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?

...Or someone has -- you don't know for sure she has.

Why did you leave your cat with a stranger and how did that come about? So very weird.

This is great 🤣

How very odd. Has she gone abroad and maybe met someone and now has no intentions of coming back? At least you like the dog and would keep it if she doesn't want it now.

You do know Battersea Funfair closed years ago don't you?

Maybe take him to the cinema instead?

I don’t think this means she’s definitely fine?? I’d be calling the police. You don’t know something bad hasn’t happened to her and someone has her phone!!!
Do you know anyone else close to her? Friends or her family?? I think you need to reach out and see where she is. Don’t assume she’s just dumped the dog, I can’t believe it’s been 6 weeks and you’ve just waited!!

Hello! Can you look after my dog for 2 weeks?

'Yeah strange facebook friend who I barely know, I'll do that for free'.

Great!

Kidnapped and forced to go boozing.

But yeah, she may have had something occurr

Someone I knew agreed to look after a couples dog when they were going on holiday, after 2 weeks, didn’t hear a thing, left it another week, went round to where they lived they had left! So it happens sadly.

She's got a new boyfriend who doesn't like or is allergic to dogs

If this is real... It is bloody odd...

Most people are obsessed about their dogs and want daily check ins...

Wonder if this is a 'dodgy' dog, assuming woman has no emotional attachment to it (which it doesn't seem she does..).

She could just be massively flakey (remember something similar happening to a friend... Animals dumped with her supposedly for 8-10 days... Ended up several months. .. She loved animals... Ended up paying for urgent treatment - owner went silent... the owner returned some weeks later and wanted to reclaim... With no intention of reimbursing the hundreds the woman had paid out.

The other thing? Yes she may have been kidnapped... Although more likely she is either flakey Or she may have lost her phone..??

I found a phone once and went into the messages to find a recent mess sager who could identify the owner.... These messages would display as read (by me).

I would deffo call the police enquiry number for advice...

You were expecting her back WEEKS ago and she has made no contact...

Your information may be the completing part of the jigsaw?
She may be in a controlling relationship or a hundred other reasons...

My first instinct was that she's in prison and got sent down for longer than anticipated 😂

I think you will want to get some legal advice before claiming the dog as yours. If she doesn't transfer ownership she can just turn up in XX years and reclaim it. Case here is similar to yours though issue was the original owner wanted the let back. www.martynprowel.co.uk/family-law/the-law-surrounding-ownership-of-pets/

*pet!

I don’t disagree that frenchies are often poorly bred and have health problems, but you can’t just get surgery performed on a dog you’re looking after!

Take it for a walk each day then there's no need for nail clipping. Bill her for food and wait.

I would send one more text saying I'm assuming you're not coming back for the dog so I'm going to take him to the local animal shelter since I can't keep him. Please respond by Tuesday if you are coming back for him instead.

If you don't get a reply then maybe call the non urgent police number.

By the way you said she's more of a neighbour than friend - can you pop round?

Why have you not contacted the police? Honestly, why not? A woman you know only slightly is missing - you have not heard her voice, you have no idea who may have her phone. The police will identify and contact her family/friends. They will establish what is going on. You can relay a message that the dog will go to a shelter if she does not return.

This is not your dog. It should be given to a shelter to rehome properly. If she has indeed abandoned the dog with you, she is not a fit owner.

It's most unlikely that she's been kidnapped or murdered by someone who's keeping her phone charged and reading her messages, and occasionally answering while in a crowded place. But if she's uncontactable for weeks, I think you'd be justified in contacting the police over it (not 999). Either she's a victim of a crime, having a mental health breakdown or she's dumped her dog, and the police ought to be involved whatever the situation is, if only to ensure legal ownership transfers properly. Agree you should write on her Facebook wall and make public efforts to find her. Just say you're worried about her and the dog.

How come Frenchies have become so popular with irresponsible people when they're such an unhealthy breed?

What are her circumstances? Does she own, rent, live with parents?
does she work, part time,full time, casual?
you must know something about her, at least where she lives!

I’m also guessing she went away on holiday and met someone who lives/works there and does not have any responsibility at home, so has just stayed on for as long as she can get away with staying for.

when the relationship breaks down and there’s no temporary work there after the summer season she will roll up and want the dog back.

Many years ago now I was dating a guy who had to go away on business and I agreed to look after his dog. He ghosted me and never came back for the dog! It was pre internet/mobile days so harder to try and track him down. I didn’t want a dog so I had to take it to a shelter. It always seemed so strange though. If you don’t want your dog just take it to a shelter yourself, don’t just dump it on someone else!

OP has said she heard this woman’s voice on the phone when she tried to call so I don’t think anything untoward has happened. I agree that if you want to keep the dog OP you need to check the legality and make sure this woman can’t swan back in at any time and take the dog from you.

This.

You don’t really know anything about her or where she lives yet she’s looked after your cats and she’s left her dog with you? How can you seriously not know where she lives? How do you know her?

Something is off about this.

So the "friend" is some random you've connected with on Facebook.

that animal is a live creature and you took on the responsibility of caring for it, when you don't even know the owner.

I honestly have no words.

Lol...why on earth contacting the police. Are they now expected to sort out situations when you have been dumped on? I can't see what crime has been committed, she has just taken advantage of you.

Go to a rescue shelter but let her know before hand what is happening following her unacceptable conduct

If you are going to keep it, you need to do it legally.

Contact the RSPCA, explain the situation and that you would be happy to adopt it if the owner doesn’t appear. They may be able to provide you with advice on how to keep it legally so she cannot just come back and take it away when she is back.

Mind you, the dog will be castrated if it gets to the RSPCA, so the owner may no longer want it once she realised she cannot make money out of breeding him.