Asked in Animal / Dog Law for Colorado

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.

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2 Lawyer Answers
Kristina M. Bergsten
PREMIUM
Kristina M. Bergsten
Answered
  • Animal & Dog Law Lawyer
  • Denver, CO
  • Licensed in Colorado

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.

Juliet Piccone
Juliet Piccone
Answered
  • Animal & Dog Law Lawyer
  • Greenwood Village, CO
  • Licensed in Colorado

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.

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