So sad...

Linzp

My eighteen year old DH arrived home with a little drowned rat last night, she was a black Cairn/Yorkie type terrier and apart from her smell she was adorable.
We took her back to where she started following him in the hope she might lead us to her home.
After knocking on several doors, asking in the local pubs (many had seen her hanging around and following random people) we admitted defeat and took her home as it was after ten and peeing down with rain.
My two DS (18 & 14) have wanted a dog for years, but we've always said no as we have a couple of parrots and thought it might distress them...although we always believed we'd end up with a doggie one day, just not a pocket sized one, lol.
I rang the dog warden this morning and they came to collect her, she hadn't been reported missing and wasn't wearing a collar.
Trouble is....we've all gone and fallen in love.
I know her owner may collect her, and if they do then 'all's well that ends well' however, if they don't, how easy will it be for us to get her back and rehome her? We miss her, and I'm so sorry I let her go this morning, I can't bear to think of her locked up and alone in a kennel somewhere!
What do we next?
Many thanks.

nikki702

Why dont you contact the dog warden tomorrow morning and ask their advice? they might let you rehome her if nobody collects

Linzp

Thanks
I did tell the warden we were wavering, he said we should contact them in seven days when we'd had time to think...

I'm worried now whether we'll have first choice to rehome (unless the owner surfaces of course) or if they'll decide she'd be better elsewhere! (no reason to think that, just paranoid)
Do I ring before the seven days are up to say we are sure we'd like her back, or just wait?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I'd be on the phone first thing tomorrow - just in case the 7 days end up with something nasty happening to the dog before you get through to them.

nikki702

I agree I would ring first thing good luck

murphydog999

If this doggie is meant to be yours he will be, if someone collects him, be happy that him and his owner have been reunited. Fate usually determines these things.

Linzp

I do agree, best case scenario would be for her to be reunited with her owner.
The warden thought that due to the poor state of her coat she probably belonged to someone elderly (pure speculation of course)
I'd hate to think of the distress they must be feeling if this is the case.
It wouldn't be as simple as just ringing tomorrow and collecting her.
I think now the owner has seven days to claim her....if she came back to us, there would be another month in which her owner would still have a legal right (I would not hesitate in handing her back, even beyond a month.)
I think I've got this right?

nikki702

Any news Linzp?