Rats Stolen, What to charge with?

So long story short, my gf and i were told we had to get rid of our snakes and rats to stay in her fathers basement but up until this time it was ok. So we said we would move, 5 days later we went out for a weekend came back last night to find all my rat tanks opened and all my rats gone, my snakes were still around. Her ather "disposed" of the rats some place and wouldnt tell us, we called the police they came he has till tonight to get my animals back to me.

But im wondering what i can charge him with besides theft really,the officer we had come last night didnt really seem to care about ti was a part of my buisness and that they are live animals and actually require care and ive invested lots of time and money into there well beings. Officer just said he is going to get them tonight n we had to find a home for them else where till we move out, that isnt a problems but what is my animals were uthinized while out of my care? or i dont get the same animals back? i know they were all put in a large tub together (2 males 10 females) which is missing out of my room so ill have 4-7 preggo rats and i have 3 small sick ones in isolation now they all may become ill.

So what can i do how can i charge him? can i call like the local human society to see what i can do? Or like an animal officers like u see on tv?

In her dads basement?

Id say you better obey him until you have your own place

What state are you in. The only thing I can think of would be theft of property and maybe criminal mischief if something is damaged. But our laws may be different here in Arkansas. Here that would be civil and you would have to press the charges.

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I guess I think calling the cops is a bit extreme?
It is after all his house and he is kind enough to let you stay there with an animal, even more so snakes and rats. If he wants them gone then thats his prerogative. Is it wrong that he removed them himself? Yes.
But I just think calling the cops over 20 rats is a bit much. Be thankful your BPs are not harmed.
Maybe just communication and respect will work better to get your rats back then pressing charges. After all this is your gfs father and he will be in your life as long as your with this girl. This could put a huge dent in everyones relationships.

In most states animals are property so I would think theft of property to start with.

Im sure theres more to the story that made you call the police but this is just my two cents.

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Originally Posted by Akren_905

So what can i do how can i charge him? can i call like the local human society to see what i can do? Or like an animal officers like u see on tv?

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As for what to charge him with, nothing. You can't, there's no crime other than he told you to get rid of them, you didn't, he did.
So, in short, you're looking at what? $75?
Rats do not have any rights as far as criminal charges go, they are not protected under the AWA. Even if you tried, what would a judge say? So, he killed the rats that you regualary kill for food for your snakes...
I think it's time to move out and move on. Sorry to say...
His house, his rules. Deal with it...

Got my rats back thanks for the no support, not his house its his older fathers house, we were moving into our own house hopefully within the next month or so if all goes well. Im not going to defend my self for not being in the wrong. everything was fine and dany until about 2 weeks ago these rat were my breeders and apart of my own buisness which i have licensed. so if i sold and made guitar n he stolethem it would be all ok...?

He is being charged with theif, she is not longer talking to her father like the rest of the family no she was the last one. we moved in here to help him during the down turn a year ago. There is no back story besides there is no respect between him and I and never will be there is no reason behnd it just how he decided to treat me and the manner of how he talks to and treats his daughter and her other siblings.

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So what can i do how can i charge him? can i call like the local human society to see what i can do? Or like an animal officers like u see on tv?

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I guess it all depends how you value the relationship with your girlfriend's father :rolleyes:

If you want to make it a difficult relationship between him and you and possibly him and her go ahead :rolleyes: .....all that for 12 rats :O that be a way to show your gratitude to him for putting a roof over YOUR head.

He wanted the animal gone from HIS house they were still there, maybe he got a little impatient doubtful it is worthy of filing criminal charges.

It was not okay, and you did the right thing. He stole your property, and as such is charged with theft.

I agree with your actions, I'm just sorry it had to happen. I'm glad you got the rats back. When I read the part about him 'disposing of them' I had a sinking feeling that he might have done something awful to them. :tears:

I'm really glad it turned out better than I thought it might. Get a lock for your door or something, I guess.

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Originally Posted by Akren_905

Got my rats back thanks for the no support, not his house its his older fathers house, we were moving into our own house hopefully within the next month or so if all goes well. Im not going to defend my self for not being in the wrong. everything was fine and dany until about 2 weeks ago these rat were my breeders and apart of my own buisness which i have licensed. so if i sold and made guitar n he stolethem it would be all ok...?

He is being charged with theif, she is not longer talking to her father like the rest of the family no she was the last one. we moved in here to help him during the down turn a year ago. There is no back story besides there is no respect between him and I and never will be there is no reason behnd it just how he decided to treat me and the manner of how he talks to and treats his daughter and her other siblings.

