Allow a half grown Boston Terrier pup to run loose during the day, then bring it in to sleep with their kid at night?
These same folks went on vacation for a week and left the dog roaming free.
I found the dog yesterday, and brought her home to keep her from becoming road pizza. I put out some posters this morning, and got a call this evening.
I gave the dog back, but I sure regret it.
What would you have done?
Next time I find her running loose, she is going to become MY DOG.
Doc
2008-07-26T22:37:42Z
Thanks folks!
I really appreciate y'all taking the time to share your thoughts, opinions, and knowledge.
I don't know what I'm going to do. No leash law in this podunk town, and no dog catcher. I think I will talk to the animal shelter though. I just don't want that sweet pup to get put down or run over.
BTW mindyerinn, we've been having record breaking highs and heat indexes here for the last week.
Doc
2008-07-28T22:02:16Z
I've gotten so many good and thoughtful answers, I'm going to leave Best Answer choice to the voters.
BTW Jonah, my flyer only said that I'd found a black and white dog and claimants would have to identify it.
bds2008-07-26T21:26:42Z
Favorite Answer
Well in some cases, finders keepers is a pretty good philosophy.
Protect yourself and Protect this furry kid. I would file a formal complaint with ASPCA. The shelter in your town should be able to give you some direction on how to do this. Though you don't have animal control in your town, is their a county animal control? You can also call the police department and file a complaint against the owners. If it is possible, I would make a little log with estimated dates that you have seen the pup running loose or left for days without care. A paper trail of neglect can be very helpful. Is there is anyone else in your neighborhood that would write a statement regarding the pup running loose? I can say that I would not blame you for wanting to keep the pup as you would be saving it's life. I would do the same. I do doubt that talking to them would do any good. If they cared about the pup they wouldn't let it run loose in the first place. If you do, in the future, rescue the pup, be prepared for the owners to fight you. That is why I would advise documenting as much as possible. Droolz and prayers that the pup stays safe.
Next time it comes through, take it to the animal shelter. THEN if the owners don't find it within 5 days (usually the amount of time before they can be adopted), u can adopt it. But u should call everyday to make sure that it wasn't retrieved, find out the date you can adopt it, and how early u can come in to get it on the day of adoption. Then get there as early as possible, fill out the papers, and pay for the dog. It usually doesn't cost much. Mine was $47! But that way if anything happens the dog is legally urs and there is nothing they can do about it!
I had a neighbor that was the same way they had a very sweet Chihuahua that was always out they did not give a rats a** about that dog I was always taking him back and telling them that he almost got hit by a car they said nothing just took the dog and shut the door the dog would be out again I called animal control when they arrived the dog would be back in the house. Animal control went and talked with them but it did no good the dog would be out again I called them again and was told that " We have talked with the owners and they said the dog is never out" so I took pictures and yet animal control did nothing.. My Aunt and Uncle had to have there Chihuahua put to sleep that the loved. My uncle saw the dog out one day and I told him about the dog and he said he was going to take the dog but I stopped him I did not want some one to see me take the dog and it get back to the owner.. Well to make a long story short I wish I would have let him take that poor dog he got hit by a car and was killed.
Truthfully it depends on the laws in your area. I ran into the same exact situation last December but it was with a full grown male German Shepherd. His owners let him run loose by their car at -45 degrees while they were driving drunk and on drugs all over town... literally he ran away from them over 4 times in just that month already and each time they got him back. So basically I found him the fifth time heard what had been going on and made him my dog.. but that only lasted two weeks until they put missing posters up and found out through a place that I use to work that I had him. I refused to give him up to them say that they were bad owners and they threatened to call the cops if I didn't give him. I had already done some research on it and I knew that they knew if I didn't give him up there could be some serious legal actions they could use against me and that in the end it would cost me a lot of money and time to fight my case and in the end they would still get him back because he was by all means theirs... I didn't find it worth it considering the fact that I was and still am pregnant.