How long are your dogs 'your's'?

Would you want your dog back/Give the adopted dog back?

  • I would want my dog back over 1 year/ I would return the dog over 1 year

    Votes: 24 68.6%
  • I would want my dog back less than 1 year/ I would return dog less than 1 year

    Votes: 1 2.9%
  • I would want my dog back but would not pursue legal action

    Votes: 1 2.9%
  • I would not want my dog back over 1 year/ I would not give the dog back over a year

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • I would not want the dog back in less than 1 year/ I would not give the dog back in less than 1 year

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • No- other

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Yes- other

    Votes: 9 25.7%
  • I would get another dog

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    35

Airn

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#1
I recently watched a movie. I believe it was called 'Mine'. It was about Hurricane Katrina dogs that were displaced during the storm. Nearly a year later the owners are still looking for them. It followed the case of 4 people wanting to find their dogs. All of the dogs had been 'adopted'.

It made me wonder, how long is a dog your's? If your dog got lost/stolen, how long would you look for it? And would you expect to get it back? What if you 'adopted' a dog that had an owner looking for it? Would you give the dog back after a year?

I realize that a natural disaster such as Katrina probably has different considerations, but humor me.

What would you do?


Sorry for crappy poll options. Figured a poll should go along, but wasn't sure of the best options to give.
 

CatStina

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#2
I've seen stories of dogs coming back after 10, 12, 13 years. I would not give up until my dog was home. When I was two, my cat Bongo was lost during Hurricane Andrew. Though I could barely remember him other than from pictures, I was still making lost cat posters when I was 7. I had already gotten a new cat, but Bongo was still mine and I still missed him. I was, and still am, stubborn. I would NEVER give up hope on my pets. If I found them a year later living with someone else, I would ABSOLUTELY expect to get my pet back. My pets are all microchipped (except the gerbils), and I have hundreds, if not thousands, of photos of each of them. I have plenty of proof that they are MINE. I would get my pets back.
 

JessLough

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#3
It's hard.

I mean, I would always want my pet back. Always. But, after a year? After 2 years? More? Obviously, if they are adopted or whatever, the family that has them loves them. They've been taking care of them for that much time.

I haven't been in the situation, but I think that after multiple years... just knowing the pet is safe and loved may be enough. I mean, after feeling the hurt I felt, I don't know that I could force another family to go through that hurt. At least I would know that the pet was safe and loved.

Then again, if I were in the situation, I may feel different.


ETA: I mean, obviously, I would try to get the pet back. I guess it's more of I'd want it back, but... I don't know. I'm rambling. :rofl1:


On the flip side, had I kept Marlee, if somebody came looking for her a year later, I don't think I would have given her back.
 

Lyzelle

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#4
Zander will always be mine, and mine only. Forever. I'm sure I'll feel that way about our other dogs as well.
 

crazedACD

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#5
I would continue looking for my dog forever. If I found them at any point, I would ask nicely, and really hope I could get them back. If the family was unwilling, and the dog was being cared for properly and was happy...I would leave it at that. I would not pursue legal action.
 

JessLough

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#6
I would continue looking for my dog forever. If I found them at any point, I would ask nicely, and really hope I could get them back. If the family was unwilling, and the dog was being cared for properly and was happy...I would leave it at that. I would not pursue legal action.
Ok, she said it so much better than I :p
 

Saeleofu

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#7
I would ALWAYS want my dog back. They're chipped, I have proof of ownership, etc. It would be hard, VERY hard, to give a dog back after a year or two, BUT if I was shown proof of ownership (chip, tattoo, whatever) AND proof they have been looking for said dog the entire time (not just deciding two years later to post a Craigslist ad), I would probably give the dog back. Honestly, that was a HUGE worry of mine when I first got Gavroche. What if someone says he's theirs? But he had no chip, no tattoo, no collar/tags, nothing, so I most likely wouldn't have given him back anyway.
 
