Things that are frustrating

[draggonlaady]

include police departments which impound dogs, but do not have complete policies for disposal of impounded dogs. We currently have a dog in impound, which has been here twice as long as usual, because the city can't freaking decided what to do with it. They have a plan for 1: stray dogs which are claimed by owner (pay impound fee, boarding, buy a license, make sure it's vaccinated for rabies) 2: stray dogs which are not claimed by owner (send them to rescue or, if they were impounded for biting, euthanize). They do NOT have a plan for dogs impounded for running loose, owner shows up but cannot/does not pay the impound fee. *headdesk*

Comments

[sphynx-again.livejournal.com]

There isn't an ordnance something to the effect of if a dog is unclaimed within 7 days it becomes property of city/kennel facility and may be adopted/disposed of? That's basically the way Moscow handles it, if the owner does not claim (ie pay for and pick up dog) it becomes ours after (6 days county, 10 city) and we can do with it as we wish.

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

If no owner shows up, that's what happens. But they are totally stymied on what to do with the dog that has a known owner, who says she wants the dog back, but can't/won't pay the impound. My thought is just call the damn rescue to come pick up the dog, but they haven't done so yet...

[sphynx-again.livejournal.com]

Ours, even with an owner and that same situation is if the dog stays at the shelter for 6/10 days, it goes up for adoption, to another rescue, whatever. Amazing how telling people that, especially if there's already an interested adopter or two in line for the dog, gets them to pony up the cash.

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

Right, well... Bossdoc doesn't want to be in the middle of the "you gave my dog away" PR shit, which, you know... it is a small town, so it's possible, but I don't see how the people would possible ever know whether we call the rescue or the police department calls the rescue. but the police won't even give us the word to call the rescue, THEY are the ones stalling on this. A side point; there is no way this owner could afford the adoption fee to get this dog back from the rescue to which I would send him. And I'm probably a judgmental bitch, but I can't help thinking that's not a bad thing. I've seen where the dog lived.

[brainweevil.livejournal.com]

You are a judgmental bitch.

[brainweevil.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, your judgment is generally sound.

[sphynx-again.livejournal.com]

yeah, we've been in that spot before, it's never pretty, but blows over pretty quick. I especially like the one where the two dogs came in as strays, nobody came looking for them for 2 weeks, we adopted them out. THEN somebody comes looking for them, and was all upset because we adopted them out. As that one turned out, the dogs didn't work out in their new home, and were returned to us, so we called the owners in and they got their dogs back in the end anyway. Of course all pissy because they had to pay the adoption fees.

But we've always been quite up-front with people about that. If you are unable to claim your dog by xxx day, you lose!

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

Yeah; I think Bossdoc's big fear is that he'll have a screaming mob on his door or someone ranting in the newspaper about how the clinic is staffed/run by heartless monsters who steal dogs and give them away. I'm a bit thicker skinned than he is (really, he's NOT cut out for Animal Control work. Might be thick skinned enough to work for a rescue... but not the law ;) )

Like I said, if it was my call, I'd pass the dog on to rescue same as any unclaimed dog. But... still waiting for the police station to pull their heads up and make a decision.

[sphynx-again.livejournal.com]

My boss got called a heartless bitch once in a similar case. I beat her though, I made two people cry in one day!

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

Heheheh. Excellent! You're such a meanie!