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We all have our rats for our snakes and we all need them but they are cheap, what $5-10 a rat?
What kind of"business"did you need for 12 rats?
You using guitars as an example is a little different, guitars are worth hundreds of dollars a piece.
its just that most people wouldn't throw a huge fuss over a few cheap rats.
I think you did get some defense that sure you may be able to press charges but most people wouldn't given the circumstances.that's why you didn't get the "support"you were looking for

It's not your house. Sorry for "no support" but it's wrong to think that you can declare what you will or won't do in a house that's not yours.

He told you, and you said yourself it was five days, THEN you went away for a weekend. That's a week. It doesn't matter if it was "okay" before, he told you and you basically ignored it.

Yes, you can technically charge him with theft, it'd be petty theft because of the amount they're worth, but it's still theft. Same as if you rented a room and the landlord took a lamp that you owned.

By the law, it's theft. By common courtesy, you should have had the rats gone when requested. It doesn't matter if it's your "business" or your pets or your lamp. It's not your house and unless you have a contract that states you can keep them there in your rent agreement, you don't have a leg to stand on. It doesn't matter if the rest of the family doesn't like him, or your girlfriend is on your side. It's common courtesy to comply when you're not the property owner.

I'm sure you and your girlfriend will be happier and less stressed in your own place. It's always easier when you can make your own rules because it's your own place.

It isn't the fathers house either, There was no timeline on when to get rid of the rats, from how it reads the father was being a jerk, I'd have his ass locked up charged with everything I could!
Glad you got your rats back.

Yeah, if you notice the OP's comment, it's not the father's house.

I don't know about you, but I consider $5-$10 to be kinda expensive..

Let's just remember the childhood lesson, "two wrongs don't make a right"....

No, I saw it's not the father's house, it's the father's father's house, so he's still got more "claim" than the boyfriend, who is just staying there with his girlfriend. A family home, not HIS house.

It's still his place of residence though, he has lived there over a year. I just wonder if it were something of material value and not just rats would people be singing a different tune.
The bottom line is the father has no right to put his hands on/dispose of property that was not his, period.

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Originally Posted by Rhasputin

Yeah, if you notice the OP's comment, it's not the father's house.

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He only added that after people started commenting. It was not in the orginal post. "her fathers basement" is whats in the orginal post.

imho if you have someone living in your home you have no right to the "tenants" property.
regardless of who's house it is he stole and removed your property. i personally would of handled in a different manner other than calling the cops. as long as you are with his daughter he will be in your life. i usually choose to take the path that will make my life easier and stress free. so i would just do what it takes to not piss him off and still come to an understanding somehow.
adam jeffery

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Originally Posted by lasweetswan

Let's just remember the childhood lesson, "two wrongs don't make a right"....

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...just makes a left turn! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! :D

So, now that you have the rats back, are you gonna get rid of them? :D

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Originally Posted by Akren_905

So what can i do how can i charge him? can i call like the local human society to see what i can do? Or like an animal officers like u see on tv?

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In my understanding of the law the victim doesn't have a say in what criminal charges are filed. That's based on the available evidence and what the police think the person can be charged with. But with certain things the victim can push for charges to be filed or not filed. Like others have said it's probably "petty theft". You can file a civil suit if you want to go down that road. As for the humane society or whatever else; have the animals been harmed? If not then they probably won't care.

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Originally Posted by babyknees

In my understanding of the law the victim doesn't have a say in what criminal charges are filed. That's based on the available evidence and what the police think the person can be charged with. But with certain things the victim can push for charges to be filed or not filed. Like others have said it's probably "petty theft". You can file a civil suit if you want to go down that road. As for the humane society or whatever else; have the animals been harmed? If not then they probably won't care.

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The funny thing about this whole issue is, he thinks that he can get animal cruelty charges on animals that he raises to feed to snakes. Kind of an oxymoron is it not???
A cop probalby wouldn't do anything, they are considered pests. They don't fall under any protection from the AWA...

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Originally Posted by mues155

Maybe just communication and respect will work better to get your rats back then pressing charges. After all this is your gfs father and he will be in your life as long as your with this girl. This could put a huge dent in everyones relationships.

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^THIS x1000. Why create more drama then there already is?

I'm sorry that even though you MOVED IN TO HIS HOUSE TO HELP HIM OUT he feels the need to do this to you.

Unfortunately people are users.

I take it he couldn't afford the house anymore and you guys moved in, in order to help him make payments to keep the house out of foreclosure?

I'm glad you got the rats back. I think I would definitely pursue charged just to prove a point, but I'm like that.

I don't like people taking advantage of me

I know rats are cheap but I also know how hard it is to pay for somthing when funds tight ( reason I breed mine since on a fixed/limited income) I can see if his side if they smelled a lot ( i know mine rats can make a huge sting some times in no time at all. ) I also been told to reduce/get rid of a animal due ot the temperment or mess they made.