[SugarBear]

Okay, well let me start off by saying that I was adopted by my grandmother whom is now 85 and doing well! Very active and drives and is still very much full of life! SO I call her MOM...my Mom has a yellow lab hanging around her house and it has been there for a week now. We know where she lives but we have been unable to contact the owners and they are suppose to be on vacation. Well, needless to say this dog is a beautiful female who loves my Mother, she has been feeding it and keeping her company. She really wants to keep her because the owners obviously don't care for her. She has on an electric fence collar and I am guessing it didn't keep her in the yard. I don't know how to go about taking the dog and them not being able to take her back. I would love for her to stay with my Mother. She had to put her Peek-a-Poo down a while ago and is very lonely. After a good bath and brush she will be a great inside companion for her. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I know that labs can be very spastic but she seems very calm and the only time she showed any excitement was when Sugar was over and she wanted to play chase. Help??!! :idea:

 

[RobH.]

Do you know for sure that they don't care for the dog? Could they have gone on vacation and made arrangements for care and while away the dog got loose(or was let loose)? I certainly understand gaining an attachment to the animal but in the eyes of the law, whether we like it or not, that animal is someone's property. I think it would be worse to build a stronger bond, for both your mother and the dog, and then have the owners collect their property under the threat of prosecution. The dog could be chipped or tattoo-ed and the longer you wait the worse(read guilty) you will appear the longer you keep the dog if that identification is checked/investigated and you'll lose all claim to the dog. If you truly want to keep the dog then take it to your local animal shelter and explain the situation. Tell them that you were unable to contact the owners and would like to keep the animal if they don't claim it. They may allow you to hold onto the dog in the meantime. Let the shelter handle contacting the owners and explain the situation to them. If the owners don't claim the dog then you can get it legally and if they don't care for the animal or have time for it and are told that it will be immediately placed then they may surrender it willingly. Its a tough situation and more-so when you are emotionally involved. Good luck and best wishes to you and your mother in this situation. I hope it works out best for every one involved.

Rob

 

[SugarBear]

Thanks Rob! I kinda feel the same way. I know that I am only looking at it one sided because I really want to keep her. I will keep you all posted on what happens. She just left here to go to the owners house and see If there is any sign of them. She is going to leave a note and number there. Thanks again!

 

[RobH.]

If the owners are nearby and they keep the dog your mother could always offer to dog sit during the day or while they are away. Most people who don't have alot of time for their pet feel guilty and would love to have someone close-by that would be willing to look after their dog and that way everyone gets something they want or need, especially the dog.

 

[attitude]

i HATE to say it but you can not just take a dog from it's owners! you could ask them if they are willing to give the dog up and keep it if they will. if you think the dog is abused then get animal sevices involved. if they take the dog away from the family because they feel it is being abused then let it be known you want to adopt it. there are MANY people i feel shouldn't be allowed to own an animal that doesn't give me the right to take it away from them. it would be theft, and wrong . i hope that they will give the dog up to your mom sounds like a much better home

 

[jaded1]

You'd be surprised at what might happen if you approach them...they might want to give the dog away because it's a hassel..no it's not right to keep it...but talk to them...it could turn out in your favor..

 

[SugarBear]

Thanks to all of you for your advice. I really appreciate you guys!!! I am going to wait and see if my Mom is able to contact them. I hate to just take the dog back to the house and leave it. The live right on a busy hwy. I would feel horrible if she go hit because of us. I am going to just wait and let them contact us. Like I said my Mom left a note and number and address to her and let them know she has "Daisy". I hope that they contact us soon. If we don't hear from them soon we are going to contact the shelter. Thanks a Million

 

[brandi]

i would try to find the owner of the dog first. If my dog got away and i seen someone else had taken him i would be flippin.

 

[SugarBear]

Still no word.

 

[gazar]

Sugarbear - what did you decide to do?

 

[augrad]

IMO, the best thing to do, from the legal angle, is to take her to the shelter and let them know of the situation and that you would like to adopt the dog if the do if the owners don't claim it - same thing Rob said. If they never show up at the shelter looking for her, the shelter can legally adopt her out, and she can legally be yours. Sure, it sucks for the dog that she will have to spend a week at the shelter, but sometimes it's better not to confront the owners. Sometimes, they will get defensive and yell at you or take the dog back just to spite you, but would otherwise not care enough to go check out the shelter for their missing dog. And most shelter workers are good people who generally care about the animals, and will be glad to hear that the dog has a good home to go to if she isn't claimed.

If you do decide to take her to the shelter, do NOT leave a note for the owners telling them where she is. That way, you can guage whether or not they care enough to search for the dog.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents from the rescuer's side of the fence. (Sorry - cheesy rhyme not intended!)