It’s all settled. Somehow the dog’s vet was persuaded to release the dog’s records and Cruella will be the official owner next week.
The only new thing I discovered is that the owner, Fred, has a substance abuse problem. Possibly that is the reason why Mary or Sue became tired of taking care of the dog.
I know the dog will have a good home with Cruella. I can begin to understand why the dog sitting gig became too much for Mary and Sue.
But I still think it was a shitty thing to do, take someone’s dog away from him.
And I find myself unable to be really happy for Cruella because I want to believe that on some level Fred has feelings for his dog and she doesn’t care in the least.
But then Fred may be so wasted he’s not aware of much of anything.
I’d posit that Fred is somewhere to the south of unreliable and selfish, calling and expecting Mary / Sue to take care of a dog they maybe don’t really like / don’t really have the time / resources to care for properly at a moment’s notice.
Then Fred disappears for an indeterminate length of time and Mary / Sue are on the hook for caring for the dog. Fred, being somewhat selfish doesn’t want to give up ownership, but at the same time isn’t in a position to spring for a proper pet sitter / boarding arrangement.
The unpaid pet sitters have grown sick of this and have arranged to have the dog rehomed.
And frankly - I don’t see too much of a problem with the arrangement (if this is what has gone down)
OK, it’s clear that we don’t have the entire story, here. Everyone involved in this, including the county authorities, need to know the full story ASAP. And the only way you’re going to get the full story starts with you confronting Cruella and asking her for all the details she has. If she can tell you a name of a person she got the dog from, then you can ask that person, and follow the chain. If she can’t, then something fishy is definitely going on, here, and you should tell the police.
On the other hand, the story as told here also sounds fishy. If you don’t know anyone but Cruella involved in this, then how did you learn as much as you did?
I realize there are huge gaps in the story. I learned as much as I did from Cruella, who mentioned no names, no location, I think on purpose because she knows the strong feelings I have on dog ownership. I expect the drug addiction is the problem, but when I first posted I didn’t know about it. Cruella already had the dog before she mentioned the possibility of not being able to keep him because the owner hadn’t relinquished ownership. I also don’t know who got the vet to release the necessary papers. Sincerely hope it wasn’t my vet. I think all involved were worried that the dog was chipped, and that’s why he was rehomed somewhat surreptitiously, rather than taken to our well-run no-kill shelter; and why Cruella didn’t try to pass him off as a stray.
I still think it was a shitty thing to do, giving the dog away, but now that he’s with Mr. and Mrs. Cruella I’m going to leave it at that. Mr. C. and I had words about another dog and I do not want to be on the wrong side of that man again (even tho I was right). He lives a bit too close for comfort.
To what extent will the ownership be official ?
Is there some process of this adoption occurring ? Because some one official has knowledge of Fred and said the dog cannot return to Fred, and so it must become Cruella’s ?
The more I think on it, the crazier it becomes. Seems to me the vet papers would have the owner’s name on them. Maybe the vet was convinced the dog had become abandoned. Maybe the vet knew the situation and was cool with rehoming the dog. If the vet has taken care of the dog all its life, then wouldn’t he know if the dog had been microchipped? I think someone had to have forged sale papers somewhere along the way.
I think Cruella’s ownership of the dog is still suspicious but how can a dog be returned to an owner whose whereabouts may be unknown? I know my conscience wouldn’t let me take possession of that dog.
I really appreciate all your comments. I need to have my thoughts in order before I spend any time with Cruella and get over thinking she was part of dognapping. I mean, she was, but I don’t want to just blurt out “So, how’s it feel to steal a dog?”
Dog is stolen, owner will want back when aware, dog is well cared for, Fred can’t be that much of a deadbeat druggie if he makes arrangements and doesn’t just assume someone will check in.
What you should do about it (if anything) is the complicated question.
How much responsibility do you bear for being aware, but not knowing the owner or the thief, only the receiver of stolen property, who is at least abetting by being cognizant? How much moral responsibility do you feel to help a victim of theft?
What actions can you take, and what are the repercussions on you? How did you become aware of all this?
And I gather is not so much for you a matter of losing a friend (who is a dog thief), but rather causing more ill will with a neighbor that scares you.
If someone whom Fred entrusted with care of the dog gave the dog to Cruella (or ceded caring duties to X, who gave to Cruella), the law won’t consider the dog “stolen”.
Fred, however, will hopefully be able to figure out where the dog is, so that he may file a writ of replevin/warrant in detinue/return of personal property action against Cruella if need be. Maybe it won’t come to that.
Thanks, everyone. There are 5 or 6 other people actively involved in this mess. All I have is bits and pieces of mostly hearsay information. I don’t feel responsible for the mess. They could have taken the dog to the shelter. It’s a good shelter, no-kill, and the staff practically stand on their heads to get their dogs adopted.
I am going to assume that Fred left his dog with Mary and/or Sue and hasn’t been seen for at least several months and this is not the first time it’s happened. They want to be rid of the dog only they don’t know if the dog has a microchip, hence all the cloak and dagger stuff about getting vet papers, etc.
My friend Cruella has the dog in her possession, but hasn’t yet received any proof of ownership. This I don’t like. I think she should have left the dog where it was until all this mess was sorted out. But it’s her conscience, and as I said earlier, at least the dog will have a good home. Selfishly, I hope to retain her friendship, despite this mess, and I can’t do that if I start asking hard questions. Mr. C. will get into the act, not to mention their family. No matter how good her intentions, I don’t like how she’s handling this.
I’m sorry for Fred. I hope he gets his life straightened out. And if he does reclaim his dog, I’ll lie through my teeth, tell the C’s how sorry I am, and inwardly cheer. It’s a beautiful dog; looks purebred; well trained; well socialized. Somebody put a lot of time and effort into him, whether Fred or a previous owner I do not know. I’d certainly want him back were he mine.
Is there any justification for the “months at a time” part? If so, there is a lot stronger ground for just declaring that the original owner abandoned the dog to their care, in which case there’s little subterfuge needed.
Far as I know, ownership has not yet been transferred. Mr. and Mrs. C are happy to have the dog. Everyone else is happy not to have the dog, but can’t get their act together to actually transfer ownership. The owner, Fred, has a substance abuse problem, and either is nowhere to be found or no one is interested in trying to find him.
If the Cs keep letting the dog out on its own, it just might find it’s way back to it’s former home, and wouldn’t that be fun?
Why does this person want it so dogdamn bad?
Cruella has the dog in her possession, but hasn’t yet received any proof of ownership. This I don’t like. I think she should have left the dog where it was until all this mess was sorted out. But it’s her conscience, and as I said earlier, at least the dog will have a good home. Selfishly, I hope to retain her friendship, despite this mess, and I can’t do that if I start asking hard questions. Mr. C. will get into the act, not to mention their family. No matter how good her intentions, I don’t like how she’s handling this.