Last year my friend allowed one of her girls to go and live with a couple who had previously had a pup from her and wanted another to keep him company.  As she did not have any pups planned for a long time, she allowed them to have one of her girls on a temporary basis.  As she knew them she didn't feel that there would be a problem, as the bitch is one of exceptional temperament and loves everyone!!  The agreement was that when she came into season in December she would be returned to my friend and the couple would then have a pup from her.  The girl would then be back with my friend for good.  On phoning the couple in November, she found that the land line telephone had been disconnected.  She then went through all the paper work and found a mobile telephone number for the lady.  She finally got through on this number after leaving many messages on it, much to the ladies surprise!  It was agreed once again that she would let her know when the girl came into season so she could come back home.  My friend has now tried calling the mobile number again and this is no longer working.  Personally I would like to go down to Devon and knock on their door at 6am in the morning and get her back, but my friend does not want to rush head long into it.  What would you do in this situation?

I think I'd want to go and see these people too. However I think if they wanted to be difficult then they could easily be. Now whether they are keeping quiet because they love this dog and don't want to give her up or are just being awkward is difficult to say with out speaking to them.
I would be worried about the welfare of this dog if I was the breeder, but then I'd never have let it go anyway. Since your friend has let this girl go to these people, did she have a written contract with them? If not they could refuse to return the bitch and claim your friend gave her to them. In this case it could be your friends word against theirs, this is a very difficult situation, not easily solved.

Or they have sold her on/or had pups from her.

Hi, agree with Polly. Too difficult to judge whats going on by phone/letter & I`d go down there unannounced but open minded to see what the matter was & why the phones don`t work.

Christine, Spain.

I think I'd write a carefully worded letter saying I was concerned, maybe there had been some misunderstanding, and asking them to contact me within 7 days regarding the matter of 'my' bitch....

I'd be a bit concerned, that as the landline was disconnected they may have moved. I would be concerned as to whether they still had the dog, or had already perhaps bred her. It's a difficult situation to judge without knowing the type of person involved. In my homevetting with a rescue centre it once took me nearly a year to track down a GSD which had been rehomed to someone (in which I had a personal interest as I had rescued her from a bad home and taken her into our rescue). When I finally tracked her down she had gone through 3 owners and when I found her had just been rehomed by the RSPCA in Gloucestershire! They very kindly asked the couple that had taken her if they would mind me contacting them, which they didn't and I get a Christmas card and photo's every year now! It was so hard to track her though. The man who had her originally kept telling me (when I phoned that she was fine, OK etc etc) He had moved and I found that out by going to his address and when it was obvious the house was empty, by questioning the neighbours (carefully and without giving anything away).
So, I think if it were me I would visit to make sure they were still there, and still had the dog. I think at that point I would play it by ear as to whether I took the dog back there and then. HOWEVER It could just be that they have got so attached to her that they don't want to part with her now, and that's perhaps something that all sides should have foreseen at the outset, especially if the two dogs have become really firm friends. It could then be quite cruel to split them up! and possibly quite traumatic for all concerned!

I do hope that this all resolves itself without too much heartache all round. Let us know what happens
Kat

Just as an update.  We have now found out that the couple moved from their home back in October leaving a trail of debts behind them.  They have told neighbours so many conflicting stories that we do not know what is the truth.  So unless a miracle happens it looks as though this beatiful dog is now lost.  Does anyone know whether the police will get involved in this, as it is technically theft?

Becky

Unless the owner has witnesses more than likely not.  How do you prove it?
difficult.

This is a long shot but was she chipped? If so maybe you could trace her through that.

surely if she is kc registered under the owners name then that is proof of ownership ??

This could be classed as a civil dispute. I would suggest you speak to a solicitor about this before contacting the police. If it is civil then the police will not get involved.

Sam x