I think I may..

[VR3]

Have just met my new dogs last owner...

She asked if I had seen a dog similar to buddy (my new dog) and I said no.

If this lady is the old owner she lives about four houses down. When I found buddy he clearly was malnourished, injured and not very well cared for.

The issue is I have already gotten him his shots and a chip placed in him and I don't think I should have to return an animal to a abusive house.

Thoughts?

Also if this lady tries to come back when I am not here and take buddy what is my recourse?

[exalted512]

You have a record (from the vet) of the dogs condition when you found him. Seems like that'd be enough to say the dog was in a s@#$$y home before and is now in a good home. Seems to be your dog now.

Good luck.
-Cody

[gsxr141]

if she sees the dog, i'm sure she's going to call the cops. how long have you had him?

[Jetmaker737]

Seems to me you have a pretty good case of animal neglect/abuse against her. She can come after the dog if she wants to but she'd be smart to leave well enough alone. I'm sure she caught you by surprise but you shouldn't have lied to her. You might want to get your ducks in a row and then go let her know you have the dog but intend to keep him and state your case to her. Let the chips fall where they may.

[audiobliss]

Well, he probably hasn't seen any other dogs like Buddy. Sure, he's seen Buddy. And Buddy might have previously been this lady's dog. But he hasn't seen any other dogs like Buddy. So he might possibly have not technically told a lie.

[maximillian]

I wouldn't think an abusive owner would go around looking for their dog. Perhaps the dog has been lost or trapped somehow. Maybe it got its foot caught in something and the dog was trapped for an extended period of time. That would explain both the injury and the malnourishment.

I am just saying that you may need to make sure she was really abusive before you accuse her of it. You may end getting in trouble if the case is more of an accident.

[treitz3]

Four houses down, in your neighborhood and it took THIS long to recognize that you may have her neglected pooch? For Christs' sake, Buddy plays outside everyday. Screw her. If she takes the dog, you have the chip in it proving it's your dog at this point. Normally I would not think this way......seeing as how the dog came to you in the first place? The condition it was in? Screw the law, screw "rightful ownership". I would never in a million years send a dog back to a place to where it was shot in the leg and came from those circumstances. I just couldn't do it.

The best way to get rid of this piece of trash? Tell her to prove that the dog you have is hers and if she can, present her with a bill that she can take care of before restoring ownership.

I know full well [as well as you] that the dog has a better than good home, has a play buddy and will be well loved. It is in the best interest of the dog to remain with you.

[mrbiron]

We're talking 4 houses down not across town.
I support people giving animals a better home but holding a dog because you think it came from an abusive home doesn't seem right to me.
Do what you will but do the right thing.

Getting paperwork from the vet to support this finding will improve your case but i wouldn't hold ones breathe.

You couldn't have found a needy animal a little further away from your home to take in? :-P

[exalted512]

If someone lost a dog they cared about, they would have been looking for it/posting flyers long before the dog was ever malnourished, end of story.
-Cody

[gimpod]

Well, he probably hasn't seen any other dogs like Buddy. Sure, he's seen Buddy. And Buddy might have previously been this lady's dog. But he hasn't seen any other dogs like Buddy. So he might possibly have not technically told a lie.

So I guess it all come's down to how you define seen, President Clinton.

Seriously sounds like the dog is far better off with you Vr3MxStyler2k3.

[VR3]

Eh the lady wasn't looking for the dog she was driving by as she was leaving her house... She pulled off to the side, asked, seen a dog like him? I said... No

She rolled up the window and left.

She asked no more questions as if she did not care.

I'm sorry but I can tell you if my dog went missing every freaking neighbor on this block would know about it as well as every vet store in the area and every possible local Internet site...

Seriously doubt tis lady is looking for her dog, if she is it is the lamest searchi have witnessed yet.

[treitz3]

Yoi musT be typinyg on yer i-Phoine agAin...

[VR3]

Yep it does some weird auto correct stuff I need to turn it off

[Ricardo]

I wouldn't think an abusive owner would go around looking for their dog. Perhaps the dog has been lost or trapped somehow. Maybe it got its foot caught in something and the dog was trapped for an extended period of time. That would explain both the injury and the malnourishment.

I am just saying that you may need to make sure she was really abusive before you accuse her of it. You may end getting in trouble if the case is more of an accident.

+1,000

Careful. Maybe the best would be to tell what really happened, how you took care of him and paid for vet treatment, etc.

I don't care what everyone else says. You don't want to make enemies 4 houses down the street.

[audiobliss]

So I guess it all come's down to how you define seen, President Clinton.

