I'm SOOOOOO excited...I found Tobey this morning!!!

I am so sorry to hear about Tobey. I don't know of any words that I can say to comfort you right now but I want you to know that I'm thinking of you guys today.

I'm so sorry you can't get Tobey right away. I don't know if I'm more depressed or angry!

Since you have all the vet records with dates and the ads, I can't imagine that the law wouldn't be on your side. If you advertised in the paper, that should have a date on it too. This should be enough to prove ownership. I don't think I'd be able to let this go. There must be a lawyer that can tell you what to do. Some even have 'first consultation is free' offers.

Please don't give up hope.

Mary

I think she's fighting for the dog because she loves and misses him. Its not fair when she followed the law and some weasel just took him back after that long then lied about it. And when she gets Tobey back, its not going to prevent her from rescuing other dogs. She couldn't say no to any canine in need :D :D

I agree with Logan about the microchipping. It is the best way to prove the dogs ownership.

A thought.... can you get copies of the newspaper ads you ran trying to find the rightful owner and then the vet bills (hopefully some 30 days apart) to take to a lawyer. Some lawyers work on a free basis and get paid after they win the case. They will be able to tell you for sure if you have a paw to stand on in getting Tobey back.

You know 20/20 hindsight is a beautiful thing. We had planned to get Tobey chipped and like everything else we put it off and didn't do it and if we had there wouldn't have been a question as to whom the dog belonged. We are planning on fighting it in small claims court, but it makes me angry that we were told that he was ours and that when we found him we could have him back with all the records we have and now they're saying no we can't. We are going to contact the contractor whose men saw Tobey and the guy chasing him and get notarized statements from them testifying to what they saw. The girl at animal control told us also to force him to show vet records for him being neutered (which he won't be able to do) and nail him that way.

:( :( :mad: I am so mad AND sad at hearing this! Sometimes makes you wonder what we pay the police for in the first place! I hold you in my thoughts and prayers, Mugsy and hope that y'all win in court.

Re: Micro Chipping- I don't know about there in TX, but here in WA. the Safeway Store and sometimes Petsmart hold special clinics and "Chip" your pets for about $15 a pet.

Our SPCA just started microchipping, and yes, they will chip them for $15 a dog and they make $5 a dog for the shelter which is good too since we would be helping them out at the same time we get helped out!! I think we're taking Billy and Jessie this week to get them done. I will let all of you know what's happening. Thanks again for caring...it makes it a little easier to deal with. Thanks!!!

Good for you (and Mike), Molly. I don't suppose you would allow us to help you with the cost of chipping all those babies???? Would you?? I think it would be money well spent.....but to do 15, even at that cost, could add up. I'd be glad to contribute on behalf of a few of your dogs, directly to the vet if you would allow me to. I consider you a "shelter" in many ways, even if you don't have the tax deductible status.

Think about it and PM me if you're agreeable. I would love to help.

Logan

Wow Logan, as if I didn't know it already, you sure have a big warm heart! And you, Molly too. What a wonderful, warm and caring people you are, wish everyone would be like that!
Not much I can do from Belgium, except wish that Tobey will be back safely!

((((((((Logan & Molly))))))))))

Mugsy, I know how hurt you are, after you and Mike gave so much love to Toby to find this person claiming him. Where was he when you were looking around the neighborhood, putting an ad in the paper, etc. etc. Sometimes it seems there is no justice in this world, that the good never prevails. However in this case I am hoping and we will all keep our fingers and paws crossed that you get him back as he belongs with you.
Jackie

Oh Mugsy, what devestating news! :( But Mugsy, I'm not going to give up hope that Tobey will be back with you soon. He is yours in every sense of the word. If possible, I would fight this in court with all my might. Aly and Zippy had some very pertinent legal points. And armed with all of your records, witness affidavits, etc., there is no question to whom the dog belongs. And microchipping is definitely a thing to consider for all our babies. Here, the MSPCA and Boston Animal Rescue League hold a FREE microchipping weekend every for all licensed dogs and cats. You and Mike and all the babies are in my thoughts and prayers. And especially precious Tobey. Please don't give up hope!! If you need, I have a link to a law firm that specializes in animal law and such cases. {{{Hugs}}} Sandra, Cody and Star

YAY!!! I'M SOOO GLAD, THAT YOUR SWEET TOBEY IS HOME!!!

Love,
Sarah & Sadie

Oh, I just read about what had happened!:( Mugsy, I am sooo sorry!:( :( I hope that you can get your sweet Tobey back, very soon! I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers!

Love,
Sarah & Sadie

Mugsy:
sry, I guess I wasn't around much when you told stuff about Tobey..do you mind me asking stuff about him? I saw some pics in you album and hes precious..GL with everything!!
Is tobey yours? or was he like the HA's or something?? Or fostering?? How did he get out and such? (sry for the ?'s..I guess I didnt see anything about him b4 :[)

In October, Mike was coming home from looking for a job and saw this dog running loose on the adjacent street from ours, and stopped and picked him up so he didn't get hit or worse. We put ads in the paper, ads at both shelters, put up flyers, and drove him around the neighborhood looking for the owner, all to no avail, so after 30 days (which in Fort Wayne means the dog is yours), we took him to the vet and had him neutered and got his shots etc. So, Logan, I hope that answers your question. If you have any more, just let me know and I will be happy to answer them. I really appreciate all of your kind words...it really means a lot to both Mike and me. We will keep trying to get him back and will keep you up to date as much as possible. Also, a Smokey update, we are going to try and find him a home where he is the only dog since he is iffy about how he will be out of a crate and off leash with the other dogs.

