Q: Lost and Found Pets: What laws apply to individuals who have found a loose cat or dog? Assume it is someone's lost pet.
Specifically, how long must one spend trying to locate the owners? After that time period, can we keep the animal?
A:
You are supposed to return it to the owner, and if the owner cannot be found, surrender the property to the police (or in this case Animal Control). You can then legally adopt the dog from Animal Control after 6 days (confirm with the shelter the adoption procedures).
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=2080.&lawCode=CIV
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=2080.1.&lawCode=CIV
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAC§ionNum=31108
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