My friend has left her dog with me

[FireC]

I have another thread in the dog forum, however, I'm desperate for some advice.

My friend left her dog with me while she was away for a couple of weeks. She's now been away for almost 6 weeks and I haven't heard anything from her. I've sent her messages regarding a potential vet visit and nail clipping. She's read the messages and hasn't replied. I've called her but it just rings out.

We're not super close, more like neighbours than friends, however, she's looked after my cat before and I thought this would be fine. I don't know what to do? Does anyone have and advice?

How did you know it was a French bulldog? That’s incredible!!!

This is the weirdest thread

So you don’t know this woman other than on Facebook. You have no mutual friends. You can’t check with her family to see if she’s been in touch with them. You don’t know where she lives to go round to her house.

She’s left an expensive dog with you for what what supposed to be a 2 weeks holiday, and 6 weeks later you’re unable to get hold of her.

You’re not the slightest bit concerned for her welfare, despite not having spoken to her in all that time but you’re worried that the dog needs it’s toenails clipping.

I think I’d be messaging her to say you must speak with her or you will be reporting her as a missing person. Possibly tomorrow as if she’s out tonight and drinking she might forget the message. If she doesn’t call you by say, 3 pm tomorrow UK time phone the police.

I am glad the dog is ok. When you speak with talk about neutering the dog. See what the response is. I wouldn’t go down the RSPCA route, I’d look at breed rescue if you do decide to re home. If there is an agreement for you to keep him, get it in writing.

The dog is definitely hers OP? You’ve not inadvertently taken in a stolen dog. Is he chipped?

Text her you are reporting her as a missing person and sending the dog to the RSPCA (even if you are not).

Even though you're not going to put the dog in a shelter, threaten the action and see if you get a response. She's taking advantage as she knows where to collect her dog when she gets back. She won't leave him with you but she doesn't respect you enough to give you a response.

FYI I don't think you're odd for looking after an acquaintances pet, there are many sites dedicated to this. Also neighbours used to be this friendly and look out for one another.

Also curious about the French bulldog connection.

I think giving someone you barely know your house keys and depending on them to keep your pet alive is possibly even weirder than the dog thing. 😆

Well I certainly wouldn't want the poor dog to go back with her, she obviously doesn't give a damn about it.

I wish I could think of a way for you to become it's legal owner.

Frenchies are utterly notorious for difficult (and expensive) health conditions

I agree that you need to get insurance quotes before deciding to keep - but bear in mind that you need to disclose any pre-existing health conditions, so you need to find out what the vet history is (and if undiscoverable, then premiums can be very high)

I'm sorry to sound so cynical, but I'm suspicious that there has been a health issue which the owner is unwilling to deal with (and pay for). And that it's easier to say that a friend really wanted Pooch and he's got a better life there, than it is to say ' got fed up with the dog and sent him for rehoming because I didn't think through health and affordability properly'

Hope for the dog's sake it's not that - but do check that you understand what you are potentially taking on

OP says is a Frenchie in her other thread in the doghouse.

She sounds very irresponsible, if she turns up, don't get her to sit the cats again!

Message and email and write if you have an address - same content in each.

"I consider that as it is now x weeks since you promised to collect Ddog, that you have abandoned your dog.

If you do wish to collect your dog, please do so before x date (date of 7 days time, thats sufficient, less than that is likely unreasonable).

Failure to contact me or collect dog within x date means you agree to me taking ownership of Ddog.'

Keep all the paperwork you have, all receipts for food, vet bills, whatever - these will be used to back up your case should she take you to small claims to get the dog back.

If you have anything in writing where she asks you to look after the dog and says when she will collect the dog, keep hold of that too.

It isn't perfect - if she can prove theres a reason she could not contact you about the dog, she could win - but every text she hasn't answered, every issue with the dogs care she has not replied to, every bill that remains unpaid, all adds up to her relinquishing ownership of the dog to you.

If she does come looking for the dog and you want to keep the dog, let her know there will be a bill for the dogs upkeep for the last however many weeks, that should put her off if she's just doing it to spite you.If she has genuinely met with some disaster, she'll happily pay up what she owes and apologise profusely in order to get her dog back.

Post on her Facebook wall, 'Hi, sorry to contact you like this but I'm getting concerned about you and was hoping your friends and family would see this and let me know if all is OK. I've tried messaging but no reply. You left rover with me on xxx saying you'd be back in 2 weeks, it's now been 6 and I need to know what's going on as think he needs to go to the vet. Please get in touch, or if someone knows where xxx is and why she's not able to contact me please let me 'now. Thanks, xxx'

That was my thought too.
Can you get someone else to call her —- your dad, mum, sibling, friend and when she answers they sound officious rather than a friend and ask about her well being and plans to return home?

Do you know any members of her family? Maybe post a status to her Facebook asking if anyone knows where she is. Explain the situation and just say if she doesn't want the dog your more than happy to keep him. But you shouldn't have to foot the bill for vet fees and feeding him. They're lovely dog's bit daft and they stink.

Are you 100% certain it is a dog ?

I'd just text to say I don't know what is happening, I don't know if something has happened to her, so I am going to contact the police. Then if she doesn't respond to that I would contact the police.

She clearly has no morals to abandon her dog like that. I'd question whether it is her dog or whether you are minding stolen goods for her.
Ask local rescue to scan him.

Does she come across as sensible/got job/responsibilities that would tie her to her home or does she seem more wild/irresponsible that would just go off with a bloke or go travelling?? I would tell her you're going to call the police to report her missing. If she ignores that message too I would definitely call the police

I’d be texting her and saying if she didn’t call within 24 hours you’d be ringing the police and reporting her as a missing person. I’m really shocked you haven’t done this tbh! Anyone could have her phone!

So it's a friend you don't know ow very well, but in the first post you say is more kike a neighbour? So a neighbour is someone who lives near you so take the dog round to her house!!! (When it's not so hot obviously).

You call the dog him? Are you sure? Absolutely sure that you're not going to wake up one day and find puppies??

Thanks for the advice. I will see if I can get him scanned on Monday and I'll send her a message.

For those curious as to how it was identified as a Frenchie so easily, French Bulldogs are currently the popular dog to have. They're also very expensive, as not only there is a demand for them, but also:
-They have limited breeding instinct/ability, often requiring AI and C-sections. They can also be poor mothers, requiring human intervention such as bottle feeding and general watching to see if the mother doesn't simply lay on the puppies and smothers them.
-Due to their size, litters aren't very big, requiring the above expenses to be divided against fewer buyers.
-The health issues. God, the health issues. If you're doing it the ethical way (the majority of people aren't) they require extensive testing, which doesn't come cheap, from BOAS to hemivertebrae.

I'm going to guess, due to the tremendous amount of puppy mills/backyard breeding, that this dog doesn't come from a proper breeder who tests according to the Breed Club Recommendations, which strives for a healthier dog. So I am going to agree with the people above, and say: INSURE, and get the highest coverage you can get. Because they aren't a hardy breed, and the issues are expensive to fix.

If you’ve got enough brass, get the poor dog neutered. What a callous, venal bitch your friend is.