A friend of mine rescued a stray Cavalier bitch, the poor little thing nearly got run over. She took it to the vets but it was not microchiped and she has contacted the police and all the vets in her area but after 8 days no one has come forward to claim it. How does she stand with the law if after Christmas she re-homes to it to a friend. It is a very sweet little thing but very over weight and has obviously never been taken for a walk because she pulls everywhere.

:)

In my area after you have kept the dog for 7 days he becomes yours. It was the warden who told me this when I took in a stray for a while. Apparently after the 7 days you can't throw it back out as it's yur responsability and if you take him to a rescue centre you are put down as the owner.

As far as i can remember if the dog wasnt found by the dog warden or local authority (who can rehome after 7 days) and just by an individual then they have to have had the dog 28 days before it being classed as theirs :)As long as all possible means have been tried to contact owner.And police and dog wardens have been informed.
Donna x

Wishfairy its quite interesting about the 7 day rule where you live .....what if a dog was originally stolen and when finally located then the  "thief" could say he had found the dog and therefore it is his ???

The same thought had crossed my mind but I suppose if it was reported stolen and the 'theif' hadn't tried to find the owner then maybe it changes things?

If you find a dog that appears to be without its owner you are obliged by law to inform the council/police and make every effort to find the dogs owner.
If you wish to keep the dog you may do so "under license" for one month, during which time if the owner comes forward, you must return the dog.  To keep a dog under license you must complete the nessacary paperwork available from the dog warden, or working police station.
The local authority is responsible for the collection of stray dogs, the police ONLY have a responsibility to accept and deal with stray and lost dogs which are brought to a police station until they are collected by the local authority.

I wonder if I was told wrong or if things are different over here?  I know there are a few differences in animal law - we are only just getting the dangerous animals laws that restrict keeping big cats etc :rolleyes:

28 days makes far more sense but how would that work with shelters who destroy animals after 7 days, like my local USPCA?

Wishfairy

The USPCA and councils in northern Ireland are working under the NI Control of Dogs act

http://www.hmso.gov.uk/legislation/northernireland/nisr/yeargroups/1980-1989/1983/1983oic/aos/no764.htm

The link above gives you all the detail in regards to strays and what to do if you pick up a stray dog :)

theresa