Lady, did you bother to call and get the answer on dentals-it's not extreme care, consists of basics like teeth removal etc-did you want to post you were able to verify what I said? Ukiah Animal Wellness Center ask for Sage she's the head of adoptions and has been there years...707-467-6453...Humboldt County Animal Control (707) 840-9132 ask fo rB.
You may be better off not wasting their time though and sending an email since everyone is very busy here's the sites to use the contact us since you aren't actually interested in adoption or donation, simply contacting them to prove,well prove what I already said...silly really, but you can also just look at the site under adoptions and see all an adopted dog will come with (microchip, spayed, shots etc.)
Humboldt County Sheriff's Office : Mendocino County — Health & Human Services Agency — Animal Care Services
As far as laws, I've never seen the exact law but had animal control and the police department tell me about it...had to do with
dogs being considered property, possession of stolen property for the one where the couple found the dog thought it was a stray and later someone registered it as the stole dogs-was in the newspaper, as I said I can't find and online article for it...I doubt they would have been in real trouble but apparently there was some kind of legal trouble they could have been in-not sure exactly what it was off hand
As far as the "law regarding found animals" I'd be repeating what I was told so...hmmmm I'm going to actually ask what the exact civil code
(etc.) is when I'm at animal control next week and I'll post about it then...then again it would be a CA code and
as I said everyone should check their own areas and know their own laws,regulations...morality...
Sad all these people (not to denote the commendable job of the OP taking care of this dog) have no issue with a dog being found and little done to find and owner...hope none of you ever lose your baby and someone finds your dog...and then follows your advice...karma can be huh well karma...Taking inventory of how the dog appears to one person, as I said it could be a rescue, a foster, could have been stolen then dumped, you never know-you are just assuming...until you know.
As far as vets scanning dogs I don't think they do it unless asked during regular or establishing visits, I was just noting vets that off the service of implanting chips will scan for one when a dog is found...its part of the service anyone can call in and say "hey I found a dog can when can I bring it in to scan it" when I did that on a monday (animal control was closed) they scanned, gave me the allowed information for the owner, asked my name and phone number and said WOW one of our patients, have a good day...kinda scary they just sent the dog back with me...right out the door...(should I post a reference for that also so it can be verified-why not Sunny Brae Animal Clinic (707) 822-5124-dog was named Angel Rose I'm sure they'll remember).