Does anyone know if I am entitled to get the dog I found back untill she is reclaimed?

[ShinyAndNew]

I thought she had gone back home, as she had an address but no phone numbers on her micro chip, but I have just found her on the lost and found dogs pages of our local council. Which means she is in the pound.

I would never have handed her over to the pound if I thought she would be taken there. I thought she would be taken back home, but they must have moved.

She was such a lovely dog, and clearly loved. I don't want her in that god awfull place, where she is at risk of being pts. She could have a home here, for the time being.

I did ask them to return her to me, if her owners could not be located, but it seems they have forotten.

I know I can't 'adopt' her from them as she hasn't done her two weeks yet and I am certain that she will be reclaimed. I'd just rather her be here, untill her owners come forward.

Is it definitely two weeks at the pound? Most give them seven days...

What usually happens is the dog warden will collect the dog and take it to the pound. They will then contact the owners if possible and the owners have to collect the dog and pay a fee for that. It's possible they either couldn't contact the owners or the did contact the owners and they don't want her back.

I would give the pound a ring and see what they say if you are interested in having her. You would obviously have to pay the adoption fee.

Yep is definately two weeks. I can't adpot her as such, because atm I have enough on my plate with my own dog, as adorable as he is he is in serious need of proper training, which is on going, currently. And DH would go ballastic. However I could keep her untill a suitable family/proper rescue place was found for her.

This particular pound is awfull, my dog was in a right state when we got him. When we visted there to collect him, we were literally paddling in inches of piss. I don't want her there when she could be here.

But to adpot her I have to sign something that says I would be keeping her. I just want her back here untill her owners are found/she is rehomed. Plus she has a better chance of being reclaimed here, as all the pound do is put her on there own website. I'd advertise on dogslost/the local paper/phone RSPCA etc.

Shiney, the law on a pounds obligation to keep a dog is 7 days before PTS, though if this is your local pound I know that the manageress tries hard to find homes, BUT, as I have said before, that pound DO PTS, as most do sadly. Make no mistake, if the pound is full and more coming in, some will die. With certain pounds they don't even wait for that but kill if the dog has outstayed his time and therefore costing them money.

What's the colour, size, breed or cros and approx age of this dog please? I'll pass n the info to the ladies who rescue up there and ensure that she gets out to safety. As I understand it there are a couple of local rescue angels who get a lot out from your pound and have a good working relationship with the manageress. The reason I suggest this is that rescue will vax, neuter, medicate as necessary AND homecheck and vet potential new homes, which is a far safer bet for the dog than a private individual trying to home her.

Rehoming a dog isn't always that easy, there are so many out there in need of homes, and if people want an older dog (ie not a pup from a breeder) most will approach rescue first so she'll have more chance of being homed, faster, and more safely from there. Otherwise you could end up with a dog you can't keep, a DH who is pressing you to move her on and nowhere to place her, a recipe for disaster imho.

You can advertise on Doglost even though she's in the pound btw. I'd strongly advise that you do, please. The RSPCA will do sweet FA sadly.

By law you do (unless the council have genuine reason to consider you unsuitable on dog welfare grounds) have the right to keep a stray you find. You MUST keep him for at least 28 days and you MUST relinquish him to the owner WHENEVER the owner shows up. Most councils don't know/deny you can do this.

However, once the dog is in the council's hands he becomes under their jurisdiction. Whats the full story? Did you find and take this girl into your house and hand her to the DW?

Give me a shout if I can help more - alfaalfa AT live DOT co DOT uk

I probably won't be about til late tonight or tomorrow as I am helping a friend in need but will do my best.

HTH,

Val

It's also entirely possible that the council are still trying to reach the owner - by post or in person, as they only have an address, isn't it?

Thanks Vall. I have emailed you. Yes, Bella, her tg only had an address. The pound manager was going to drive the dog to the address on the chip, that night she told me.

Had she not had a microchip at all I would have just kept her and tried to find the owners myself. But as there was an address on the tag, the vets said I was obliged to give her to the dog warden to be taken home, as they could not give me the address due to the DPA.

Shiny, have replied to your email and explained and apologised for the delay!

Have emailed the lady who gets dogs from that particular pound into rescue, given her the 'heads up' and await her reply.