Found dog - what to do!

Doglost10101

Hi there, just after some advice.

My friend found a small dog yesterday, being kicked out of a shop. She is covered in mange and fleas. My friends checked for a microchip and nothing was found. The dog seems to be of good temperament but is skinny too. We assumed she'd been lost for a while. Alongside this the dogs nipples are huge, and she's clearly had puppies.

Tonight someone has told us they have found the owner and sent my friend a number to call.

When calling the number, the woman on the other end of the phone was so rude, and then went on to say the dog only went lost yesterday. The woman won't describe the dog, said I want to come and collect her now.

She won't discuss the dog, saying she wants to come and get the dog now.

My friend doesn't know what to do.

My friends ringing the RSPCA for some advice, but if someone can give some advice it would be appreciated on what to do next.

orlao

Does your local council have an out of hours number? If so, ring it and find out who they have as their drop off/agent for lost dogs - a 24 hr Medivet in my area - and take the dog there as it will be safe. Owners have to pay a fee to retrieve them and as she isn't microchipped as she should be, they would have to pay for that too. Should put off any chancers and hopefully if there are concerns about the dogs health or welfare that would be addressed before they are allowed to take her.

For future reference, all found dogs should be reported to the dog warden at the council ASAP, might even be a legal requirement.

Good luck/

McKneff

What do you mean when you say your friends looked for a microchip.....

Only a vet with a machine would be able to locate a microchip......

Doglost10101

My friend took the dog to a vet. It definately isn't microchipped.

Trina90

They can be felt easily if you feel around the dog's neck actually, they should never be implanted deeply, they only go subcut

*Robin*

Trina90 wrote: »

They can be felt easily if you feel around the dog's neck actually, they should never be implanted deeply, they only go subcut

Not true. My husky's chip certainly can't be felt through her fluff, although we know it's present and working as it's been checked three times this past week.

OP, hope you can satisfy yourselves that the woman does actually own the dog before handing her over - the dog's reaction when the woman greets her should tell you a lot.
Actually, I'd probably go the dog warden route, which will ensure the dog is chipped before being released.

SensibleSarah

Informing the dog warden is a legal requirement. Don't let dog go with anyone unless they show proof of ownership first e.g. Photos of them with the dog.
One of the Facebook groups I'm in which helps reunite lost pets had 5 separate people try & claim the same found dog was theirs once.

Personally I'd ring the warden & let them deal with it as the potential owner is being so rude. There is a charge for owner to get dog back from warden & they will also advise owner on chipping (although they can't do it themselves usually).

Old_Possum

Given the state of the animal I would also report the owners (if they turn out to be so) to the RSPCA. The woman could be running an illegal puppy farm.

Pollycat

Old_Possum wrote: »

Given the state of the animal I would also report the owners (if they turn out to be so) to the RSPCA. The woman could be running an illegal puppy farm.

I'd query whether handing over a dog that has mange and fleas and is skinny (unless she's a lurcher/hound-type breed) to someone who says is the owner is the right thing to do.

What did the vet say about the mange?

Doglost10101

Ok - a sad update

Thanks for all of your help and advice. My friend called the RSPCA who in no uncertain terms told her that the dog was 'property' and therefore should be handed back and she would be committing an offence holding her. The 'owner' had gone to a local police staton who contacted my friend and asked her to bring the dog down. The police woman was pretty shocked at the state of the dog, the 'owners' we're very verbally abusive and grabbed the dog off my friend, swearing and yelling. The dog was hunched up in a ball. It was horrific. The police then said that they should be able to take the dog, and told them that they needed to go to the vets with the dog asap to get it sorted. My friends sure they won't, the owners looked like they were unable to wash themselves, never mind provide any sort of decent care for a dog.

My friend is completely beside herself and on reflection, if we found another dog that had been neglected that wasn't reported missing anywhere and had no chip, I don't think we would ever try to locate the owners again. It has been horrific and this poor dog is now back with the neglectful owners.

The RSPCA's response shocked me, they didn't seem all too bothered about the neglect issue nor the welfare of the dog. The police who clearly acknowledged the state of the dog also handed it back over.

My friend lives in Wales and the local dog warden basically said they hadn't got the room nor time to come and get the dog, but they'd make a log of it. They were totally useless.

Thank you for all of your help and responses.

Pollycat

Pollycat wrote: »

What did the vet say about the mange?

And did the vet say that the dog had been ill-treated?

ETA:

Doglost10101 wrote: »

The police woman was pretty shocked at the state of the dog, the 'owners' we're very verbally abusive and grabbed the dog off my friend, swearing and yelling. The dog was hunched up in a ball. It was horrific. The police then said that they should be able to take the dog, and told them that they needed to go to the vets with the dog asap to get it sorted. My friends sure they won't, the owners looked like they were unable to wash themselves, never mind provide any sort of decent care for a dog.

Then why didn't she ring RSPCA back and tell that that she thought the dog was being returned to owners who were neglecting it?

Sorry - these questions aren't addressed towards you and your friend but towards 2 organisations who appear to have let this poor dog down, unlike your friend.

I'm not surprised that she's so upset.