Thank you. She is the sweetest thing and is great with my girls.

The scary thing is she wasn't wondering on the side of the road but down the middle. I stopped my car in the middle of the road and stopped a van coming in the other direction so she didn't get hit.

I love the pattern of color on her body, it seems very unique to me.

What a special beautiful girl!

Need advice... I got an email today in response to my craigs list add. Its a woman that asked "Do you stil have yorkie" And that is it no description and no pictures which I had clearly stated in my add I would want in order to find the owner. I had a woman email me a couple weeks ago and the dog she claims to had lost was clearly not the little girl I found. She kept calling and emailing me with excuses on why the pictures would look different then my dog and kept wanting to meet to look at the dog because she would know for sure. I wasn't comfertable with that because I could see her claiming she was hers and it not being. So I eventually told her that I found the owner (a big lie but the dog she says she lost was a completely different color and size so I was confidant that this wasn't her dog and the woman made me very uncomfertable). So now to the point. How do I respond to this woman? What if its that lady again using a different email address or her sister? The reason I am so suspitious of this email is the bluntness of it. Most people that have emailed me have provided pictures and discriptions of there dogs and the emails you can tell from the way they word them they are pleading and hopeful that I have found their dog (I don't know if that makes sense but that is the best way I can discribe it). I also don't want to just blow off this woman if it turns out she is the real owner. Thank you for your advise.

Oh, she is a little beauty! I'm so happy she's found you whether it ends up temporary or permanent. At least we know she safe and well loved, no matter what. Thank you for that. :)

I think I would reply with a non-answer, but something that invites more conversation. Something simple and to the point like "Is your dog missing?". If she answers yes, you can ask for more information. If not, you know it's probably someone wanting a free yorkie.

Good luck, and hugs for you both!
Bonny

Just repeat what you said in your ad, have her describe the Yorkie including sex, and send a picture, and give a name. The name can give you so much information. Keep your responses as generic as possible. Don't give out information, "No, I'm sorry, but the dog you describe is different than the dog I found." If they insist on more information, think of a few statements that you can give to them, for example, "I’m sorry, I can't help you, good luck finding your dog." You can repeat that over and over, like a form letter. Don't be tempted to give them lies, this will just come back to haunt you. You also don't have to respond to them at all if you think they are coming on too strong. I do think many people would be half crazy, so I can understand some of the sentiment, but I don't think a person who lost her Yorkie would willingly accept another found dog, unless she was some type of broker or worse. Your job first is to protect the dog.

Definitely I would not give out any information when 'terms' have already been stipulated. I agree...sounds like they are fishing for information. If the dog is theirs, they should be happy to provide proof of ownership as you requested. If they are unwilling or unable to provide specifics about the dog...and that response does not even claim they lost a dog...only asks if you still have it, I'd not waste a lot of time communicating with them, and ignore their email if necessary without worrying about alienating them. My only loyalty would be to the Yorkie...who is so cute!!! She looks so much happier and content in this photo...like she belongs! Whatever happens, it looks like she will be in good hands if she stays with you furever. :D

It is probably the usual craigslist scammer. Anytime I post an item I get an email saying "do you still have the item"? I think they might be fishing for email addresses to sell or scam (they'll get yours when you respond) or maybe to then offer you money...the money order fraud scam.

SHe might also be fishing for a free yorkie. Be very careful.

I opened a new hotmail account I use only for craigslist dealings and have no real personal info associated with it.

I do this a lot...saves from having your 'real' email address spammed so badly that you cannot use it yourself. :rolleyes:

I'd absolutely NOT trust this person!

If I lost my dog and thought someone had my dog I'd LOVE, RESPECT $ APPRICIATE them ensuring the dog they had WAS MY BABY. If they stopped responding (you) or gave me the run around the police would be at your door to get my dog back.

Period, I'd have pic, (obviously animal control to verify microchip) as well proof by how my dog responded and witnesses, plus my vet has pics in their file of all my dogs-a REAL owner HAS PROOF & wouldn't stop until their baby was home.

Otherwise this lady IMHO is a scammer-they really are out there- or doesn't really care that much to get this dog back.

PLEASE stay, strong, and do everything to protect this baby-including microchip now and register to yourself immediately!

Can you imagine if you gave the dog to this person and a day later the real owner shows up?

RESPOND by sayingto every email or call you get from now on before you so much as say hello-I need absolute proof this dog is yours to every email you get-say you need microchip information (weather dog is chipped or not), pictures, vet records and you'll be taking the dog to the vet the person uses to have the vet ensure identification-also state you have submitted pictures and identification of this dog to the police department and if someone truly feels this is their dog they need to take their proof to the police department and have the police verify identification-I'd hope that would detour any scammer-if not do all of this. Plus chip the dog not to yourself just incase.

I took your advise and just got a response. She was just looking for a free yorkie.

Thank you everyone for your advise. I'm definatly going to use it. I have fallen in love with this little girl so I definatly don't want her falling into the wrong hands.

Do you still have ads and signs up or have you decided to give up the hunt? I guess you can't really tell someone you found the owner if your ads are still out there. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable just tell them you cannot give out information because you want them to identify the animal first. You have every right to do that. If someone cannot identify their beloved pet with a photo or accurate description then I doubt it is their dog. One thing for sure is that the dog belongs to someone. She was obviously well cared for and well behaved. Someone put some time and love into her. It is very difficult to deal with people who are responding to ads but you have the upper hand.

Maybe she got away from someone who was traveling through the area. Hopefully they will put their own ads out for her. It's so sad to lose a sweet pet like that.

Yes, if you read through the thread, btytler83 has done so much to help try and find the owner.

I have not given up the search. I have had to put up new signs today because the wind got bad here. However, I haven't been contacted by anyone because of the signs, vet, police department, or animal control (or humane society). The only responses I have gotten is from Craigs List and half of those have been offers to rehome her. Animal Control said I only have to look for the owner for 30 days but some people have suggested I look for 3 months. I have decided to give it 3 months. As much as I would hate to give her up, I wouldn't feel right keeping her if I thought there might be someone looking for her. The vet thought she might have been out for a few days when I found her because she was a little thin but she has gained weight and now looks healthy. :)

She has become protective of me but will hide behind me to bark. Last night I was on the porch in the porch swing and my husband came from the barn. He was a few feet from the porch when she spotted him and started barking up a storm. When he got on the porch she ran behind my feet but still gave him what for. She loves playing with toys. When I'm cleaning up the living room I put all her toys in a basket and she will go behind me and throw them around the room. :)

I think you are great for continuing the search. I don't know the right amount of days and would understand if after 30 you decided to stop. I also understand why you want to give it 3 months. I can't even imagine losing Georgie and not looking every possible place to find him.

She sounds like she is right at home with you. I am so happy that she has done so well and you seem to be just as happy;)

Just catching up! So happy you saved this little girl. She's precious!:)