Ex husband is trying to take back the dogs

My ex husband got our dogs in the divorce. He decided to sell his house and said he didn't want the dogs and then he gave them to me. I have been taking care of them and paying their medical bills since the summer started. Now when he picked up my son tonight he said that he was going to be taking them back. You have to understand that he didn't take good care of the dogs at all. My 3 year old son is really attached to the dogs and I believe he is only doing it to hurt me. He is a really mean person and was recently put in jail for threatening to kill me. Is he able to just take them back?

Unfortunately, he did get them in the divorce, so he can take them back... You can request that he pays for the vet's bills and if he refuses, then, sue him in small claims court to recover the costs.

Or maybe he gifted them to you after the divorce, and now he has no claim to them. On what terms did he give you the dogs?

He said that he couldn't take care of them because the house was for sale and to come and pick them up from him. If he wanted them he could have taken care of them while the house was for sale since he wasn't working. He has had no interest in seeing them for the past 5 months and all of a sudden he changed his mind and wants them back. I was under the impression that this was permanent. I didn't get anything signed from him unfortunately.

If you want to take a stand about it, tell him you consider that he gave you the dogs permanently, and if he wants them back he can sue for them in small claims court. If it comes to it, it sounds like it will be difficult to prove what his intentions were either way. I would not be surprised if he succeeded. Presutin is correct, though, if he does get the dogs back you should be reimbursed for your expenses.