"Collection Fee" for stray dog

PeteJC21

Hi,
About 6 weeks ago our dog "escaped" from our back garden while we were both at work. We had had her only 2 weeks (got her from a rescue centre) and had been leaving her in the conservatory with the door open so she can go into the garden to use the toilet. We always keep the back gate shut and bolted, but when my wife got home from work the dog was gone and the gate was undone. My wife called he police as she thought someone had broken into the garden and taken the dog. However 10 mins later she had a call from a dog warden saying they had picked the dog up following a call from a local resident (dog was only 50 yeards from our house).

We think someone had walked down the alley, saw that the conservatory was open and got over the fence to have a look, (nothing was taken as we had moved pretty much everything into the house for this very reason), they just took the dog and left the gate open.

Anyway the warden had only had the dog for about 20 mins when my wife arrived to pick her up, however he refused to hand the dog over and she had to stay the night, my wife then had to pay £31 to get her back. During her time with the warden her collar (which we paid £20 for) had gone missing! The warden blamed it on the vet, the vet blamed it on the warden!

Now 6 weeks later we recieve an invoice from maidstone council for a £60 Out of Hours Collection Fee, basically a charge for "letting the dog stray" and for them picking the dog up and taking her to the kennels! Can anyone advise where we stand with regards to paying/not paying this!

The dog did not "stray", we believe she was stolen and then left by whoever took her. Does this not make us the victim of a crime? If so is it right that we have had to pay £31 intially anf now another £60? AND someone at either the vets or wardens (probably wardens) have blatantly stolen her collar?! Because nothing was taken and we got the dog back quite quickly she didn't bother pursuing the break in with the police, we just stopped leaving the conservatory door open and started using indoor puppy pads.

She is phonng the council today but I wanted to get some advice from anyone who knows a little about these issues.

Thanks,
Pete

whatmichaelsays

Aren't these sorts of fees quite common? I'm sure a friend of mine was charged a "recovery fee" when the police found his stolen car.

System

PeteJC21 wrote: »

The dog did not "stray", we believe she was stolen and then left by whoever took her. Does this not make us the victim of a crime? If so is it right that we have had to pay £31 intially anf now another £60? AND someone at either the vets or wardens (probably wardens) have blatantly stolen her collar?!

Wow do you do any other conspiracy theories?

Somebody steals a dog, abandons it 50 yards from the house. The warden recovers it and then possibly he or the vet steals the collar.

Do you think the original thief is part of a countrywide gang out to scam pet owners of warden fees?

Of course the BIG problem is that there is no evidence of a crime.

fluffnutter

Isn't it more likely that a dog who's only been in its home for 2 short weeks decided to go wandering, than someone actually stole it (and dumped it)?

fluffnutter

I didn't think you could get a rescue dog if it you intend to leave it on its own all day. My friends had trouble when they wanted to get a dog because they both work. In the end one of them had to take their dad with them who vouched that the dog could be with him during the day.

PeteJC21

fluffnutter wrote: »

Isn't it more likely that a dog who's only been in its home for 2 short weeks decided to go wandering, than someone actually stole it (and dumped it)?

Yes, the dog unbolted and opened the back gate by herself.

!!!!!! wrote: »

Wow do you do any other conspiracy theories?

Somebody steals a dog, abandons it 50 yards from the house. The warden recovers it and then possibly he or the vet steals the collar.

Do you think the original thief is part of a countrywide gang out to scam pet owners of warden fees?

Of course the BIG problem is that there is no evidence of a crime.

Are you an idiot? Perhaps I didn't word it coorectly as I wrote it in a hurry, maybe she was not "taken" but as whoever opened the gate didn't close it behind them she was able to get out. In either case someone got into our garden and let her out. Trespassing/breaking & entering call it what you will, I'm pretty sure it's still against the law. If you have nothing constructive to say then go and troll somewhere else idiot child. :T

967stuart

PeteJC21 wrote: »

Yes, the dog unbolted and opened the back gate by herself. :T




Are you an idiot? Perhaps I didn't word it coorectly as I wrote it in a hurry, maybe she was not "taken" but as whoever opened the gate didn't close it behind them she was able to get out. In either case someone got into our garden and let her out. Trespassing/breaking & entering call it what you will, I'm pretty sure it's still against the law. If you have nothing constructive to say then go and troll somewhere else idiot child.

I bet it was aliens, in fact, Im convinced it was aliens.

There is no chance of you leaving the gate open is there lol.

Jaysus ... how about instead of playing 'im a victim card' you just pay the £60 and stop moaning.

PeteJC21

967stuart wrote: »

I bet it was aliens, in fact, Im convinced it was aliens.

There is no chance of you leaving the gate open is there lol.

Jaysus ... how about instead of playing 'im a victim card' you just pay the £60 and stop moaning.

I think posting on here was a bad idea, it's obviously the kiddies corner. The gate is NEVER unlocked as it's hardly ever used, it stays bolted and locked all the time. And you think it's acceptable to have your garden broken into, your dog let out, get charged £91 and then have her collar stolen by the people who are charging you? Wow... and you're posting on a "money saving expert forum". :rotfl:, can I have you as my financial advisor please?

Maybe I sleep walked the night before and went and unlocked it?? Jesus Christ.. it's not science involving rockets is it?? Forget about it, why dont you all go back to playing your video games and claiming your benefits. I'll find a more mature forum to post this on.

fluffnutter

PeteJC21 wrote: »

Yes, the dog unbolted and opened the back gate by herself.

How about this... yes, someone came into your garden. They left once they realised there was nothing worth stealing leaving the back gate opened. The dog wandered off.

Crazy I know!

bris

Maybe you did, you are speculating about what happened with no evidence whatsoever to back up your claims. No crime has been commited and nothing to point to anything except you blaming everyone else for your mistake. Pay the fees and look after the dog better the next time, now i'm away back to sit in my corner.

PeteJC21

fluffnutter wrote: »

How about this... yes, someone came into your garden. They left once they realised there was nothing worth stealing leaving the back gate opened. The dog wandered off.

Crazy I know!

Yes, as I explained above in another reply, I wrote, my initial post in a hurry and forgot to mention this possibility too (which is what probably more likely).

But either way... if someone broke in and let her out, why should I pay?