Help-stray dog?!!

[jodipodi]

Hiya peeps, about an hour ago a little black labrador cross pup pelted through my back door rather excitedly! Its wearing a collar but no details so I gets hubby to take it round and ask about. No one seems to know the dog or owner but a few people seem to recognise it as the same dog thats been seen in the local park lastnite on its own and again this mornin runnin round the shopping centre. We have fed it and given it a drink...it was starving the poor thing. Just gettn off the phone to council and police AND the local drop off for out of hours and in a round about way have been given the ok to look after her for tonight or other option take her to the kennel and theyll keep her for a week then rehome(thought no way them places are awful!). We're taking it round the vets in the morning to see if its registered/chipped to try and find its owner but no one seems to know what the rules are for if its not claimed. Does anyone know what happens or what we're supposed to do if not? its such a lovely little thing :hug: and would love to take her in if we dont find her owners but frightened of kids gettin attached incase they turn up weeks down the line and want her back?? Please dont think im trying to take someones dog as I would obviously prefer her to be back with her rightful owners xx please help!!

 

[Cathie!]

We found a dog lost in the park a couple of weeks ago. The dog warden's were closed and the police don't deal with strays where we live, so we kept it over night.

I called the dog warden first thing in the morning and they came round to collect it. Thankfully it had been reported missing.

The dog warden will have the machine to see if it's chipped when they come round to collect the dog.

Good luck and hopefully it's been reported mising.

 

[jodipodi]

Thanx cathie, I know I'm pretty sure its been out all night aswell it was starving and wolfed a full tin of food down. The bairns keep fussing her she seems well looked after though,and house trained already just hope they find her mammy or daddy! x

 

[hannajadem]

Do you have a dog's trust/RSPCA or similar shelter near you? You can take it there, they know the legal side inside out, they will contact dog warden's/police etc. and legally, if it's not claimed within a certain time, they can then rehome the dog.
I have a Dog's Trust shelter near me, ppl come from far and wide especially for pups, I'm sure she'll find a good home. hth.

 

[jodipodi]

Thing is Hannah, we would love to home her ourselves if we could but hate the thought of her going to the kennels for the week..maybe its not so bad but im a softy...they said if no one claims her sfter a week then she can be rehomed but Im not sure what happens if we dont put her in the kennels-its looking likely though xx

 

[Annie23]

Hi there, I had a similar situation a few years ago where I took in a dog over the weekend, we took it to the vet and they said that if you are thinking of keeping the dog for yourself not to involve the RSPCA etc as its unlikely you'll get to keep it (we already had 3 dogs at that time) they suggested putting in notices in local shops to see if anyone claimed it. I'm not sure how the law is but if after so many days such as 7 no one has claimed the dog then it can then become legally yours. My advice would be speak to your vet and find out how you stand legally, also you could ring your local dog warden and anonymously if possible find out how you stand. Things maybe different nowadays but if I was told at the time that if no one claimed the dog it would be euthanised after so many days as stray dogs are euthanised first say before a dog that was taken in by an owner that could no longer look after it. If you cant keep it there are animal shelters that do not euthanise strays, but as far as i am aware RSPCA does. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[jodipodi]

Thanx annie,yeah its really awkward-kennels said if we notify the dog warden then they have to take the dog and they then take it to the kennels who keep for 7 days to give owners a chance...have read somewhere that if you dont notify them its never legally yours and if the owner comes along weeks or even months later you have to return the dog-ridiculous i think but not sure if its true....but wondering how does it work if the dog isnt chipped?...hmmmm xxx

 

[Annie23]

Hi again! "have read somewhere that if you dont notify them its never legally yours and if the owner comes along weeks or even months later you have to return the dog-ridiculous i think but not sure if its true....but wondering how does it work if the dog isnt chipped?" sorry don't know how you do proper quotes.

