“It’s a wasted opportunity where the family could have taught the kids to do the right thing despite their ‘feelings’”
Exactly. What about telling the kids they have a big responsibility, to take good care of a soldier’s dog until hopefully he makes it back home?
Great idea.
And of course from a legal point of view they didn't have a leg to stand on anyhow. A thief can never pass title - if you buy stolen property you have to give it back to the true owner and you don't get one thin dime. Your only recourse is against the thief.
I think I read somewhere that the soldier or someone on his behalf had to PAY the family to get the dog back. Which is just more despicable conduct on the part of the family.