Wish anyone who says "there is a law" would cite the law they are talking about. I am not finding ANY CA law that applies to this situation. In fact, one site, Lost Dog Laws , says: "Unlike cruelty laws or impound laws, no state appears to directly address the issue of lost pets in its statutory code. Indeed, while many states define dogs and cats as the personal property of their owners by statute, these states exclude domestic animals from their lost property statutes. This is ironic considering the understood value we place upon companion animals in our society and the level of regulation states apply to animals." I read through pages and pages of CA dog law and nowhere was it addressed about what is required when you find a stray.

I did find an article about a poor woman who recently tried to claim her dog after a micro chip scanning revealed it was hers. The clinic, unfortunately had given it back to the finder who now refuses to give it to the original owner. This is sad as in this case, the dog was stolen from her and she had police reports, receipts, dog records etc....and she truly missed her baby! But the law was not specific. Although on one hand dogs might be considered personal property, in other places domesticated animals are not. Without them falling under the personal proerty laws, there is no law governing them. Mother defends son for not returning found dog to original owner | abc7news.com

Bottom line, if a finder keeps a dog, it is up to the owner to actually take them to court and the police say it is a civil matter. I also found a case where the courts found in favor of the finder as they had done a good job of posting fliers and notifying authorities, then kept the dog and provided care for over 30 days. Basically the court found that they needed to encourage people to provide care for stray animals in need and penalize owners who did not meet basic safety and monitoring of their pets.

Here is a site that lists dogs lost by state. You might make a check of those Yorkies reported to make sure this little one is not on there: Fido Finder® - Where Lost Dogs Are Found

Here is some excellent advice to follow when finding a stray dog: Rescuers.com - Adoption Options for Stray Dogs It does include filing a "found dog" report with local animal control but taking to the pound is definately not on the list.

Another reason not to take him to the pound is that in CA it is law that all dogs must be spayed or neutered before they can be adopted out, unless the person signs that they will do so within 30 days and put down a deposit. Since your vet has said his prostrate and age preclude neutering him, I think that might create a problem. But then it did not sound like you were going to take the poor old guy to a pound anyway! :) Good heart!

I find it comical that someone can follow around and post after me, use my name over and over and over again in their posts, and then cry "foul" when I question a couple of their posts over the past few days. Sorry -- I just don't agree with the advice you gave here either.

Thanks for the information and the chuckle.

That's so sad! Makes a lot of people question why bother getting them chipped if that is the result. Is it a vet rule or law that all new dogs that come in to the any clinic to be scanned for the same reason? I think it should be just to be safe. Now if a chip is found, then the clinic should have held on to the dog. According to that report, it's a "rule of thumb" not a law that a dog should be given back. Just sad really.

If, Bentley has seen the vet, which I'm assuming he has by what the OP posted, shouldn't they have scanned him then?

Vets do not scan for microchips unless asked. The only way a chip is any good is if the person who finds the dog is honest and cares about returning the dog to the owner.

It is still better to chip. I cannot tell you how many dogs are found that are not chipped.

Mine is chipped, and wears ID tags. I want him home! It would be nice if they would just do a quick scan. Bella (my bf's sister's dog) would be home with her rightful owners, instead of having been bred twice. :(

I'm a little confused with the time line regarding when you found the little guy. You mentioned a month or two ago, then said he wasn't so bad about urinating in the house in the spring and that you thought it was because of the snow.

Either way, I would get him back to the vet. There has obviously been a change in his habits and the first place to start is with a physical exam. He could have a urinary tract infection, renal problems, or even cushings. And yes, it could be the snow, but you need to make sure there is nothing wrong with him.

Please keep us updated. It is very sweet of you to want to help this little guy. I love seniors, have four of my own.

This is what I did till Reggie stooped marking. Belly bands with disposable pads. I got the Walmart brand cheaper then Poise and I cut them to the size I needed.

Definitely try belly bands and diapers. You are so wonderful for wanting to keep this old guy. You are correct that if you turned him over to the pound and no one claimed him, he would be euthanized.

Please be sure to get your vet or local animal shelter to check and see if he's microchipped. It sounds highly unlikely that he belonged to someone, but you never know. If he wasn't neutered, he would have the urge to wander more than a neutered dog.

If accidents are still an issue, consider making him comfortable in a kitchen or someone else with tiled flooring (so that it's easier to clean up).

Assuming that there is no actual owner and this really is a stray, do what you can to convince your parents to keep him. I think it is so wonderful when people take in an older dog. You're doing such a wonderful thing :-)

I wondered this too.:confused: Thought maybe someone had brought back an old thread but it wasn't.

I agree with Jodi on both these points. I do think it is wonderful you want to help him and think you should keep him with you while you search for owners. There are also other things to consider as she mentioned.
You have to ask yourself what is best for him:)

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).

