Q: Person found a missing dog, called to relinquish it... but now says his friends don't want to give her back.
Someone found a dog that escaped from a fenced dog run at a motel in Denver. He finally called after having her for almost a week to say they would give her back... and he wanted the reward. The guy who actually found her moves from place to place so he really doesn't have a home and he left her with some friends. NOW the friends say they won't give her back and the guy won't answer his phone anymore. What should the owners do? She is microchipped.
Thank you.
A: I am a little unclear as to who is who in your narrative but if the owners know who have the dog and can contact them they could ask for the dog back and if the people refuse, they could sue in county court.
A: The owner should first try to get local police to contact the individuals with the dog, this sounds like theft. Police often won't get involved in pet custody disputes between people who know each other, but when it's a stranger, especially someone who found a dog or in this case a found dog was placed with them, the police may at the very least question the people holding the dog. Suing in county court is a possibility, but it would be so much easier to get help via the police.
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.