Attn. Dog lovers

CurlsNpearls12

Has anyone here had any experience taking in a lost or abandoned dog, and had no luck locating an owner?

Less than 24 hours ago, we took in an innocent, starving young chocolate lab male home.He had no collar, so no tags at all, but he is very friendly. He is extremely malnourished and lacking a lot of health, so of course we took him home. He's settled in with our 5 year old yellow Lab, and we're in love with him. I want our home to be his forever home.

I've called almost every vet in the county, including humane societies, looked for him online & FB pages, but nothing. Therefore, his owners either dropped him off or possibly just gave up on looking for him. I'm quite glad that nobody has claimed him yet because it seems obvious that his previous owners didn't take very good care of him.

I've been told to go get him licensed by us and we will be legal owners of the dog, and this way, if we run into the previous owners, we won't have a problem with them because he will be legally ours.

MyUserName1

I think you've done due diligence. I'd give it a few more days, JIC.  If by the end of the week no one has stepped forward, I think you've got yourself a new furbaby.

cookie0803

I've never experienced this, but I just want to say 1) that's awesome that you've done this, and 2) if you haven't yet, please take this dog to a vet to make sure he doesn't have anything that could harm your other dog!

SB1512

If you want to make one last attempt bring him to a vet to see if he has a microchip

CurlsNpearls12

He will be scanned on Friday for a microchip. But I doubt he has one... I'd think the owners would have already found him if he was chipped.

hwoychowski

Yes, I had a nightmare and actually had to have legal matters dealt with. I took in a beautiful but abused Husky. She was 40% underweight, had so many ticks that she was anemic and had premature arthritis. The owner had a laundy list of citations for abondoning the dog, not to mention crack possession. When it came down to it he was extorting us for money because he didn't really want her back, her just wanted money... Anyway, the love and appreciation I received daily from her was all the confirmation I needed to know we did the right thing. Oh, and the guy found us because we registered her with the local police for having found a lost dog. If it came back that soem family lost her weeks ago and her medical state was caused from that it was one thing. The guy even claimed "She ran away yesterday..." Nice dude....real nice.....

Stackeye210

Sounds like you are doing all that you need to do to take ownership of her.  Just be careful.  I know someone here (help me out knotties I forget who).  Took in a dog and someone down the street saw her walking it and claimed it was theirs, broke into their house and took the dog back.  Police were involved b/c the chip led back to someone who said that yes, they did dump the dog - but it wasn't the people who broke in and took the dog.  I think in the end they ended up not getting to keep the dog.  It was so sad for them. 


Anways, just be careful and cautious. 

CurlsNpearls12

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_attn-dog-lovers-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:a0cf1200-157c-49c3-a867-242d7aa61d5bPost:d887be6e-278a-40fe-8cd4-2943c46be8c4">Re: Attn. Dog lovers</a>:
[QUOTE]Yes, I had a nightmare and actually had to have legal matters dealt with. I took in a beautiful but abused Husky. She was 40% underweight, had so many ticks that she was anemic and had premature arthritis. The owner had a laundy list of citations for abondoning the dog, not to mention crack possession. When it came down to it he was extorting us for money because he didn't really want her back, her just wanted money... Anyway, the love and appreciation I received daily from her was all the confirmation I needed to know we did the right thing. Oh, and the guy found us because we registered her with the local police for having found a lost dog. If it came back that soem family lost her weeks ago and her medical state was caused from that it was one thing. The guy even claimed "She ran away yesterday..." Nice dude....real nice.....
Posted by hwoychowski[/QUOTE]


This is horrible. So do you still have her? I'm so sorry to hear that you went through all of that.

