Q: Roommate found stray that is ruining our space
We are subletting. Our roommates found a very sweet stray puppy and chose to keep it, but he makes a huge mess and they don't seem to care. We have to pick up after it. My partner if furious and wants to take it to the pound. Is that a legal course of action?
A:
The rule for finding lost property is that the person who finds it is a depositary for the owner, but is entitled to be compensated for caring for the property. Civil Code section 2080.
If the true owner cannot be located, the property must be turned over to the police department of the city or county. Civil Code section 2080.1.
It would seem unwise to simply take the puppy to the pound. You might report to Animal Control that the puppy has been found and it may come to pick it up. There is nothing to prevent your roommate from adopting it legally from Animal Control.
If your lease allows animals, it doesn't appear that you have any legal recourse to that possibility.
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