I asked the same question, Audrey

Thank you Logan! I actually read that, but wasn't sure if that was Tobey she was talking about..oops :x (sry hehe..i'm a little..hrm..slow :o ) lol

Just a quick little update on the Tobey situation. The woman that called me about Smokey called Mike yesterday and said that she had seen Tobey out running again, but she was afraid to get close because she didn't know his temperment. Both Mike and I assured her that he is nothing less than sweet, so she agreed that if she sees him out again that she will try to load him in her van and bring him to us and we will immediately take him and have him chipped, so there won't be a question as to who his owner is (I know, it's evil, but the guy made me mad). Mike and I are both driving that direction everytime we leave so hopefully we will catch him out and about again and we have be advised by the girl at Animal Control to watch for him and if we see him running to get him again and then he will be ours.

Mugsy, sounds as though your plan might work. Good idea about the chip. You need to find some way to stop the dog from getting out, yes? How did the guy get the dog after you had him? I bet the dog would just love to return to you and your home. Good luck and keep us posted!!!

I am sure this is really tough on you.

Good for you Mugsy, I hope he does get out so that you can pick him up. That guy can't think too much of him to let him get out like that. That is a terrible situation for you to be in but keep the faith you will prevail.
Jackie

I'm a little confused Mugsy. Don't you have to have dogs licensed in your state? Here in New York, all dogs must be licensed in the county and /or city where you live. These licenses are like proof of ownership. If ownership is "transferred" form one person to another, there are forms that need to be filled out and turned into the county clerk along with a fee. If a dog is found as a stray and there are no county records for that particular dog, assuming no tags, microchips, dogs reported missing that match description, etc. the dog becomes the "property" of the county animal shelter for 30 days, gets shots and if necessary, gets neutered or spayed. If this man claims to be the "real" owner of Tobey, then he must have his early shot records or his license. Right? If not then he is in violation of the law and will get a citation. In our county, the parks officer issue a ticket on the spot for an unlicensed dog and the fine is $500!! How does it work where you live? Perhaps this could be incentive for you and Mike to petition the county for some new rules and regulations... The licensing fee is $4.50 for a fixed animal and $10. for an unfixed animal. Not a huge amount of money, but alot of piece of mind... I hope you get Tobey back and everything works out. And I hope my sharing my county's way has been useful to you. Good Luck!!

This is one of the rare occasions where I would like to see the dog running loose. Keep up your hope, he will be home soon.

Gio's right--what a bizarre situation to be HOPING that Tobey's running loose! Sounds like the proof-of-ownership issues sure are wacky and inconsistent. Hang in there and trust that Tobey will be reunited with you soon! :D

Well, Mike saw Tobey today and Mike said he recognized him, but wouldn't come to him, so Mike is of the opinion that Tobey doesn't want to come back to us. I don't think I agree with that, but we will see...I still haven't given up hope. I will keep you posted. And, yes, we do have pet licenses that we have to purchase, but we hadn't gotten his yet, so we didn't have that proof, unfortunately. Our pet licenses cost $4 for fixed pets and $28 for in tact animals.

But Mugsy, did this man have Tobey licensed? If not, he has no proof of ownership. AND...he's currently breaking the law!! Call animal control and send them over!! I don't know what the fine is where you are but $500 is a hefty sum!

WOW!!! $500...ours is something like $50!!!

Poor Tobey! I missed somewhere the story on how this guy got Tobey back - someone saw him chasing Tobey? Where was Tobey that this guy got a hold of him? If this is Tobey's original owner, it doesn't seem like he did much to find Tobey so why does he suddenly want him now?!

I don't know why the guy wanted him back since he didn't bother to look for him when he disappeared the first time. We decided to go the legal route and take the guy to small claims court and see what happens.

I'm sure Tobey wants to come back to you guys. Maybe he was just having a good time out in the open sniffing things. I will be praying for you and Mike and hoping all goes well in court.

Keep your head up, things will get better.

I was heartbroken last Saturday, I took my friend Paula down by the house to show her where he lives now and he was out running AGAIN and he followed the van just far enough, but then not far enough for us to pick him up and not get caught. I just want him back home where he belongs and I'm beginning to lose hope that that will ever happen. My neighbor that lives that way said she sees him out everyday running loose and today he was in the yard where Smokey came from aka the dog fighting house and she tried to get him but he ran away from her. I plan on getting the paper work downtown on Wednesday since I have to be out of town tomorrow for my uncle's funeral.

Things will get better! He even followed the van!!!!! Maybe next time you drive by, you can have some tasty treats with you to throw out the window and lure him down the sidewalk :D

I have great hope that he will be back in your arms soon one way or another.

Our neighbor called me last night and told me that she and her husband tried to get Tobey into their car and the little guy didn't want anything to do with it. So, we do have allies on that end of the addition that are willing to help us get him back...I will keep you updated.

Mugsy, paws and fingers crossed here for Tobey's return. It will happen, don't worry! Just stay strong ok?

(((((Molly))))))

Don't give up Mugsy, you'll get Tobey back.