Here's the emails for questions about adoptions...please don't waste precious time of employees on silliness and just send an email that can be responded to when it is convenient...here's both agencies emails bferguson@co.humboldt.ca.us mountais@co.mendocino.ca.us

perhaps the owner let the dog go for a walk because it was old and had so many medical problems.
I am very surprised the vet didn't check for microchip or tattoos when you took the dog in.

There are a lot of wonderful people on YT who are involved in shelters and rescues the advice you will get will be sound and you should heed what they say.

All the best to you and I hope the owners did just lose him and he is lucky enough to be returned. It sounds like you are very worthy of keeping him though if you have no luck finding his family.

Gurl, are you here to help or be an adversary? :rolleyes: I personally am quite finished with you and your nonsense.

Oh, and no, gurl, I did not call anyone as I happen to know how things work at pounds. You advised the OP to take that poor senior pup to a pound......and I think that was totally disgusting advice. He would not get a dental there...the only thing he would get is sick and possibly euthanized.
One thing to advise someone to look for the owner, but the pound???? Oh, please, as you say about peoples' dogs being lost, I hope if mine are ever lost someone like you does not find them.

:thumbup:Amen

awww what a little cutie he is I just wanted to say ty for being a great person and doing what I wish many others would do for other strays out in the world

Thank you for caring about him.

i have not been on here in a while but i just wanted to inform everyone that once we took him to the vet, the first thing done was a microchip scan and none was be found. Do not worry:) I think he is getting worse recently he just stopped using all of ours steps, and for the first time tonight he did not try to jump out of the bathtub! And one more thing, his spine. It is very very very hunched up and i feel like it got worse. Is this ok? He is currently laying on my floor next to me shaking like a crazy man trying to go to sleep. He's such an old man but i love him! He's been very confused lately, he sleeps in a cage due to his peeing. When i let him out in the morning it takes at least 5 minutes to get him out because he is facing the back of the cage confused on where the opening is anymore!

It sounds like he needs to go in to the Vet's again. The not being able to get him to turn around in his crate could be from dementia, or it could be that the crate is too small and he's getting arthritic, so it's hard to move. The shaking could also be a sign of pain. Sorry the poor little guy is having a rough time.

Ah I just read everyone's posts and thank you all for all of the remarks! He does sleep an awful lot, usually gets up, goes pee outside, eats, and then repeats. I do NOT want to "PTS" as yous call it, because i never recall him crying or welping in pain, ever. He is a might trooper!! he hasn't been much of a nuisance with the peeeing everywhere in the house, his new thing is peeing in his bed. The only problem we have with him is how bad he smells from constantly peeing. PEE YOU. I'm definitley investing in some belly bands very very soon. I'm tired of going to vets because everyone gives me different ideas of his ages, his problems, and all their solution to everything is..Put him to sleep. NO. STOP. And i am sick of hearing it, he's blind and he pees, okay... does not mean I have to put him to sleep. I heard about pill that stop them from peeing.. is this true? Also poor Bentley one second he'll be sleeping then the next second you hear a big tumble; he has tried to climb up my three wood steps and failed miserably. I swear, this happens almost every day at least 3 times a day; although this has recently stopped and he gave up once and for all. Oh well in all Bentley is just being a little dog and click clacks through the house minding his own buisness. We made arrangments to get him fixed and once we got there they refused to do it because of how old he was and that he might of not been able to handle the ..anastesha? lol not sure how to spell it. But yes anyway i just gave him a bath tonight and his spine is absolutely absurd, you could see very little the liens of his spine through his skin; and i'll say, he has gained weight since i found him because he tires my hand out when i carry him! So he is not too skinny.:animal36

You know, not that i just read more about Dementia, it's describes him to. a. T.
Oh how I wish I knew sooner!!!!! I most definitely need to take him asap.

There is medicine to help with the dementia. Maybe you could try a little ramp for him to use instead of the stairs.

Aww bless your heart for taking Bentley in, it sounds like you are doing all that you can and I hope the Vet can determine what exactly is wrong. Best of luck and keep us updated!!

:thumbup::thumbup: Ask your vet about Anipryl for the dementia - it may be able to help. And ramps are a great suggestion! They helped my little Alexander and his arthritic legs get around so much better than he could with stairs.

Good luck, and please let us know what the vet says. :)

Bonny

It sounds as though you give him the best care that you can. He would probably not be in this world now if not for you. Bless you for having a big heart and caring for and about him. There is medication that can sometimes help with both dementia and lack of urinary control.

Bless you for caring for him.

Hi everyone. For the past two days Bentley has been walking in circles and sleeping all day. Today he refused to walk, could not stand up, and refused to eat. He was in the worst condition you could ever imagine. We took him straight to the vet.... he had cancer all through his little precious bodies and kidney failure; i hope he will remember me for loving him as much as i could! thank you everybody. I hope he sleeps better tonight and for the rest of eternity.:(

God bless and comfort you. You were his angel and he will lovingly greet you on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge someday.

Bless you for taking Bentley and loving and caring for him. Rest in Peace, Bentley.