Say Client A adopts a cat from the shelter. Suppose this person is like me and waits about a year to have the cat chipped. At that point, the cat is scanned and a chip is found. Ok, legally the animal *is* Client B's but does the vet have the right to "hold" the cat until contact w/ Client B is established? What if contact is never established?

I wonder what the vet can and cannot legally do - not just in this situation but in all situations.