Am Furious - Dog dumped, now they want him back?

[grey]

Dumping animals is a favorite passtime around here. The local animal shelter holds animals for 3 days, then they are put down. There are that many of them -it's horrible.

I will look into whether I am obligated to give him back. I really, really do not want to. Such a good point you gals have made there! Most people here are poor, I really would not expect any kind of claim to be filed.

There is no Humane Society, ASPCA, or no-kill in the area. Chattanooga has them, but they don't want animals from NW GA. There is a group of friends that rescues a handful from animal control every month and finds homes for them, and they help me from time to time since I seem to be a magnet for unwanted/lost animals. I have gone through the abandoned animal routine so many times it's just sick. I find them homes, some of them I keep (I have three dogs of my own, all abandonment cases, all are fantastic animals).

They do not know where I live, they do not know my name, even. All they have is my cell number, which is bad enough. I have their home number, and a friend with access to the nationwide database (for employment purposes). I've passed along the number, and by the end of today, I will know EVERY. THING. about them. You see, they never offered a name either. I think they are dishonest and horrible people. In these small towns, everyone knows everyone.

Momma raised the man, and a dog. I can tell you, the dog has great manners. The asshat didn't even have the sense to apologize to me. He, I guess, expected me to be fine with the whole thing.

[Orange utopia]

Good for you Grey. I actually adopted my Ollie after he was rescued from a high kill shelter in KY. The rescue group told me they have the same problem there with lots of abandoned animals. Ollie's mom was dumped when she was pregnant and she gave birth to Ollie and his 8 siblings at the shelter. They were rescued at 3 days old when they were supposed to be put down.

The rescue group who took in Ollie and his family made by monthly trips to the DC area to adopt out their rescues which is how I ended up with him.

[Blueberry]

While you're asking - you might want to see if you can collect "boarding charges" when they pick him up (which - if you do give him back - you should do somewhere not at your home). I expect having to pay might deter them. Shelters here charge for bailing out a dog - it would seem reasonable that you should be able to also. Again - not about the $$, just about making sure they don't want to get him back.

[beccaB]

Oh yeah, that's another thing. Our dog laws here were exceptionally strict up until recently. The city council changed some wording, but the fact still remains that there are laws to protect animals from neglect and abuse. Under the old dog law if the animal control officer picked up your dog, or if someone took him to the county animal shelter, and IF the owner came to get him, the owner or even the person picking him up would face a misdemeanor charge of Dog at large and be fined $500. This actually backfired and caused more crowded conditions and more euthanasia because people would not go to collect their dogs knowing how much trouble they'd be in. I agree with trying to achieve a more responsible community, but our city council has some pretty idiot policies that have backfired.

[grey]

Here's a photo of the dog. He's really great. Housebroken, crate trained, some basic manners. He and Zoe have been playing together all morning - she's been teaching him how to play ball.

[maillotpois]

I'll take him....

[Owlie]

He's so cute!

[bmccasland]

He's cute! Needs a better name - after someone who vanquished/out-smarted their foes.

Hope he finds a loving home, not with previous owner's son.

[grey]

He's cute! Needs a better name - after someone who vanquished/out-smarted their foes.

Hope he finds a loving home, not with previous owner's son.

Yeah, FootFoot is a pretty odd name IMHO I've been calling him Lt. Fuzz, after Sarge's dog in the old comic strip Beetle. My brother suggested Capt. Jack, which I think is even better.

He IS cute, and so sweet. That makes the idea of sending him back to them harder. Not that I've ever had a foster dog that didn't deserve a decent home. I don't care if the home a foster gets is poor and just has enough to feed and care for a dog, so long as it's really, really loved & gets the best they can offer.

[Brandi]

This story has me on the edge of my seat!
I would not give him back. But then I have called out the neighbor down the street for having 2 dogs they never ever took care of. I didn't care. The dogs were taken from them (one could not walk and was lying in his own poop) they are not allowed to have any animals now. I could care less if they don't like me either. They own a local business and I tell people not to shop there and why. All my other neighbors love me anyway. lol

[Selkie]

That dog deserves the best. An angel led him to you, knowing that you would do right by the pooch.

[beccaB]

He's cute! Needs a better name - after someone who vanquished/out-smarted their foes.

Hope he finds a loving home, not with previous owner's son.

How about Hercules, or David (who vanquished Goliath)

[Biciclista]

sweet! you didn't give them your name or address!! YOU are a genius!!

[colorisnt]

People are AMAZING. If I knew I could, I would not give him back.

I just adopted a Chihuahua mix (probably chiXborder ter cross) and he was fostering with a friend until they could get him neutered and adopted. I went to pick him up after his neuter/microchip. I held him as I walked across the parking lot until I heard a dog squealing. I looked over and saw a Westie hurling through the air towards a car. It hit the side (they were trying to put it in the car, apparently) and squealed some more and then ran to me. I recognized it because while I was waiting for him to get the okay to leave the place, these stupid people came in wanting to drop their dog off temporarily while they left town. the HS told them NO WAY and they went on their marry way.

Well, anyway. I have my dog, an e-collar, and this dog is following me. The guy tells me to help him with his dog and I tell him that he can go take a flying leap. The dog hides under my car as I put my dog inside and crack the windows. Well, the dog comes out to me and the guy is still running around the other side of the parking lot and calling for it to come out. He thought the dog had ran off. Before he could see me, I picked up the westie and brought it up to the animal control officer who was taking a dog inside. I told the AC officer the story, left my contact info, and said I had to go because my dog was coming out of anesthesia in the car and it was hot.

I hate stupid people - especially those who take it out on animals. I couldn't believe that these people wanted to dump their dog temporarily. Because of that, if it is legal, I would NOT let the dog go back.

[Trek420]

He's cute! Needs a better name - after someone who vanquished/out-smarted their foes.

He's officially a TE dog so, Thor. Thor will smash! You did the right thing. I'm sure somehow his Mom's up there cheering you on for rescuing him and jeering her family for dumping her furbaby.