Who owns Ronnie the corgi?
Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) member Deanna Rivers decided Monday, March 24 that, on a balance of probabilities, Kiara Lynn Wall owned the dog, not her former roommate.
Angeline Rose Lewington claimed Wall took Ronnie and applied to the CRT for the dog’s return or payment of $850. Wall responded by saying she bought the dog and is the sole owner.
The March 24 decision by Rivers said the law recognizes pets as personal property, but the test of ownership depends on multiple factors.
Rivers said both parties agreed Wall contacted the breeder to see the puppy on April 27, 2023 and they both went to see the puppy two days later. But they disagreed on the other factors.
Rivers decided it was more likely than not that Wall paid for Ronnie, based on a May 1, 2023 $200 e-transfer deposit to the breeder and a further $600 payment on May 13, 2023.
Lewington submitted evidence of e-transfers around the same time to Wall totalling $905, of which $55 was for money owed to Wall.
Rivers determined Lewington brought Ronnie to veterinary appointments until Wall moved out. Wall was his primary caregiver, but there was no persuasive evidence of who paid for the care while they lived together.
Additionally, Ronnie has lived with Wall since November 2023 and Wall has been fully responsible since then.
“Based on the above factors, I find that (Lewington]) has not proved it is more likely than not that she is Ronnie’s owner,” Rivers wrote.
Rivers decided that, based on the evidence, Wall transferred money to the breeder to acquire Ronnie. Lewington, rather than Wall, took Ronnie to veterinary appointments at Prince George Veterinary Hospital, but there was no persuasive evidence of who paid for those appointments.
“However, I find it is equally likely that the applicant brought Ronnie to his veterinary appointments because she was the owner, or that she did so to enable the respondent to obtain the employee discount,” Rivers wrote.
Lewington is identified as a veterinary assistant on the website for Fear Free Pets, which offers online courses for animal wellbeing.
While both parties cared for and spent time with Ronnie, the kennel was in Wall’s room, so Rivers found it more likely than not that Wall was the primary caregiver while she lived with Lewington.
Rivers did not award reimbursement or costs to either party.
