Microchip/ Old Owner vs New Owner - Question

[Catty1]

This situation had to do with a cat.

A friend of mine posted on FB that a thin black cat in his area had wandered into his house around midnight one night and decided to stay.

He found a tattoo in the cat's ear and took it to the HS to trace the tatt. They found the original owner right away - her cat had disappeared FIVE YEARS before and she thought he had died.

She is now living in a no-cat place, so Midnight - the cat once known as Titan - went to live with my friend!

I know it's less likely that dogs run away without being noticed, but just saying it's worth checking out the background. In the cat's case, the owner would have had first dibs - but she couldn't have a cat where she was, and perhaps also decided that since my friend had taken such trouble to find out about the cat, that he would have a good home.

[zippy-kat]

This situation had to do with a cat.

A friend of mine posted on FB that a thin black cat in his area had wandered into his house around midnight one night and decided to stay.

He found a tattoo in the cat's ear and took it to the HS to trace the tatt. They found the original owner right away - her cat had disappeared FIVE YEARS before and she thought he had died.

She is now living in a no-cat place, so Midnight - the cat once known as Titan - went to live with my friend!

I know it's less likely that dogs run away without being noticed, but just saying it's worth checking out the background. In the cat's case, the owner would have had first dibs - but she couldn't have a cat where she was, and perhaps also decided that since my friend had taken such trouble to find out about the cat, that he would have a good home.

That's pretty amazing! Yes, I'm trying to keep an open mind (and meanwhile not get too attached). I do know the dog was chipped in 09 and she is young, I'm placing her at three maybe four. I also know the owners moved; I don't know the exact house or street but I know the area -- it is a few miles southeast of me. I drove by there yesterday and there are no lost dog posters... of course if it's been awhile, they might've stopped trying. The shelter didn't have record of a dog matching this description either.

I live in the country so I'm wondering if she weren't dropped off. As clingy as this dog is, I have a hard time believing she'd run away. Who knows, maybe something spooked her or someone stole her or... the possibilities are endless. I just find it odd that no one's responded to the voicemail I left. If it were my animal, I'd be all over it!

[Karen]

Hopefully the lump will be nothing serious - our beloved Gracie the Great Dane mix has a wen the size of a large grape on her side, but the vet assured is it was a hairless fatty lump. It was very obvious as she had that thin, sleek Great Dane coat, but it never bothered her.

[snakemama]

My brother found an emaciated dog a few years ago with a scab all the way around his neck from an embedded collar being ripped off, and massive burns/scarring all over his body. When we took him to the vet, he was found to be chipped, but we never called the number on the chip. We posted fliers around (Found small male dog, call to identify), and posted the same on Craigslist, and never heard anything. AFAIK, there isn't a way to re-register the chip without contacting the old owners, so we simply left it and we make sure he always has an ID tag on. I know that's not 100% effective, but the microchip company said that there was nothing we could do without proving the transfer of ownership.

I couldn't imagine soemone mistreating this little guy!

[wolf_Q]

Where are the pics? I feel like if you want it to be "legal" you would have to turn her over to the shelter then adopt her. At least the shelters around here say it is illegal to keep stray dog that you find, you must turn it into the shelter to give the owner a chance to claim the dog. If it's first come first serve I'm sure if you were there the morning the shelter opened after the holding period you wouldn't have a problem. If you don't want to do that then I'd post on the internet, flyers, etc. but don't post a pic or a real description make anyone who calls describe her for you or bring photos of her. After a few weeks I'd figure if they were really looking for their dog they would have contacted you by then, if you haven't heard anything just keep her. I don't know if there's a "legal" period where you can claim she's your dog? I feel like somebody who was trying to take her back would have to prove ownership though. Did you get the name of the owner on the microchip? Could you look them up on internet perhaps?

[zippy-kat]

Where are the pics? I feel like if you want it to be "legal" you would have to turn her over to the shelter then adopt her. At least the shelters around here say it is illegal to keep stray dog that you find, you must turn it into the shelter to give the owner a chance to claim the dog. If it's first come first serve I'm sure if you were there the morning the shelter opened after the holding period you wouldn't have a problem. If you don't want to do that then I'd post on the internet, flyers, etc. but don't post a pic or a real description make anyone who calls describe her for you or bring photos of her. After a few weeks I'd figure if they were really looking for their dog they would have contacted you by then, if you haven't heard anything just keep her. I don't know if there's a "legal" period where you can claim she's your dog? I feel like somebody who was trying to take her back would have to prove ownership though. Did you get the name of the owner on the microchip? Could you look them up on internet perhaps?

Yep, got the name of the owner and phone numbers. One has been disconnected and I left a message on the other (as did the animal shelter). That was yesterday... so far not a peep. It strikes me as odd that I haven't heard anything. I will call the local vets and see if they have the person as a client and if they have updated info and go from there.

I don't think it's illegal here to keep a stray... or if it is, the animal shelter screwed up royally by giving her back to me after they scanned her. Not sure.

Can you believe she's scared of the camera? She's a sporting dog and I wonder if holding the camera up, reminds her of a gun. She's really skittish so I don't know... best I could come up with. lol

[kaycountrygal]

ok, I've read all the comments. You live in the country and no doubt get strays. I live in the country and have a great dog Annie that was a stray. I made no effort whatsoever to find the owner. She looked so bad that I just kept her; that was six years ago.

IMO you've done enough to try to find the owner by leaving a message. I personally would not do flyers or call vets. Now it's waiting time. Just treat her the way she deserves and hopefully noone will call.