Needs advice for close friends, possible dog scammers - YorkieTalk.com Forums

buffy16938 · 07-03-2009, 09:32 AM

Last week we had a lady visit our door with a lost dog, she had found is the day before, she said she was unable to take care of it, so we took it in to help look for the owners. This poor dog was the same dog my mom saw 4 weeks earlier but was unable to get him to come to her, he was all skin and bones and was also unneutered, and is a fairly expensive small breed. We took him to the vets, there was no tag, no microchip, tried to find the owners, called multiple vets, looked on craiglist, drove around to look for signs (there were none).

A close friend of our family came over and visited with us, feel in love with the dog, and we thought that the dog would have a wonderful life with her family. After he had been there about 5 days, people came to there door and said they wanted their dog back. Could no tell us how they got the address (though I wonder about the lady we originally met..). They produced "paperwork" which was the dog purchase agreement, in writing, no receipt on it. ALso, there was a rabies tag copy from last year (2008) and a picture of a dog at 5 months old from last march, and proof of rabies shot from last march. The papertrail ends there, also no receipts whatsoever showing money spent. This dog is.... checked by two vets around 2 years old. And the picture of the dog on the paper, is a slightly different color, and the dog does not respond to the name the owners told us it was, to which the lady told me "it dunt matta."

The police were called, the people left and now a few days later, a handwritten civil suit arrived at my friends door for the dog to be returned and payment of legal costs. I'm sorry this is so long, but I don't have a lot of knowledge on legal matters, and dog legal matters are even harder to figure out. I was wondering if anyone knew if after making an effort to find the owners, how long is it until the dog can be considered another owners? He is well taken care of now, eating 3 meals a day to put on weight, he has all his shots, he is neutered and microchipped. I just feel awful because it is because of me that my friends are having to go through this. And the worst part is that this dog is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever met. If anyone has any advice I would really appreciate it.

Judy in Waco · 07-03-2009, 10:07 AM

Oh wow. I'm so sorry, but I have no advice. Hopefully, someone else will.

How do the people who claim to be the original owners know this is their dog?

I think I would contact the local animal shelter or rescue and see if they know of a lawyer your friends could consult with.

Do you think the dog might have been mistreated or just got away from the original owners? If you don't suspect abuse, I think I would tend to side with the people claiming to be the original owners. That's a lot to go through. Will they settle for getting the dog back?

buffy16938 · 07-03-2009, 10:14 AM

I'm not really sure this is their dog. He doesn't respond to that name, and all the shots and paperwork end at march 2008....for all I know they could have sold their dog. This dog is a bit different looking and has some black on his face on both sides, that dog had none. I'm just concerned these people wanted to breed the dog, or sell it themselves. They came the door and said we want our dog back, give us back our dog. That was it, no concern or anything for him. They also said their dog got out tuesday, and this one was found on monday. These people originally contacted my mom, and she caught them in a lie, they said the vet place we took him contacted them telling them they saw their dog. My mom called the vet, we know them pretty well, and they said they called no one and would have called us or told us when we were there about the owners. This is just turning into such a strange situation, they don't have any financial support for this being their dog, some written things, but they could have been made up. There are no actual receipts from buying the dog, or going to a vet.

Judy in Waco · 07-03-2009, 11:40 AM

I would consult with a lawyer. Wow.

2Parises · 07-03-2009, 11:51 AM

That's Crazy... I hope someone can help you so they don't have to give the dog back. Like the other poster said...get in contact with the Humane Society. I'm sure they have some experience with this kind of thing since they place so many dogs.

mojo · 07-03-2009, 08:39 PM

I am all for a dog going back to it's original owner (if it wasn't abused or whatnot), BUT this doesn't sound right! Please don't hand the dog over to them.
If it were one of my dogs and I showed up at your house, my dog would be freaking out, would know me, would respond.

spr377 · 07-03-2009, 08:53 PM

Isn't there some saying "possession is 9/10's of the law"? They will have to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it's their dog......I'm sure if you follow through with contacting a lawyer, these people will drop it. They aren't going to want to spend the money on going to court.....call their bluff and I'm sure they will be history!! Good luck!

mojo · 07-03-2009, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spr377

Isn't there some saying "possession is 9/10's of the law"? They will have to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it's their dog......I'm sure if you follow through with contacting a lawyer, these people will drop it. They aren't going to want to spend the money on going to court.....call their bluff and I'm sure they will be history!! Good luck!

Good one - agreed!

lillymae · 07-03-2009, 10:06 PM

Dogs are considered property. Did you run an add in the lost & found? The law varies from state to state, But legally when you find a dog you are required by law to run an add in the news paper for a certain length of time. Call your local police dept or shelter and they can answer that for you. If you have run the add for the legal length of time and no one responded to the add then legally the dog belongs to you.

livingdustmops · 07-04-2009, 07:27 AM

Texas Consolidated Dog Laws

What town are you in?

