I would value opinions on this, quite often over the years ive had people who cant get rid of their dogs quick enough the dog is chewing or whatever we take them in then a week later the family want him back,we have a form  that people sign to say they relinquish all rights to their dog therefore we can safely rehome the dog.Over the year Ive had people threaten me and alsorts because they give their dog up then go on aguilt trip or the children are upset etc..
The worst time is when I know the dog would go back to an awful life.
Yesterday we were asked to take in a young lab only a pup (a christmas pup) the woman was crying onthe phone i cant cope anymore can we bring him asap so my assistant said yes and they duly brought him,I had a dear friend who had just lost her lab aged seven so thought he would do ok for her and be so loved and cherished they have lots of time on their hands  a weekend home as well in the lakes he would land on all four paws.
Then the family ring back we want him back he was left seven hours a day I then say well whats changed he says i will take him to work and leave him in my van.
where is the dogs welfare better served here?

If they have signed the dog in your care, then i would definately not give the dog back. Its the welfare of the dog thats important. If it will have a better life then i would tell the person sorry, but the dog deserves a better life than being stuck in a van all day.

Glenys I have been in this situation myself and there was no way the people were getting the dog back, they got quite offensive but there was nothing they could do as they had given him up and he was homed immediately.
At least you have the signed paper, the pup is most definitely better off with your friend. People always think of ideals after the event but the reality is that they could not cope with a Labrador and a pup will die left in a van.
Good luck.

go with your heart glenys and your instincts they have never been wrong before. They have signed him over to you, and you know he is not being cared for the way he should, and he has a chance of a wonderful life now.
carol

If "IF" they signed a form signing him over to you, then don't let them have him back. Why should they have him back to make his life miserable. Sad thing is I bet they go out and get another if you don't give him back.
:(
Karen

The pup should stay with your friend, she knows how to take care of a Lab and how to love him.  He will have a better life with her than with the former owners.  What is the difference between staying at home all day and sitting in a van all day, and it will soon be the hot days of summer.  The pup is better with your friend than with the former owners.

                                                                                                                                      Kate

Mattie you are well within your rights to rehome this poor pup to the lovely new home he so deserves.How dare they toss the poor mite to one side and then just because it suits them decide to have him back,at that rate he would probably end up having a life being passed from pillar to post.If they have signed him over then there is nothing they can do,and you should tell them straight,dont worry too much about hurting there feelings,after all they cant have many to be able to hand him over in the first place and if it was because of "something really drastic"then what has suddenly changed now?Once he is rehomed,if they have any feelings for him they will leave him there,rather than disrupt his life again and not persue it.Good luck and well done for finding the little chap a lovely home.

I can only echo what everyone has said Mattie.  If they have signed the dog over to rescue then in my opinion it's too late and he should go to his new home which sounds ideal :-)

This may sound heartless but when I go out to visit a dog that is possibly coming into rescue, if I see that the home is a bad one and I need to get the dog out of there asap, then I "make" myself say all the right things to the owner, sympathise with their situation even though 9 times out of 10 the owner has no one to blame but themselves.  I don't want a fight on my hands and risk that dog staying in a bad home or going to a worse one !  My priority is to get that dog signed over to rescue for its own good, after that the owner can go and do what he likes because my main concern is the welfare of the dog and the only place that dog is going is to a well deserved good home.  Once I've got the paperwork signed thats it in my opinion.

Thanks everyone this is my gut feeling trouble is the man keeps turning up at my door