Q: What constitutes abandonment in California?
An older lady was walking around after her (presumably) escaped canine until offered help by my friend and their family to catch the dog and return her to her home. During this time, the older woman cursed the dog and eventually started walking away and just left. Once the dog was finally found, she was taken to my friend's house and given food and water. The day after, they took her to the vet who found her to be chipped and contacted the "owner" to no avail; they left contact information for both the vet and my friend but no response as of yet. This being said, my friend intends to keep the dog if she is in fact abandoned but doesn't want any legal repercussions the woman might try to use against them harboring her dog while trying to return her. And, if fruitless, when can my friend claim the dog as their own? Also, if the woman shows up and demands her dog back, can my friend demand compensation for services used to keep the dog alive? And if so, what if she refuses to pay?
A: If you know who the dog belongs to, then you should return it. You should provide it to animal control along with your phone number. If the dog is not picked up by the owner within a certain time period, then they typically will consider giving the dog to the person who found it and turned it in, upon request. It sounds like the dog may be lost. It's hard to say whether it's been abandoned, based on these facts. More details are necessary to provide a professional analysis of your issue. The best first step is an Initial Consultation with an Attorney. You can read more about me, my credentials, awards, honors, testimonials, and media appearances/ publications on my law practice website. I practice law in CA, NY, MA, and DC in the following areas of law: Business & Contracts, Criminal Defense, Divorce & Child Custody, and Education Law. This answer does not constitute legal advice; make any predictions, guarantees, or warranties; or create any Attorney-Client relationship.
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