07-03-2009, 09:32 AM	#1
buffy16938 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tx, USA Posts: 68	Needs advice for close friends, possible dog scammers Last week we had a lady visit our door with a lost dog, she had found is the day before, she said she was unable to take care of it, so we took it in to help look for the owners. This poor dog was the same dog my mom saw 4 weeks earlier but was unable to get him to come to her, he was all skin and bones and was also unneutered, and is a fairly expensive small breed. We took him to the vets, there was no tag, no microchip, tried to find the owners, called multiple vets, looked on craiglist, drove around to look for signs (there were none). A close friend of our family came over and visited with us, feel in love with the dog, and we thought that the dog would have a wonderful life with her family. After he had been there about 5 days, people came to there door and said they wanted their dog back. Could no tell us how they got the address (though I wonder about the lady we originally met..). They produced "paperwork" which was the dog purchase agreement, in writing, no receipt on it. ALso, there was a rabies tag copy from last year (2008) and a picture of a dog at 5 months old from last march, and proof of rabies shot from last march. The papertrail ends there, also no receipts whatsoever showing money spent. This dog is.... checked by two vets around 2 years old. And the picture of the dog on the paper, is a slightly different color, and the dog does not respond to the name the owners told us it was, to which the lady told me "it dunt matta." The police were called, the people left and now a few days later, a handwritten civil suit arrived at my friends door for the dog to be returned and payment of legal costs. I'm sorry this is so long, but I don't have a lot of knowledge on legal matters, and dog legal matters are even harder to figure out. I was wondering if anyone knew if after making an effort to find the owners, how long is it until the dog can be considered another owners? He is well taken care of now, eating 3 meals a day to put on weight, he has all his shots, he is neutered and microchipped. I just feel awful because it is because of me that my friends are having to go through this. And the worst part is that this dog is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever met. If anyone has any advice I would really appreciate it.

07-03-2009, 10:07 AM	#2
Judy in Waco Gizzy & Kandi spoil me Donating Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Waco, Texas Posts: 8,477	Oh wow. I'm so sorry, but I have no advice. Hopefully, someone else will. How do the people who claim to be the original owners know this is their dog? I think I would contact the local animal shelter or rescue and see if they know of a lawyer your friends could consult with. Do you think the dog might have been mistreated or just got away from the original owners? If you don't suspect abuse, I think I would tend to side with the people claiming to be the original owners. That's a lot to go through. Will they settle for getting the dog back? __________________ The fullness of our heart is expressed in our eyes, in our touch, in what we write, in what we say, in the way we walk, the way we receive, the way we need. -Mother Teresa ( RIP Gizmo 3/9/07-8/18/12)

07-03-2009, 11:40 AM	#4
Judy in Waco Gizzy & Kandi spoil me Donating Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Waco, Texas Posts: 8,477	I would consult with a lawyer. Wow. __________________ The fullness of our heart is expressed in our eyes, in our touch, in what we write, in what we say, in the way we walk, the way we receive, the way we need. -Mother Teresa ( RIP Gizmo 3/9/07-8/18/12)

07-03-2009, 11:51 AM	#5
2Parises Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 951	That's Crazy... I hope someone can help you so they don't have to give the dog back. Like the other poster said...get in contact with the Humane Society. I'm sure they have some experience with this kind of thing since they place so many dogs. __________________ Lorene, Paris, Paris, Samira, Aja and the newest addition to our family... Halle Belly Bands & Rag Quilts - http://2Parises.etsy.com

07-03-2009, 08:39 PM	#6
mojo Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Here, there Posts: 2,693	I am all for a dog going back to it's original owner (if it wasn't abused or whatnot), BUT this doesn't sound right! Please don't hand the dog over to them. If it were one of my dogs and I showed up at your house, my dog would be freaking out, would know me, would respond. __________________ Bella (I miss you) Sachi Emmy

07-03-2009, 10:14 AM	#3
buffy16938 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tx, USA Posts: 68	I'm not really sure this is their dog. He doesn't respond to that name, and all the shots and paperwork end at march 2008....for all I know they could have sold their dog. This dog is a bit different looking and has some black on his face on both sides, that dog had none. I'm just concerned these people wanted to breed the dog, or sell it themselves. They came the door and said we want our dog back, give us back our dog. That was it, no concern or anything for him. They also said their dog got out tuesday, and this one was found on monday. These people originally contacted my mom, and she caught them in a lie, they said the vet place we took him contacted them telling them they saw their dog. My mom called the vet, we know them pretty well, and they said they called no one and would have called us or told us when we were there about the owners. This is just turning into such a strange situation, they don't have any financial support for this being their dog, some written things, but they could have been made up. There are no actual receipts from buying the dog, or going to a vet.

07-03-2009, 08:53 PM	#7
spr377 Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 2,015	Isn't there some saying "possession is 9/10's of the law"? They will have to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it's their dog......I'm sure if you follow through with contacting a lawyer, these people will drop it. They aren't going to want to spend the money on going to court.....call their bluff and I'm sure they will be history!! Good luck! __________________ Piper Leo Baby Piccolo

07-03-2009, 10:06 PM	#9
lillymae YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 4,544	Property Dogs are considered property. Did you run an add in the lost & found? The law varies from state to state, But legally when you find a dog you are required by law to run an add in the news paper for a certain length of time. Call your local police dept or shelter and they can answer that for you. If you have run the add for the legal length of time and no one responded to the add then legally the dog belongs to you.

07-04-2009, 07:27 AM	#10
livingdustmops Princess Poop A Lot Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 6,728	Texas Animal Laws Texas Consolidated Dog Laws What town are you in? __________________ Cindy & The Rescued Gang Puppies Are Not Products!