my flu jab yet and as I have health issues I couldn't risk it. The whole thing turned ugly. Previous owner demanded I return the dog, claiming I breached the contract, sent people to my house to take her and I contacted a law firm. I also found out that this dog had undisclosed health conditions that showed up on the DNA test. The diet she was on would eventually cause liver failure. It's a mess honestly. But I have proof of everything the previous owner said and did.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TE7FrxRl60OqheuDmlkmIMBZHCN6KmoF
Nearly six months on she has become a normal dog in the house. She still has reactivity outside but with gentle, force-free training we are making real progress. She now participates in agility and other sports training, visits secure dog walking fields for freedom to run and play, and has bonded strongly with my male Malinois. She has play dates with my friend's dog which has helped her confidence enormously.
I agreed to rehome her permanently because she had taken to my family and for the first time in months I saw my male Malinois full of life again. He had been grieving the loss of my 14 year old assistance dog last year, which hit us both very hard. Raven gave him back his spark and I saw her open up and show complete trust.
For context, this dog wasn't free. I made a website for previous owner's breeding kennel and was promised a puppy in return to be sired by my fully tested, pedigree, titled male. But I chose the "mother" dog after she bonded with us.
Every penny goes directly toward legal fees and keeping a roof over our heads while I fight for her.
Raven finally knows what it feels like to be safe. I am not giving up on her now the previous owner is taking me to court. I only want what's best for this dog and the world does not need more unstable, nervous malinois. I am not new to the breed, I am an advocate for ethical and responsible dog breeding and allowing this girl to have been bred would go against everything I advocate for.