Need help asap
 

Can someone contact me about the ins and outs of rescues and the laws regarding ownership of dogs?

My moms friends husband was in a car accident and rolled his car 4 times Sunday morning. His neck is broke in 2 places. She offered me her 1 1/2 yr old yorkie because she is unable to take care of her and will be unable to even more now. My mom and I drove out to get her Sunday evening, but she was nowhere to be found. Fast forward to yesterday afternoon and my mom tells me she found out the little girl is in a no kill shelter in a town close to where the lady lives.

I called to find out what I needed to do to get her and whoever answered the phone told me the "dog was released to me by an individual, and she is now my property.". I explained that the person who brought her in didn't have the right to release her, and that we would like to get her back. She then told me "shes my property now and if you'd like her, you can fill out an application and if you're approved, pay the adoption fee and come get her. She'll be spayed next week, so she won't be ready until then. She's already in our system, and there's nothing you or the original owner can do".

Is this normal protocol?

So, I can go get anyone's dog, release it to a shelter or pound and the owner isn't allowed to get the dog back? It becomes shelter property?

No, that would theft.

I don't understand, who turned the dog over to the shelter?

My Prayers are with the family that the husband will not have any permanent damage to his neck. Hope you can find the owner and the dog.

A neighbor I think. The manager (I got an email from her) said that someone dropped Tinkerbell off and told her, you take her or I'm going to shoot her. My moms friend said she was in the backyard. He had his accident at 9 am Sunday, and we went out to get her around 7 pm and she wasn't in the yard, so I imagine she got out because no one was home to feed her or let her back in, and went looking for her people. The manager said she was matted and had burrs in her hair.

So, what do I need to do? Mom and I are trying to help handle this because this girl has so much on her plate with her husband being in the hospital and might never walk again!
I called the police in that town and they referred me to the humane society. Human society didn't answer.

Have the friend, the dog owner, go to the shelter and claim her dog. Then she can hand the dog over to you.

I am very sorry for her husband, but there is no excuse for leaving the dog outside unattended.

Worse case scenario, you can pay the shelter the adoption fee. You would have to pay for the spay anyway.

The original owner of the dog needs to file a police report for theft and have them go with her to the shelter.

I agree. The dog shouldn't have been left outside unattended, but I can also understand rushing out the door when you get a call that your husband has been careflighted to a hospital after rolling a vehicle 4 times, swerving to avoid hitting a deer.

Although a horrible and frightening situation, I would not forget about my doggies, just like I wouldn't forget a child unable to protect themselves. I have been in the situation of receiving very bad news.

She should retrieve her dog from the shelter. That is the only way.

Do you know for sure the shelter has her dog?

This is what she is doing. At the least, it will keep the shelter from rehoming the dog until it's resolved. She has to go in person or have them come to her home though. She's in Dallas at parkland hospital and lives in Greenville. They won't take a report over the phone.
Jana (moms friend) was told by a neighbor (not sure if it's the person who took tinker bell into the shelter or a different person) that tinker bell had been taken to the shelter and told her where.
When I told the manager she was a 1 1/2 yr old female yorkie, she said yes.
At this point, I am betting it's tinker bell.

I agree with you. *I* would make sure my dogs were taken care of before walking out the door. It only takes seconds to put them in their pen and make sure they have food and water. And I have friends and family I could rely to check on them frequently if I weren't able to get back home.

And yes, I would pay for the spay anyway but it would have been from a vet I know and trust, and could also be put on my pet credit card which earns me points lol.

Good luck with this. Sounds like a nightmare. Make sure you're talking to the supervisor at animal control. Also, the owner should call AC and say the dog was stolen. Ridiculous. Let us know how it works out.

I'd be worried because Yorkies typically don't last long in the shelter. Someone will adopt in no time.

Whoever you spoke to at the shelter is WRONG. If you find a lost dog it is just that LOST. There is a legal length of time the dog needs to be held prior to being placed for adoption. Do you know what the time frame in your area is? The shelter needs to follow the laws on the books regarding lost dogs. Usually it is somewhere between 3 and 5 days.

What shelter is the dog at and what township is the shelter located within? From your time frame it seems that the dog was only at the shelter for less than 24 hours.

Regardless of what the neighbor of the owner threatened to do to the dog (what to total POS this guy was) the dog was lost and from your time frame less than 24 hours. The owner has a right to claim it within the time frame set by law. If it is not claimed within that time then yes it can be adopted out.

I am so sorry for the accident the happened how horribly tragic they are going through this. :( Then to add to the situation this happening to their pet.

Is this the shelter you contacted? I would not make phone call. You need to go directly to the shelter and speak to the director.


Greenville Humane Society

This is taken directly from the site.

Greenville Humane Society

This dog is not an owner surrender and was a stray. The owner has 5 days by state law to claim the dog. Whoever you spoke with is misinformed of the laws of the state of Texas. If they will not give the dog back to the owner then if it were me I would stand right at the shelter and call the Greenville Police Department.

I'm impressed! You are definitely at the top of my list the next time I need to get to the bottom of something!!