Who Let the Dog Out?

I get a lot of questions, and I am not always able to answer them all at once. If you have asked me a question, don't give up! Stay tuned, and your question may be the next one I talk about. Here is a question I've been asked a few times. I discussed it on KUSI a couple of weeks ago, but for those of you who missed it, here's a recap.

Question:
"My neighbor was dog-sitting for me while I was on vacation, and my dog got out and is now lost. What are my rights against my neighbor?"

Answer:
You can hold your neighbor responsible for your dog and take him to Small Claims Court to recover the value of your dog. However, as much as we consider our pets family, they are legally considered property. So if you take your neighbor to court, you will recover the value of your dog, but not receive any compensation for emotional concerns.