[News] Family Says Kennel Gave Them Wrong Dog
 

http://www.kptv.com/news/15844252/detail.html

Video also out online

Family Says Kennel Gave Them Wrong Dog

POSTED: 7:06 am PDT April 10, 2008
UPDATED: 8:13 am PDT April 10, 2008


LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. -- A black Labrador wagged its tail at Ken Griggs' Lake Oswego home Wednesday night.

But there's just one problem. The family said the dog, recently picked up at a local kennel, doesn't belong to them.

The Griggs family said the Tail Wag Inn in Dundee gave them the wrong dog when they picked it up after spring break.

"I've got five kids," Griggs said. "She's like the sixth kid and everybody wants the dog back."

Griggs took Callie, his pet of seven years, to the kennel for boarding. When he returned the next day, his family didn't get Callie back.

"You don't think that somebody's going to give you the wrong dog," Griggs said.

At first, Griggs thought the dog belonged to his family -- it looked the same as Callie. But he said the dog wasn't enthusiastic to see the family and its habits and mannerisms were also different.

Griggs called the kennel and returned the dog.

"I was very concerned when that happened," said Allison Best, the kennel owner. "I've been in business 10 years and I've never heard of anything like this happening."

Best said the kennel had eight black labs over spring break and they all played together in the yard every day.

The Griggs are certain the kennel made a mistake. Callie had her dew claws clipped off as a puppy, but the dog returned to them still had its dew claws. X-rays also showed no surgery on the dog's elbow as theirs had.

But Best said she's done all she can.

"I have called all of the female black lab owners that were here," she said. "They're all confident they have their dogs."

The mix-up may have been prevented by the use of a collar, but the kennel does not allow collars because it considers them dangerous. Best said she'll review the rule to see if there's another way to identify pets in their care.

Griggs has spoken with an attorney. He said if no one recognizes the dog at his home, he's not sure where he'll turn next.

That would be heartbreaking! To know you have the wrong dog, but unable to reunite her with her owner and not be able to get your beloved puppy back? That's a terrible story! I hope that somehow they get things worked out.

How awful!! I can't believe they aren't checking out all the other black lab homes more thoroughly! The dew claw and surgery thing is positive proof. The kennel should go back to the other lab owners and check for this. There is more they can do!!!

Well, that makes you think doesn't it??
I cannot imagine getting someone's else's pet??
that's sad!!

That's terrible :(

Exactly!! That woman is just making up excuses. Bet her business bottoms out if she can't correct the situation.

I think the attorney can seek a court order to have those people that did have their black labs boarding there that weekend, bring the dogs in for a simple x-ray to see if any of those dogs show surgery done as the dog had that is missing. I do not have my Yorkies microchipped, they are always with me, never boarded etc. but I guess microchipping is good in that it certainly would help them locate who has their dog.

Elaine

If only they had their lab microchipped - then it would've been a very easy find!

I can't believe the guy took her home not knowing it was his!I would instantly know if it was Andy or not!

:thumbup: Another reason to microchip your puppy!:)

Couldn't they just line them up can call their name?

Oh my goodness! I live just a few minutes from LO. Definitely microchip your pets!!

I know of a grooming shop that sent the wrong dog home.

You would think the kennel would have enough sense to put some kind of identifier on each dog, especially if they have that many black labs at the same time. If not a collar than at least a piece of different colored string around a paw. This to me just screams negilegence on the kennel's part. The fact that gets me is that this woman seems to think she didn't do anything wrong and that it was the guys fault for taking home the wrong dog. :mad: Though I do think the guy should have looked a little more closely at what dog he was taking home. :( Now these poor dogs are with strangers. If this one is with the wrong owner then there is every chance that every black lab they had during that period of time is not with the right owner.

The kennel needs to contact every person with a black lab during that period of time and have them come to the kennel with the dog and get this sorted out once and for all. Though that would mean that the kennel believes they are in the wrong, something they don't seem to be willing to take responsiblity for.:thumbdown

This doesn't make sense. If there were 8 black labs and he took one back, there's got to be an extra one somewhere? :confused:

I hope they get their dog back.

Reunited with right pooch
 

They finally got their dog back........
The Associated Press: Man who claimed dog was imposter reunited with right pooch

I'm glad they got the right dog! But, I'm speechless. How could anyone NOT recognize their own dog? This is mind boggling!

i'm really confused as to how this family took the wrong dog home TWICE. seriously if they don't know their own dog they shouldn't own one. this story is ridiculous. shame on the kennel and shame on the families. black labs do not all look alike. you can like up all 8 of them and you'd be able to see differences between them

I can understand it. Black labs...labs in general look VERY, very similar. That's one of the most interesting things about yorkies, is that they're all one breed but they all look SO different. There are a lot of different looking black labs, but there are also a lot who look exactly the same.

My aunt had a black lab, Kelly, that I grew up with (we're very, very, very close with my aunt). Despite the fact that she was a dog I had known my entire life, if she had mixed around with a bunch of other black labs that looked a lot like her, I probably wouldn't have been able to tell who she was until I spent time with the others and realized that their personality was different.

I think its a simple mistake when it comes to a breed of dogs that look so similar. Now, if they hadn't realized it almost right away when they started playing her, then I'd be concerned.

anyway, I'm glad that the families got their true dogs back. :)

The kennel owner is trying to cover her business, making a statement about the dog owner picking the wrong dog to take home. there should be a system of marking dogs. If they are not microchiped. How could you run a business and not have some responsiblity of knowing which dog is which?

exactly. They should either keep their collars on, or if they are unsafe in the kennels that they use, they can use paper collars (like wristbands we get at bars) to identify them. that is what we use in hospital when we have more then one of the same dog.

and i still say that you should be able to tell the difference between your black lab and someone else's black lab. I see so many labs(yellow, black, chocolate) every week, hell even every day. i can tell them apart and they aren't even mine.

I'm with you, in our neighborhood are 3 different yellow labs. All are very close in size and age. But I can tell them apart pretty easily, and I've never seen anyone get confused at the dog park or at dog club about which dog belongs to them. My goodness, we went on an organized dog walk two summers ago, and their were at least 9 rottys there. We knew who was who by the end of the day. This story is unbelievable on so many levels. The owners should have known their own dogs, and if the kennel lets them out to play together, they need to have a plan for getting the right dog back to the right owner. Yikes

Well its better than
 

We went to Canada while I was at college in Washington State and left my beautiful Irish Setter named Sarge at a kennel that was recommended and reliable never had a problem. When we came home to pick up the dog we found out the kennel had been robbed...of all things dogs. Shepards you name it and my beloved Sarge. Cried for weeks, put ads in paper and everything never found the dog. So at least there was a happy ending to this story even thought the whole bunch sounds pretty mentally challenged when it comes to recognition of a beloved pet or "wonders" would they recognize their own kids? I mean I have one pure black cat and if was lost amongst a bunch of black cats I would still know him not even a question and my baby girl Sydnee well she is the air I breathe so not even a moment of doubt there!:hearts-xx