Seriously sounds like the dog is far better off with you Vr3MxStyler2k3.

I should probably admit I don't really advocate the line of reasoning I stated above. I was more of playing devil's advocate with technicalities. Anytime you have to approach it like that to argue something's not a lie, then it probably is, or is at least deceptive enough you should avoid saying it.

[Serendipity]

I would have just told her what happened and let things go from there.

[gimpod]

I should probably admit I don't really advocate the line of reasoning I stated above. I was more of playing devil's advocate with technicalities. Anytime you have to approach it like that to argue something's not a lie, then it probably is, or is at least deceptive enough you should avoid saying it.

Agreed. I was just poking fun at ya. :tongue:

[Polkersince85]

Most states have regulations for due diligence of a finder of personal property as to attempting to find the original owner before the finder can claim as his own.

[VR3]

Several things to remember here guys...

This lady was ten feet from this dog and he didn't seem anymore excited than normal when she drove up.

I can tell you if sidney hadn't seen me in almost two months shed frigging **** herself if I pulled up or even if my truck came within 50 ft of her.

This lady has over 5 dogs... She didn't seem like she gave a **** and neither did my dog.

I don't know what I am going to do personally, but I have over 800 dollars invested in him at this point and have had to help him fight off one of the worst ear infections ever, a massive leg infection, and an infection on his testicles. When I bathed him, months maybe never since his previous bath. This little guy has been gone for a very long time.

I honestly think he was my neighbors dog, my old next door neighbor, they were trying to find a home for a puppy when they moved to California who was brindle and when I find him he was staying close to their house... Like it was going out of style.

So the only thing that had me thinking this lady was the owner was her driving by and inquiring, but the more I think about it it may just be a coincidence because I know how my dogs would act.

[shack]

Sounds like Buddy has decided who his owner is. IMO unless she comes back and makes a big deal about it he is yours. IF she does come back ask for proof of ownership...ie: vet records of shots and visits, etc. Chances are she can't provide any proof and without it he is yours.

[toucanet]

Possession is nine tenths of the law. The burden of proof is on her.

It is obvious that the dog was not in a good home/environment. You probably have more documentation proving ownership than she probably has.

Like shack said, "Chances are she can't provide any proof and without it he is yours."

Let me know if I need to help fund the "Buddy Legal Defense Fund." (smile)

[VR3]

Even if she has proof of vet and blah blah, how can she truly prove it is her dog?

He looks like just about every other brindle dog on the planet. He is a mix....

If anything -- the fact I have vet records and a freakin micro chip with my name and address attached to him should over rule any documents she has, no?

[RuSsMaN]

Register it with the city / county, cost you $6 or so, if you haven't already.

[ben62670]

If it was her dog and it was neglected and she wants it back you could just politely tell her that it was neglected and you are going to call the animal control officer on her. She won't stick around Any pics or videos of when you first got Buddy? Any vet bills?

[VR3]

I dont have to many pics as when I first got him I left the next day to go to Cali and my roommate handled all the taking to the vet and stuff...

I do have plenty of bills LOL and descriptions and such from the vet to more than make a case if needed.

Dog was rough********** when I first got him. Jesus

[VR3]

Here is Buddy now!

[mrbigbluelight]

Do the right thing.

Lady runs into you again as she walks the neighborhood, calling for "Bowser" (or whatever her missing dog's name is). Grab Buddy, wander outside, and tell her that you and Buddy have been keeping an eye out for "Bowser", but no luck so far.
Ask her if "Bowser" was chipped; she says, "Yes", then you know Buddy ain't "Bowser".
If she says, "No", mention that Buddy is chipped and that while it may have cost a lot (not really), it was worth it. Mention that the chip wasn't nearly as expensive as the vet workup that Buddy had a while back: wow, was that expensive !

During this time, watch Buddy.
And watch her.
They'll tell you who the "real" owner is.

[mrbigbluelight]

BTW: Buddy isn't passed out drunk at the laptop is he ? That kind of thing might go against you in court.

[Fongolio]

If Buddy was hers, do the right thing and call animal control and save the rest of her dogs before they end up in Buddy's shape.

[kawizx9r]

Alot of good suggestions, especially Fongolio's.

If you're at all worried about this lady trying to get her dog back, I'd say clear up your lie first and foremost and make sure you know the laws in your city/state regarding ownership.

I 'legally' took ownership of a dog myself when I was in California (long story). Found out that if an animal has been under your roof and under your care for 3 or more weeks, he/she (if you wanted) will legally become your adopted pet. This is true of course if you can prove said-animal has been under your possession for those 3 weeks.

Just a thought