A vent: little dog keeps showing up on my property

[StormyDay]

About every week or so this little dog shows up in my backyard. He’s tiny, a yorkie, and just the right size to be some animals snack. I call the owners every time, who usually don’t even know their dog is missing. They then usually take hours to come get their dog. Of course said dog is also not neutered or housebroken so I have to crate it until they show up. It also smells absolutely horrible, like it’s never had a bath in its life.

This is the 5th time this has happened. The people are super rude and act like I’m putting them out to come get their dog. And weirdly enough, they show up on a motorcycle to pick it up. The guy just puts it under one arm and rides away, which I think is pretty odd.

What the heck is wrong with people? Why would you get a tiny little dog, let it roam free in the neighborhood, and then act as though you don’t care at all about the dogs well being?

[Scribbler]

Animal Control.

[Alex_and_Bodie_s_Mom]

Next time, I’d just drop it off at the humane society.

Let them pay to get it back.

Or - and this is what I’d do - take off the collar, take it to the vet to get neutered, then return it to them. “Oh, is this yours? I didn’t know, and had him neutered. SO sorry . . .”

[NaturallyHappy]

Agreed. If they don’t notice he’s gone, maybe they really don’t care. Maybe he will get a home where people will love him. Tip- take his collar off and don’t tell Animal Control you know where he lives.

[StormyDay]

I kind of want to just keep him?
But I do think that’s illegal in my state.

He’s a real sweetheart. Just wants to be held all day long.

[OzarksRider]

@StormyDay

I kind of want to just keep him?
But I do think that’s illegal in my state.

Find out for sure whether it’s legal or not. I once wanted to keep a cat that kept coming around. Don’t remember who I called (animal control maybe??), but I was told if the cat stayed around for 3 days I could neuter him and call him mine. So I did.

[wsmoak]

Take him to Animal Control, and tell them you want to adopt him if he becomes available.

The owners will have to pay to get him out. Keep doing it and they’ll either build a fence, or decide they don’t really want a dog after all, and then you can adopt him.

[Alex_and_Bodie_s_Mom]

@StormyDay

I kind of want to just keep him?
But I do think that’s illegal in my state.

Eh. If you want to keep him, keep him.

They will never notice he’s gone.

Start thinking of a name.

[jherold]

Next time he shows up, call the owner and ask if you can keep him. They may just say yes.

[StormyDay]

@OzarksRider

@StormyDay

I kind of want to just keep him?
But I do think that’s illegal in my state.

Find out for sure whether it’s legal or not. I once wanted to keep a cat that kept coming around. Don’t remember who I called (animal control maybe??), but I was told if the cat stayed around for 3 days I could neuter him and call him mine. So I did.

It’s the same here, but if I’m reading it right, if requires me to contact the owner or animal control before keeping him.

@jherold the owners are extremely rude. The guy called me a b*tch when he showed up today. I don’t plan on calling them any longer anyways just due to the fact that they are so rude.

[Kyrabee]

Just call/take him to animal control. Do not deal with said a**holes. Hopefully the little guy will end up in a much better situation whether with you or someone else. I am not sure I would want him with “former” owner living nearby and being that rude.

Susan

[shiloh]

If that’s the response you are getting to your good deed, maybe they don’t want him anymore and are hoping he will just run away and stay gone or even worse that he will be killed. Please take him, keep him, and save him from his oh-so-charming “owners”

While you are at it, write down every single time you called them and what their response was, just in case they want to be shi**y and make a nasty thing out of it. My bet is that they won’t.

Poor dog.

[Lusoluv]

Take him to Animal Control after he “loses” his collar and tell them you’d like to adopt him if no one claims him. Create a paper trail. Tell AC he’s been on your property X number of times (list dates). You don’t have to tell them your interactions with the owners. After owners don’t inquire about their lost dog with AC, he’ll probably be neutered, updated on shots and then be available. Since you’ll have left your contact info, get name of intake worker and ask when is the soonest you can follow up on him, you may be able to adopt him in a week for a small fee!

You could just keep the dog, but going through proper channels with AC will give you legal ownership IF the previous owners ever cause trouble if they see him with you.

[Weezer]

I agree you should take steps to adopt him but if you do, be sure to get him microchipped. The current owners would know where to find him if they ever changed their minds.

[lenapesadie]

I wouldn’t continue to call the owners since they are calling you names and clearly not taking steps to keep the pup at home. I would call animal control. Are you in a leash law area?

I would not “lose” the dog’s collar.

[scierra]

Take him to animal control, there’s usually a fee to get your dogs out if you reclaim. These people might not try to get him back by the sounds of it. If your animal control is the same as the ones I’ve been around each time the pet is there and reclaimed the fee goes up. So his owners might get him back once, or twice, but if it gets more expensive they’ll give up. This is assuming they get him out of animal control but keep letting him run, and it’s obvious he comes to you so you can get a working relationship with AC. And every time you take him in put your name on him as a potential adopter. Then when you adopt him legally the shelter should have him vetted, altered, and chipped.

[Alex_and_Bodie_s_Mom]

The more I think about it, the more afraid I am that this little dog might just ‘disappear’ thanks to his lousy ‘owners.’ The more of a hassle it becomes, the more likely it is that they could just dispose of it.

[hoopoe]

what a difficult situation
personally I would be apprehensive about adopting this dog after appropriate AC surrender etc. I would be concerned that the former owner would take an unwelcome interest in the dog and your ownership. I think this is an issue too far, They have already shown you what they are.

If anything I would partner with a friend who might want to have a little dog and do a one/two adoption. That way you have the little guy in a safe and loving home and you can be buffered from the neighbors