CurlsNpearls12

Stacks, thanks for sharing, but that is so sad for those people.

hwoychowski

The Husky that I saved was about 4 years ago when I was with my ex. When we broke up he kept the house and I moved to an apartment across the country. We had 2 other dogs at the time and were so attached together I didn't have the heart to seperate them and I thought it woud be cruel to take 3 large dogs from a house with a yard to an apartment. It was the hardest thing I had to do and I still get misty eyed thinking about her but I know that my ex loved them too and through mutual friends I check up on my pups.

baystateapple

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_attn-dog-lovers-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:a0cf1200-157c-49c3-a867-242d7aa61d5bPost:d887be6e-278a-40fe-8cd4-2943c46be8c4">Re: Attn. Dog lovers</a>:
[QUOTE]Yes, I had a nightmare and actually had to have legal matters dealt with. I took in a beautiful but abused Husky. She was 40% underweight, had so many ticks that she was anemic and had premature arthritis. The owner had a laundy list of citations for abondoning the dog, not to mention crack possession. When it came down to it he was extorting us for money because he didn't really want her back, her just wanted money... Anyway, the love and appreciation I received daily from her was all the confirmation I needed to know we did the right thing. Oh, and the guy found us because we registered her with the local police for having found a lost dog. If it came back that soem family lost her weeks ago and her medical state was caused from that it was one thing. The guy even claimed "She ran away yesterday..." Nice dude....real nice.....
Posted by hwoychowski[/QUOTE]
That is awful.

I have to believe that there's a special place in hell reserved for people who abuse animals.

hwoychowski

I know. Thats why I fought like hell to keep her. Regardless of the costs. There was no way that sweetie was going back to that creep. We hid her at my mom's for like the month or two it was going on because I was afraid the weirdo would show up at my house and steal her like that other story. But as comfort to the OP. This happened almost immediately, get the chip checked for and if all is well go ahead and claim him/her legally. An adopted and saved dog is the most loving and appreciative kind.

KellyBrian2013

In Response to Re:Attn. Dog lovers:[QUOTE]He will be scanned on Friday for a microchip. But I doubt he has one... I'd think the owners would have already found him if he was chipped. Posted by CurlsNpearls12[/QUOTE]
Microchips do not have a tracking device in them, so don't discount the possibilty of him having one simply because "they haven't found him yet". Chips only work when physically scanned.

LiLe422

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_attn-dog-lovers-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:a0cf1200-157c-49c3-a867-242d7aa61d5bPost:19fd6dbb-d441-4afd-bd71-a7cbda7ff744">Re:Attn. Dog lovers</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:Attn. Dog lovers: Microchips do not have a tracking device in them, so don't discount the possibilty of him having one simply because "they haven't found him yet". <strong>Chips only work when physically scanned.</strong>
Posted by KellyBrian2013[/QUOTE]

This.  And if you take him to the vet and there is no micro chip, I think you have done everything reasonably possible to find his owners.  Good luck!

Rosie109

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_attn-dog-lovers-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:a0cf1200-157c-49c3-a867-242d7aa61d5bPost:7584c757-4313-4738-beb2-18e742353a4e">Re: Attn. Dog lovers</a>:
[QUOTE]Sounds like you are doing all that you need to do to take ownership of her.  Just be careful.  I know someone here (help me out knotties I forget who).  Took in a dog and someone down the street saw her walking it and claimed it was theirs, broke into their house and took the dog back.  Police were involved b/c the chip led back to someone who said that yes, they did dump the dog - but it wasn't the people who broke in and took the dog.  I think in the end they ended up not getting to keep the dog.  It was so sad for them.  Anways, just be careful and cautious. 
Posted by Stackeye210[/QUOTE]

THAT WAS ME.

My CW was the one who had the dog that was stolen. She finally gave up trying to fight for her.

I would definitely get the ball rolling on the license stuff ASAP. She had the paperwork in her hand ready to get mailed the day her dog was stolen.

CurlsNpearls12

Rosie I'm so sorry that happened to your CW. In about 2 hours I'll be taking him to get scanned for a microchip, and if he does not have one, we're going right across the street to get him licensed.

jmayinc

We just went through this with a lil puppy. We took him to the pound, not knowing what to do with him. THe pound only keeps dogs for 3 days to try n find the owner, after that, theyre up for adoption. But due to the pound not taking care of pups, we adopted him. You're getting them checked for chips, and have done more than enough to try to "reunite" it with it's owner. Get it licensed and DEF checked by a vet. The puppy had cherry eye and got kennel cough from the pound. We now have contacted a non-profit shelter (where we got our current dog a year ago) and are fostering the pup until he's healthy and gets adopted. You of course don't have to go that road, but I would def just get him checked out and licensed...maybe microchipped yourself lol then enjoy the new addition to your family!