Originally Posted by 6lbs of Trouble  Hello All,
I am a new Yorkie owner, so I am also new to this forum, but I really need some advice.
About 3 weeks ago I was given a 3-4 year old Yorkie, that I named Murphy, by a woman who is a family friend.
She had a met woman who found the dog wondering the streets and took him to a vets office to see if he was chipped. The dog wasn't chipped, so he stayed at the vets office for 4 days while they searched for the owner. When his owner wasn't located the woman who found him called my friend and my friend paid to adopt the dog. Sadly because her cat didn't like him she wasn't able to keep the dog and she gave him to me.
Murphy had lived with me for about a week when I came across an ad on Craigslist posted by a woman who lost her dog in January about 45 miles from where my dog had been found. Although I had my doubts that this was her dog, I couldn't dismiss the similarities in appearance so I called her and said I may have found her dog. She said her dog had not been altered at the time of his disappearance, and when I told her that Murphy was neutered she said someone could have found him and taken him to have it done after he got out and asked if she could come see him anyway. She came out immediately to see the dog, but he didn't seem to recognize her at all and she left agreeing this probably wasn't her dog.
Later that day she called my house and asked me several questions, I was accommodating because I know how difficult it is to lose a dog. She also asked if I would be willing to take him to a vet to check the surgical scar and see if the alteration was recent. I said I would do it if she paid for the vet visit.
Between the time that I first met her and now she has called my house several times, regardless of the fact that I asked her not to call. And she sent about a dozen irrational emails. She said that if I couldn't afford to take the dog to the vet, how can I afford to take care of him? I told her I can afford it, but this is not a necessary vet visit for the dog's health, and that she was the one who wanted the visit so she should have to pay for it. And BTW who is she to talk, her dog wasn't fixed or chipped which she told me was because she couldn't afford it.
On MOTHERS DAY she called (at 9:00 on a Sunday morning), and emailed, again asking me to go that day to a vet with her. I told her absolutely not, it was Mothers Day and I had plans, but I would go during the week. She works until 6 and the only day she was able to go to the vet was on Wed. (tomorrow). I told her on Monday that I wouldn't know if I was available on Wed. until today. She then asked if I would allow her to come get Murphy and take him to the vet without me! Again I said absolutely not! There was no way I was giving this woman my home address, let alone giving her my dog!
She wrote several rude emails saying that I was "putting her off because I didn't want to know the truth". So I called this morning and told her I was not going with her to the vet because she had been so rude and inconsiderate. I told her stop calling and I wished her luck finding her dog.
When I got home from work this evening my local police department called and said she had called them and claimed that I had stolen her dog! I explained the situation to police officer who called my house and even she thought the situation was ridiculous, but she requested that I do meet this lady at the vet tomorrow in order to get this settled once and for all. I agreed to do it because I figure it's the best way to get this woman off my back.
Like I said before I don't believe this her dog, after seeing more pictures there are several differences between Murphy and her dog. But I will admit that I am a little nervous that if we go to the vet and the scar is new (after all I have no idea what this dog's medical history is) that she will have the right to take my dog. I will say that if the vet can not prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is her dog I will not give him up.
Does anyone know what my rights are in this situation? Who does the dog belong to? What should I do??? The police officer said I had no legal obligation to go the vet, but that if I chose not to that this woman could pursue legal action.
The whole situation makes me so mad, I was honestly trying to do the right thing when I called her. I just want what is best for the dog.
I am sucker for a helpless animal, this is not the first stray dog I have opened my home to and I am sure it won't be that last, but this nightmare will probably make me more careful when contacting possible owners in the future.
Any advice would be helpful. Thanks! |