YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - a little advice here: missing pet long story...

Jokerman · 08-22-2008, 10:31 AM

I have to agree that I would probably try to get my dog back, mainly because of experiences I had with animal shelters in the past. Twice in the 70's and 80's, I had dogs placed through (the same) animal shelter, and I was lied to about my dogs ever being there, while I was frantically trying to find them. The first time was an Afghan hound, who was placed with a friend of a person who worked at the shelter, and the shelter denied the dog had ever been there. The only way I found him was because someone at my job approached me and told me they knew who had my dog, because Afghans were so uncommon in the area I lived in. The second time it was the same thing, only with a Cocker Spaniel. Both dogs were expensive, quality dogs, and were placed with friends of people working at the shelter, and both times the shelter denied ever having my dogs in the first place. The only way I got my cocker back was by running an ad in the newspaper saying, "Needs medical attention". She really didn't, I just knew that gave me a better chance of recovering my dog. The dog was found living 20 miles from my home, and there is no way I ever would have found her if not for that newspaper ad, and the new owner worrying that she might die from needing medical attention.

I was young and inexperienced at the time, and let the animal shelter get away with giving away my dogs and lying about it, while I was desperately trying to find them. I did write a letter to the editor of the newspaper, but nothing came of it. If this happened to me in now, I would raise all kinds of He!! about it, and make sure someone at the shelter lost their job over giving away lost pets the day they came in, and hiding it from the true owners.

I'm really sorry about you losing your dog, but glad at least it found a great home as a therapy dog. The new owners obviously love it. I hope you are able to do what feels best for you. Quite frankly, I feel if you are able to get the dog back, it will most likely bond with you very quick and forget the old owners in a short period of time. I have bought adult dogs whom within six months barely knew their old owners, and even barked at them when they came to visit at a later date. For you though, I would hope maybe your dog's new owners might help you in purchasing a new puppy if they are allowed to keep your old dog. I know I would if I were in their shoes.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

08-22-2008, 10:31 AM	#30
Jokerman Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: OK Posts: 136	I have to agree that I would probably try to get my dog back, mainly because of experiences I had with animal shelters in the past. Twice in the 70's and 80's, I had dogs placed through (the same) animal shelter, and I was lied to about my dogs ever being there, while I was frantically trying to find them. The first time was an Afghan hound, who was placed with a friend of a person who worked at the shelter, and the shelter denied the dog had ever been there. The only way I found him was because someone at my job approached me and told me they knew who had my dog, because Afghans were so uncommon in the area I lived in. The second time it was the same thing, only with a Cocker Spaniel. Both dogs were expensive, quality dogs, and were placed with friends of people working at the shelter, and both times the shelter denied ever having my dogs in the first place. The only way I got my cocker back was by running an ad in the newspaper saying, "Needs medical attention". She really didn't, I just knew that gave me a better chance of recovering my dog. The dog was found living 20 miles from my home, and there is no way I ever would have found her if not for that newspaper ad, and the new owner worrying that she might die from needing medical attention. I was young and inexperienced at the time, and let the animal shelter get away with giving away my dogs and lying about it, while I was desperately trying to find them. I did write a letter to the editor of the newspaper, but nothing came of it. If this happened to me in now, I would raise all kinds of He!! about it, and make sure someone at the shelter lost their job over giving away lost pets the day they came in, and hiding it from the true owners. I'm really sorry about you losing your dog, but glad at least it found a great home as a therapy dog. The new owners obviously love it. I hope you are able to do what feels best for you. Quite frankly, I feel if you are able to get the dog back, it will most likely bond with you very quick and forget the old owners in a short period of time. I have bought adult dogs whom within six months barely knew their old owners, and even barked at them when they came to visit at a later date. For you though, I would hope maybe your dog's new owners might help you in purchasing a new puppy if they are allowed to keep your old dog. I know I would if I were in their shoes. Good luck in whatever you decide.