this is unreal- how could this happen

I do not agree with this at all! If the website was wrong, right there is a legal cause! I would get an attorney involved. Plus, if the lady called and they knew she was on the way, it wasn't her fault about the traffic, the next day the building be closed and the next day a holiday....so how did someone come in to adopt it when they knew the owner would be there the next business day? That there (again) would be another good cause for an attorney. Course, if it were me in this situation...I would beg and plead for them to stay open alittle longer for me to pick up my furbaby that day (no matter if I were stuck in traffic or what).

I agree, they should be micro-chiped and such....but everything here points to the lady being in the right...........

I would be damned if I went there and seen my baby in a cage and they wouldn't let me have him. She should have brought all of her papers on her furbaby and an attorney. This makes me sooo mad!!!!

I think that she can take the animal shelter AND the new "owners" to court to get her baby back. I would be fighting tooth and nail to get my furbaby! - even though I am not a big "take to court", "sue the pants off someone" type of person! I would be doing everything in my power to get mine back!!!

Oh that poor lady! If feel so bad for her. I think I would have lost it on the people at the shelter and probably would have gone to jail for it too. They had no business placing that little baby up for adoption if the owner called them and claimed the dog. How can anyone live with themselves knowing they caused so much heartache to someone. If I was that lady, I would get me an attorney quick and sue the pants of the shelter and the new owners. Then I would make sure that everyone in that worked at the shelter that allowed this to happen be fired.

What makes me mad about this is the shelter KNEW she was the owner of this dog. They KNEW she was coming for the dog and still adopted the dog out anyway???? That's wrong...very wrong!

You ain't even kiddin'! Why didn't she call the police and report her stolen? How could they prove she wasn't. I'll be darn if I would have walked out without her. There'd be heads rolling and mama would have to get the deed to the house cause I'd be going to jail....WITH MY DOG!

That is soooo wrong!!!! OMG, I'm so outraged, it makes me want to cry for this woman. She needs to get an attorney involved for sure, she can't just let his happen...That's HER baby...The shelter has a responsibility here, and they're not doing what is right. Everything about this situation is wrong.

We got a sayin' here in the west.....Somebody git a rope!

She has a lot of patience and a good heart. I would have had every word flying out of my mouth and have been quite the untamely citizen.

This article has caused me look up my local animal control's policy on stray/found animals. I found this which is very very interesting:

The California law popularly known as the Hayden Bill (California SB 1785) became effective on July 1, 1999, was suspended for the 2003-2004 fiscal year and was reinstated by Governor Schwarzenegger for 2004-2005. It includes the stipulation that all strays, i.e., lost or abandoned animals, brought into public shelters, whether by members of the public or animal control officers, must be held for four days, plus the day they are impounded, for a total of five days (longer for part-time shelters), to include at least one weekday evening until 7 p.m. or one weekend day. This holding period is to allow time for an animal's caretaker to claim the animal.

Now, state law is suppose to be higher than municipal law or individual policy created by a public agency such as the shelter right? this would imply that the Contra Costa County policy of a 3 day hold on unlicensed pets is in violation of California State Law. I wish I can get hold of that woman and give her cause to fight to get her furbaby back!!!!

I think someone should contact the news station to re-inform them of this law!

I think we all need to start emailing and try to help her. First im emailing the shelter a nasty letter then im going to the news stations and government. Thats just not right. That could be anyone of us and our dog.

http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/dep...contactus.html

http://www.governor.ca.gov/state/gov...v_homepage.jsp

I just emailed the news station about just that thing. It couldn't hurt to have other people email them as well. That woman deserve to get her dog back!!!! THAT ANIMAL SHELTER IS IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW!!!!

I'm also sending a polite nasty gram to the animal shelter. o anyone else who wants to email them, the Contra Costa Animal Shelter's email is Tasdweb@asd.co.contra-costa.ca.us . The news station: KGO's website has an email submission form . The segment is called "7 on Your Side".

You're a woman after my own heart. It would be a cold day in hell if anyone tried to stop me from walking out with my dog. I would have torn that shelter apart brick by brick. :mad:

Here's what I wrote to the Animal Shelter:
I'm writing regarding the Jan 19 story by KGO's Seven on Your Side about animal shelter refusal to give Libby Duarte back her dog because it's been adopted.

First off, I'm appalled by the behavior of the Contra Costa Animal Control. For a department that's trying to be sympathetic to pet owners and promoting responsible pet ownership, you seemed very apathetic to reuniting a woman and her lost dog.

Secondly, if your policy is to hold the dog for three days only before it's up for adoption, then Libby should have been informed of that when she called the shelter. I'm sure if she knew her dog would not be returned to her if she waited until Tuesday, she would have fought the traffic neccessary to get to the shelter and her dog asap.

Lastly your 3 day hold policy a violation of the California law popularly known as the Hayden Bill (California SB 1785) which became effective on July 1, 1999, was suspended for the 2003-2004 fiscal year and was reinstated by Governor Schwarzenegger for 2004-2005. It includes the stipulation that all strays, i.e., lost or abandoned animals, brought into public shelters, whether by members of the public or animal control officers, must be held for four days, plus the day they are impounded, for a total of five days (longer for part-time shelters), to include at least one weekday evening until 7 p.m. or one weekend day.

Contra Costa Animal Shelter's policy of 3 days for unlicensed strays clearly does not meet Hayden Bill, a state law, which I would think supercedes a municipal policy. I am very curious to understand what's your reasoning for believing your shelter's policy should violate State Law. The "binding legal contract" you have with those who adopted Libby's dog should be null and void because it was signed while violating state statute. Libby Duarte deserves to have her dog back.

Ohh my god... if this was me... Id have my cell phone in one hand dialing an attorney with bolt cutters in the other hand busting my baby out.