I worked for years in an animal shelter and then as an animal control officer. Please don’t take it to the shelter if you want to keep him. As soon as that dog is brought in another dog will need to be put to sleep to make room.
Regarding the story above the cop had absolutely no legal right to tell those people to hand their dog over. Not that I am saying that didn’t happen but that cop was not on the right side of the law. Those folks would have been perfectly within their rights to say ‘no’. I have been involved with clear cut cases of dogs that have been stolen and even then the dog cannot just be seized from the person who stole it, there is a legal process.
Editing to add that for the two decades I worked with the animal shelter dealing with hundreds of stray and unwanted dogs a month we only once had a dog adoption where the original owner wanted the dog back. In that case the dog had been abandoned by someone the owner had hired to pet sit for a month. In that case all we could do was call the person who adopted the dog and ask if they would be willing to bring the dog back. They said no and that was the end of that. Once the dog was considered abandoned, which has a legal definition that varies by location but usually about a week, the original owner had no claim.
Seriously, any abandonded/abused/neglected dog that comes wondering into MY back yard is mine. I could give two shits if the “owner” wants him back or not.
He’s still here, and working out. He’s not leaving, unless he’s a chain link climber or such (I don’t think that thought has entered his head, if he was even able). He’s been here long enough for me to have words with the people that tagged him, if they come back wanting him. I’ll get some pics this week. I would now, but it’s raining and I’m going to work shortly. I think he’s definitely boxer/pit, he’s got the look and the mannerisms. It turns out a doctor we use here actually lives next to the dog abandoners. Next time I see him, I’ll ask him about the dog. Surely he has seen it running loose, probably chased it out of his yard or even almost run over him from time to time. If he can verify the dog is a neighborhood stray, his input might go far in negating someone’s claim on him in the future.
He’s got a nice fenced in yard to watch over, a porch to sit on, a kennel crate to sleep in, pillow and blanket, nice bones to chew, plenty of food to eat and human and canine company. I’ll be getting him a better doghouse if he’s still here when it gets colder, and of course he’ll be spending the nights inside if it gets too cold for his comfort.
Please check to see if he’s got a chip before you get in too deep emotionally or financially. My parents adopted a beautiful stray that wandered into their yard. Eight months later they went to have him neutered, and the vet found a microchip. Apparently the law in their state is that the owners listed on the chip have seven days to claim the animal once contacted. They called for six days and alternately got hung up on or left unreturned messages. On the seventh day, the owner came to pick up the dog without so much as a thank you. My dad had to load the dog in her van because he didn’t want to go. My parents were heartbroken.
All this to say, he’s probably yours, and they probably don’t care in the slightest about him. But if you want to keep him, please do the legwork ASAP just in case they decide to be jerks about it.
If you keep the dog and the original owners want him back then they owe you for the care of the dog during the time you had him. This will usually stop attempts to recover the dog. You should be taking to a vet immediatly for a check up, shots, and tags. If he’s not registered with someone else and you’ve obtained tags for him, there’s usually not much chance they can get him back. It will vary based on local law. You were probably better off before you contacted animal control, but in this case I don’t see them standing in the way. They are unlikely to want to take in another dog.