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staceyburton · Feb 5, 2011, 06:30 AM

I found a dog, when I took it to the vet they scanned him for a chip and said there was not one in him, they advised me to put posters up and advertise on local websites for his owners to come forward and I did. I found him June 2010 he was reported missing by his previous owners in May 2010. He went missing from my home and picked up by the warden and they discovered another chip in him, 1 from me and 1 from the owner. The problem is when I found him he looked like he had been neglected badly and soiled himself when he heard any loud noise, sudden movement or I got the sweeping brush out. He also had patches of fur missing and was wriggled with fleas and worms. Im worried that the dog has gone back to someone who is miss treating him, however when I told the wardens of my worries they seemed to be more bothered about the fact they had paid the Â£80 fee to recover him and not his welfare. What do I do, I've been advised to seek legal advice??

joypulv · Feb 5, 2011, 06:53 AM

You could ask a humane society to investigate, but there isn't a lot you can do, even legally (in the US, states can give such organizations the power to take abused animals). But the owners can say that the symptoms of neglect all happened while he was missing, including the fears. You could find out who they are (if possible) and ask if you can pay them the fee and take him back, that you fell in love with him and provided a good home. You could even offer more, I suppose. You could ask if you could visit or dogsit when they go on vacation. Perhaps you could even 'share' ownership. Many people like a break from the responsibility once in a while.

staceyburton · Feb 5, 2011, 07:35 AM

Thanks joypulv for your response.
I live in the UK so I'm hoping there is a little bit more that I can do
to help him.
Im willing to leave him alone if someone can prove he's all right.
Just can't get the thought of someone hurting him out of my head x

Thanks Hun xxx

joypulv · Feb 5, 2011, 07:59 AM

If the dog warden won't give you their contact information for privacy reasons, they might be willing to contact them to ask them to contact you.
Anyway, I had a dog once I shared. He had a house and yard, I had only an apartment that didn't allow dogs, so when I was given a dog I put signs up asking for a 'co-owner' and it worked out very well.

staceyburton · Feb 5, 2011, 08:06 AM

That's y the UK is different from USA, things I must say seem a hell of a lot
Easier to deal with in USA as everything I've found that involve dog lovers on the net have
Come from there xxxx thanks again xxxx

Aurora_Bell · Feb 5, 2011, 08:17 AM

A month on the streets can wreak a lot of havoc on a dog. The owners may have taken very good care of him, but after rumaging through trash to find his meals, that may be the reason for his worms and fleas. The bald patches could be from dog fights, shimmy-ing under fences or an alergic reaction to God knows what he was eating. The possibilities are endless when it comes to a dog on free run.

I think it is VERY admirable that there are people like you out there, who are taking the time to show interest in the welfare of this dog and who were willing to let a little street dog in your home, and willing to spend not only the time, but the money to get him healthy again. I know if someone found my dog and took good care of her until she was returned to me, and if they wanted to stay in contact to make sure she was well looked after, I would be more then willing to send off e-mails and pic's or the occasional phone call and visit.

Like has been mentioned, I would also contact the SPCA (or the Humane Society, not sure what it's called in the U.K) and express your concerns, let them know that you are willing to leave your contact info for the owners to contact you. Also call the "warden" and express your concerns and see if they will do a few follow up visits to the dog to make sure he is healthy and happy.

A few years back I found a Beagle wondering around, he came to my yard for about a week straight before I finally went out with some cooked sandwich meat to investigate. Just like your dog, he was full of fleas, bloated, dirty and starving. I took him in, fed him, cleaned him, took him to the vet got rid of the fleas and worms, when all of a sudden I received a phone call from the owners. I only had him for a month, but I had become very attached to the little bugger, and sending him home was heart breaking. I kept thinking what kind of owners they were if they let their dog run away. But it happens, dogs get out everyday. It doesn't necessarily mean they were bad owners.

The owners said they would keep in touch, but they never did. They sent one e-mail telling me Pongo was home and happy, and nothing ever again. I e-mailed them a few times after that, but never heard back from them. So I really do know how you are feeling. You did a wonderful thing, and probably saved this little dog's life. Continue to call and ask to be kept in the loop.

Cat1864 · Feb 5, 2011, 08:20 AM

Stacey, there seems to be some missing information. How long did you have the dog? How long did you have posters, etc. up before he got loose? Did you contact the authorities to see if anyone had reported him missing? Would the warden give you his owner's address so that you could see how he is doing? If so, how close to your area (the area where you placed the posters) do they live?

I think I would ask the vet why he/she didn't find the previous chip. It might be that they need to be more careful in how they scan.

Keep in mind that it doesn't take long for even the healthiest dog to go downhill when it is on its own. So the dog may very well have a great home. Keep that thought in mind if and when you contact the owners. You don't want them getting defensive because you are expecting the worse if you truly want to make sure the pup is doing well. A defensive owner won't be open to allowing you to see him or to talking to you about how he is doing.

Aurora_Bell · Feb 5, 2011, 08:29 AM

That's why I don't mind paying the extra $12 it costs here to register your dog and get the little tag. If they are ever picked up and for some reason the chip doesn't scan, they always have her tags that will lead her back to me.

I have heard of a few stories where the chips don't get picked up. Sometimes the chip goes in too deep or moves around in the back and shoulder area. Heard a person tell us their dog's chip ended up on the forearm of the dog. I don't know if they can travel that far, I'm just saying it could happen that the first time the chip wasn't scanned properly like Cat has mentioned.