Just adopted an adorable puppy, but...

[jenny93]

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Hi everyone!

My boyfriend and I really wanted a dog and we contacted a local rescue center and found the most adorable, gorgeous dog we could. We're just in love! It's been a couple of weeks now and he seems very happy and is super spoiled and loved.

However... Yesterday, the rescue centre calls us saying that someone reached out to them and claims they are the original owner of the dog, which seems to have gone lost about a month before we adopted him. I must stress that the rescue posted about the dog as soon as they found it to see if anyone came through, which didn't happen, so they decided to put it out for adoption.

Now, the dog was NOT microchipped nor dewormed nor neutered. The shelter had to do all this and the dog is now registered under our name, i.e., we are the legal owners. I am not willing to give the dog back because there is a bond now and I just can't tolerate someone comes and takes our baby away from us. My boyfriend, though, feels guilty and we're fighting a lot because I'm afraid he will propose to just give it back.

What do you guys think? Are we bad people?

 

[Mayblossom]

No, you’re not bad people at all ! Without a microchip it can’t be proved who the owner is, how old is the puppy ?

 

[Finsky]

I would keep it. Not knowing what happened to the 'original' family to loose that pet, but if they haven't bothered to chip their pet etc...makes me wonder if the home of 'origin' didn't look after it in first place.
Sounds odd that rescue place would try to get it back again...??

 

[JudyN]

I would want to know why the dog wasn't microchipped, dewormed or neutered. I haven't dewormed my dog for years, because I send off regular poo samples to be checked (saves on unnecessary chemical treatment), and many responsible owners keep their dogs unneutered. Microchipping is another matter as it's a legal requirement - but still, some people are concerned there could be health implications.

If you find that the original owners were actually caring and deserved this dog, and there was a genuine reason they hadn't come forward earlier, then I think however hard it is, the right thing to do would be to give him back. Also, I would consult a lawyer about the legal position - you really don't want to go through a long court case only for the dog to be taken from you.

Hopefully the rescue can advise you on both these aspects.

 

[niamh123]

I am feeling so sorry for you but as you say the rescue advertised you dog as being found for a while before you adopted him,if I lost my dog the first thing I would be doing is ringing around rescues to see if he had been taken there,The dog is now in tour name and I would not be returning him to his previous home.@joanneF I know has information for someone who deals with dog law

 

[JoanneF]

Yes, it's Trevor Cooper at www.doglaw.co.uk.

Microchipping at around 8 weeks, prior to going from breeder to new home, has been a requirement for a while now so that's a big red flag for me.

 

[Biker John]

Just a comment re microchipping, a friend is making arrangements to take his dog touring so is getting a pet passport for him. However, although both him and the vet know it had been chipped it could not be found and so it needs to be re chipped. I realise its rare but it is possible the dog had been chipped but either it has now failed so cant be read or the chip has come out somehow. Other than that I cant offer any further advice.

 

[JoanneF]

Just a comment re microchipping, a friend is making arrangements to take his dog touring so is getting a pet passport for him. However, although both him and the vet know it had been chipped it could not be found and so it needs to be re chipped. I realise its rare but it is possible the dog had been chipped but either it has now failed so cant be read or the chip has come out somehow. Other than that I cant offer any further advice.

Good point, it does happen.

 

[excuseme]

One of our puppies 2,years old now, has a micro-chip that has moved. It is now on the underside of her neck/throat, in the little hollow just at the point of her breast bone. I must remember to tell our vet !!

About 24 years ago we had another dog who's chip had moved and dropped down, our vet chipped her again at no further expense to us, he offered to remove the original one but we decided to leave it in place. She must have had two chips registered in our name.
.
When I was trained to micro-chip we were told to scan all over the animal if the chip was not in the expected area, simply because of the same reason that they can move.

 

[Rinkydinkydo]

Just because the dog wasn't chipped doesn't mean it came from a bad home. There will be boat loads of dogs out there without chips,just like there's thousands of cars without road tax.
I know I'd be devastated if I couldn't get my dog back after it had been found. But it's up to you and your partner to sort out at the end of the day.

 

[Janer]

I think I would be asking what proof do they have that the dog was theirs. Obviously they should have photos etc. Find out the circumstances of his disappearance etc. Ask lots of questions because only then can you make your decision you have to be sure that you have asked everything you need to for your peace of mind x.