Q: At what point can I assert ownership of a stray dog.
Two large stray dogs showed up at my rural home. We cared for both for three days before taking the smaller of the two to the local shelter to see if he was chipped. He was chipped and the shelter contacted the registered owner. I informed the shelter that I have the other dog at my home. The two dogs are known by the shelter to run at large together. They would not rerelease the dog I brought in due to the owner already being contacted. I tried multiple times to call the owner so I could return the other dog but received no answer. The shelter agreed to put the owner in touch with us when they come in to claim the dog from the shelter. The shelter has had the dog for two days now and the dogs owner has not shown up to claim him and has not responded to thier subsequent attempts to make contact. I would be happy to make both dogs part of my family. What are my options for asserting ownership?
A: Pursuant to state law, the shelter has to hold dogs with ID for five days (three for dogs without ID). Once the hold period is up they can do whatever they want with the dogs, so make sure you've put in written requests to adopt both dogs NOW and follow up daily.
A: Pursuant to state law, the shelter has to hold dogs with ID for five days (three for dogs without ID). Make sure they have input the dog you have at home in their system as a stray hold as well or ownership won't be severed by statute. Once the hold period is up they can do whatever they want with the dogs, so make sure you've put in written requests to adopt both dogs NOW and follow up daily.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
