Are you wondering how to change ownership of a dog that you have been caring for, but the original owners have been unresponsive for a year? Should you give them a letter of intent to adopt, a contract to surrender the dog, or notify animal control? How can you find a loving home for this dog while ensuring his well-being? Let’s discuss the best steps to take in this situation. #ChangingOwnership #DogCare #AdoptDontShop #PetOwnership #RescueDogs #AnimalWelfare
That dog will not have a good quality of life if returned to its previous owner, look up cases in your area to see if there are ones about dogs being taken to ensure their quality of life to see what precedents have been set in your local courts. Either way, if the dog “got out due to a bit of unfortunate negligence” and “no one turns him in” then really what could they come after you for? How would they know?
Every law has an understood “If you get caught doing” before it, if they can’t prove you rehomed the dog they have no case. So delete this post and maybe this account once you decide to “get the dog home.”
Quit communicating with them. Keep the dog. And no way I would take it to a shelter.
Can you reach out to your local shelter or humane society and ask about animal abandonment laws? A lawyer could probably answer that (maybe for free).
In other words, the dog is lucky to have you
Give them notice that the dog will be considered abandoned property after 30 days. If they don’t pick it up, rehome it. Make sure you get this all timestamped in writing.
Speak to a lawyer to see if he could send a letter on your behalf indicating they have 30 days to pay the late board bill or to pay 1/4 and surrender the dog
I am shocked no one has asked yet, but are they paying you to board this dog? Do you have any sort of written agreement with them? If they’re paying you, then, I mean, it’s cruel, but as long as the card goes through, then it is what it is.
A quick Google found this PDF about non-payment with vets in CA. I’m not saying this exactly encompasses your situation, but I have to imagine that it’s similar enough to be a jumping off point, particularly if they’re not [currently] paying you for boarding their dog.
https://www.vmb.ca.gov/laws_regs/lieninfo.pdf
I would tell them the dog will not be released until bill is paid in full…which if it was me I would bill around 15k 🤷🏽♂️
invoice a bill that is going to be WAY too much for them to handle and enjoy your new pupper as you have just berated them from a toxic home, if they didn’t give a shit for a year, just imagine how if the dog shit on the floor due to not being let out as need and blamed for shitting on the floor… they relinquished their rights out of negligence and that would like hold up in court.
and just to reiterate, send them a bill they won’t pay.