My advice to you would be get in touch with your vet, these are the best people to speak to you if you would like to home the dog yourself. They know the legallities I'm sure. In my case we kept the dog ourselves, bless him he was in a really bad way and it took me over a year to nurse him back to full health. The vets told me that if no one claims the dog after so many days, I don't know how long but it isnt long about 1 week, then legally the dog becomes yours (if they come forward weeks/months later they don't have a leg to stand on - only thing is this is from information given to me about 8 years ago when I took my dog in, it may be different now), but when you ring the vets i'm sure they will tell you all legallities. You also need to find out if he's/shes chipped if they are then they should be returned to rightfull owners. Just be carefull who you contact, don't mean to sound paranoid but if you want to keep the dog if after youve exhausted looking for its rightfull owners, if these people get involved you might not be given the opportunity as it all depends on household circumstances, work, garden, children, other pets etc. hth let me know how it pans out, cheers!!

 

['chelle]

Does the dogs collar have an identity tag on? It's a legal requirement for a dog to wear an identity disc, I think the minimum info it has to display is the owners house number and postcode. If it has that, the Dog warden will be able to trace the owners.

However, I *think* (and I may be wrong so please check this), that if the dog has no identity disc, it's considered to be a stray. I'm not at all sure what the rules would be about you getting to keep it, but ring the dog wardens office when they open, they should be able to tell you everything.

From what you have said, if the dog has a collar and is well looked after, I bet there are some really worried dog owners out there looking for the little chap!

 

[jodipodi]

Hi Michelle, no hun the collar doesnt have an address or name... i think every dog that is roaming the streets is considered stray to the warden as they are supposed to be supervised but i guess things happen,especially with pups they can shoot off in a flash. Im getting rather attached myself...awww she has even found herself a bed on my fluffy rug...Id be roaming the streets if she was mine, hope we get it sorted xx

 

['chelle]

awwwwww! I'm so glad I'm not in your shoes, I would sooo want to keep it!

Well I've got my fingers crossed for you :hug:

 

[jodipodi]

I know GOD why am I such a pudding?! Must toughen up before I start this business malarchey or Im sure to be giving out free treatments to waifs and strays!!! lol She must be dreaming about running in the fields with her poochy pals- her little paws are goin mad doing the moonwalk ha ha! this is gonna kill me if some poor kids turn up looking for their little mate xx

 

[jodipodi]

Hi just to let yous all know I have traced the owner of my little mate through the dog warden...a very tearful young lady awww so she is now back where she belongs..boo hooo xxxx:green:

 

[pazzy]

Well - I wouldn't go running out to get a dog just yet if you want one - I would wait and pretty soon there will be another stray chucked out and desperate for a home at some point.

The dog's that I have found and given a home to have turned out to be the best dogs.


Great ending to the story tho.

xx

 

[PinkPotions]

Why not go to your local kennels and give a dog a home that really doesn't have a home to go to or someone looking for it.

You were willing to take this one...

Animals can help your kids no end, teaches responsibilities, is a friend for life, exercise on walks etc, help deal with grief etc etc

 

['chelle]

Aw hun, I know you were hoping you could keep it, and even though it's good that the dogs been returned to its owners you must be a bit disappointed.

Why dont you adopt a dog from the Dogs Trust? They have a website and I know that they do open days. They specialise in re-homing dogs that would not have found a home elsewhere.

 

[Annie23]

Awwwww, bless a happy ending I must confess I am a bit of a sop where dogs are concerned and I have been wondering on and off today the outcome, I'm glad shes back with her owner, just hope you and your kids arnt too upset!! I'm just glad she found a nice place to stay overnight. Dogs are a wonderful addition to the family, I have 4!! If you are thinking of having a dog cos of whats happened just make sure your emotions settle, cos they are a major commitment.

 

[jodipodi]

Yeah Im glad someone nice has her-theyd just getn her from the kennels their self and were waiting to have her chipped but she got loose somehow. Ive always thought Id like to have a dog but when I think seriously, from a dogs point of view the best start for it probably wouldnt be here with us.Like you say they are a major commitment and deserve alot of care and attention. We are in and out of the house all the time at the mo and if my dreams come true Id love to have a little shop or room rent some time next year- I wouldnt be able to provide the care a dog needs....so looks like things have turned out the way they should thats better for all of us xx