Question for Police, SPEA or animal cop. Dog owner went missing!?
Hello. I am a temperary foster home for a dog, I agreed to the owner that I’ll take care of her dog for 1 week but 1 week has passed and the owner went missing. I tried her cell phone many times left messages but no respond.
I have her driver’s license. What is my option? If I take the dog to the police station or SPEA, what will happen? THanks for your time.
More details: I didn’t know her, I helped her out of good heart. She needs to look for a new home that accepts pets and I agreed to take care of the dog for a week as a transition. And of cuz, I take NO money at all from her. I asked for her driver’s license becuz I knew there are too many people what want to abondon their dogs. Thanks again
9 Responses
sosezshe
30 Jul 2010
hudsongray
30 Jul 2010
If the owner doesn’t show up by the end of a second week, I’d make a phone call to the police department’s non-emergency line and tell them the story and ask what your options are.
It may be pet abandomnent, but it may also be that the owner is in the hospital from a car accident or something. You won’t know unless you can get more information. Did the person go on vacation somewhere where the current hurricanes are hitting land? That can disrupt all phone calls and make it hard for an owner to get in touch with you (they may have lost your number too), plus they’d be trapped till they can get somewhere else via plane, etc. There could be extenuating circumstances. Holding on to the dog for another week is a decent thing to do. Then after that start looking at what needs to be done.
bohrcmrinsitsy1
30 Jul 2010
Call Animal Control….this is animal abandonment and is a crime….You could opt to foster the dog until a new home is found or they will take it to a shelter.Also they will investigate and make sure no foul play or harm has befallen the owner. You should probably call right away Esp if you know the owner and thought she was fond of the dog and would not leave her.
Bozema
30 Jul 2010
You can relinquish the dog to Animal Control or SPCA as abandoned, giving them any ownership information you can, including the driver’s license. If she does not claim the dog within a certain time period, they will either place the dog up for adoption or euthanize it. But legally, this is what you must do if you no longer want the dog. If you don’t want the dog, but don’t want it euthanized either, tell the SPCA you want to adopt the dog at the end of the holding period. Go back that very day and claim the dog and then you can relinquish it to a "no-kill" shelter as its legal owner. You can search for such shelters on http://www.petfinder.com. Look for those in your area call them up ask their policies and if they have space and you can relinquish to one you feel comfortable with.
I think after one week she would have contacted you if she planned to claim her dog. Somehow I think its very unlikely she’s in a hospital somewhere and if I were out of cell phone range, I’d have found a way to contact you by now if it were my dogs.
Gringo
30 Jul 2010
I am concerned about the owner. It’s obvious the dog is in no danger. Since you were watching the dog, do you not have any numbers to people where she was going? Any contact locally for her? Have you gone by and checked her home to be certain she has not returned?
I think this is more important to report to the police if the owner appears to be missing. If anything has happened to the owner, the police can put the pet into protective custody while they investigate her disappearance and if she has family, perhaps one of them would take her dog.
julianpresley
30 Jul 2010
Well, unfortunately, their are not a lot recourse avenues for you even if you are fostering through a bonafide rescue group. Sadly, there is not a lot of protection, laws, rights etc for pet’s and their owners. Only lots of trouble for pet owners if your pet causes any problems/damage. The accountability is low: too low. It is very sad that there not a true voice for animals. Soo – if you really want to push it, depending on what state you live in, and it is the principle that is motivating you, then you might could TRY for animal abandonment. However, keep in mind that this typically only applies to animals that are left abandoned with no food, water, shelter, etc. Soo — in all honesty, you might just want to do the right thing for the animal and move on. — As for what will happen to the animal, unless you can go to a no-kill shelter, if you surrender them to an animal control ( ran by the city) or a non-profit humane society, their fate will depend on what type of dog, age, temperment, health problems, etc. : basically how ‘adoptable’ they are. Otherwise, they will be euthanized. You should also consider a breed specific rescue organization . They will foster specific breeds and are generally very picky about who they adopt to. This is the best option. Hope this helps. Good Luck. Hope you do the right thing for the animal and let me know if you need anything further!
Paul
30 Jul 2010
Why did the dog owner need to leave the dog
with you or anyone else? Was she taking a trip?
In that the owner hasen’t called you its possible
she’s in the hospital or something like that.
Do you know any of the owners friends?
If so, why not ask them whats going on.
Do you have her address? If not, why not?
If she wanted to dump the dog she could have
just dropped him off at a Humaine society/
animial shelter. Would it be possible for you to
care for the dog for a month or two? After that ,
if you don’t want the dog, just turn him over to a
animal shelter for adoption. Why would you
think of involving the police & maybe get her in
trouble?
What I don’t understand is why you have her drivers
lisense? Did you mean her registration plate
number on the car? Either way, why did you feel a need
to have that number? Did she pay you to care for
her dog? Does she owe you money? Whats your
relationship to this women?
Katya K
30 Jul 2010
Call the local police and ask them to do a welfare check.
Fancys_Mamma
30 Jul 2010
call the shelter or keep it
If you know for sure that hte owner is missing, I would call a breed specific rescue in your area. If you take the dog to the SPCA, it will most likely be euthanized.