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#8
Tough question... I watched Mine too and I had a different reaction to it the second time I watched it. The first time I sympathized with the original owners and wanted them to get their dogs back because they were the owners first. Keep in mind that the first time I watched it: Cinnamon was alive. I bought her from a breeder and she was all mine, so I thought what if she got lost and someone "adopted" her thinking she was unwanted. Well there would be hell to pay if I was able to find the people who had my dog and didn't want to give her back to me... I would do anything to get her back, fight to the end if I had to. I guess that's why I sided with the original owners.

The second time I watched it I had barely adopted Luna, and you can say my view on this changed quite a bit. While I still wanted the original owners to have their dogs, I kinda switched band... I know how easy it is to bond with a dog especially with one you adopted. I'm not saying the bond is stronger than with a breeder dog, it's equal, it's just different... So I could see why it was hard for the "adoptive" parents to give the dogs back to their original owners. I know I couldn't do that....

So as you can see I'm torn... If this happened to me I don't know what I'd do. Luna is mine, she's legally adopted... I have papers that prove it but when I think that there might be somewhere out there that loves her as much as I do and might want her back... I just UGH. :D.

If It was the other way around I'd always want my dog back, always
 

Laurelin

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#9
I would always want my dogs back but gosh... it would be very hard for me to ask someone else to give up a dog they've had for a year+. I don't know what I'd do to be honest.
 

Giny

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#10
My dog, like a child, is my dog for life. I would never stop searching for them. But like Saeleofu mentioned, if they have been living with another family for a long time, and I'm reassured they are happy with they're other family, then I'd be content in giving over ownership. If it were to be the other way around, and I had found a dog and have had him for years and his old family found him, I hope they'd feel the same way.
 

milos_mommy

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#11
I think it would be on a really individual basis.

Of course I'd want my dog back, I'd always want my dog back, and they'd always be my dog and I'd always consider them my dog in a way.

But it would depend on so many factors. What if after the hurricane I didn't have much left? Money, car, home....it would be difficult to take good care of a dog after that, at least right away, and if I was struggling and the dog had found a good, stable home, I might leave them.

What if the family had kids? What if they had developed some kind of amazing bond with this dog after some kind of tragedy? What if a couple found it after losing their child, or an older widow/widower found the dog...a special needs kid, something like that? I'd probably leave the dog, and assume he was meant to find them.

If I hadn't lost everything, and the dog just ended up with an average family who wasn't anything special and provided equal care that I could? I try to get the dog back for at least the first year, and after that it would maybe depend how the dog is settled...if it's a much older dog, if the dog would have anxiety or not adapt well to another change of environment, I'd let them stay. If the dog was happy go lucky or still clearly bonded to me after I went to see him, I'd try harder to get it back.

If I really thought the dog would be much better off with me, I would pursue it legally.
 

Taqroy

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#12
I would want my dog back. And I hate to say it, but I would probably pursue legal action, especially under the circumstances described. All my dogs are chipped and I have plenty of proof that they're mine. If someone rescued my dogs and put them up for adoption while I'm trying to find them after a hurricane I would be PISSED. I know there's not many options and rescuers do the best they can but....you shouldn't be able to just give my dog away.

And on the flip side of that, I would have to give back someone's dog if I had adopted it (in those circumstances). It would break my heart but if I was absolutely positive that the dog would get the same level of care and affection I can give and their former owners desperately wanted them back...I think I'd have to.
 

Airn

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#13
I think it would be on a really individual basis.

Of course I'd want my dog back, I'd always want my dog back, and they'd always be my dog and I'd always consider them my dog in a way.

But it would depend on so many factors. What if after the hurricane I didn't have much left? Money, car, home....it would be difficult to take good care of a dog after that, at least right away, and if I was struggling and the dog had found a good, stable home, I might leave them.

What if the family had kids? What if they had developed some kind of amazing bond with this dog after some kind of tragedy? What if a couple found it after losing their child, or an older widow/widower found the dog...a special needs kid, something like that? I'd probably leave the dog, and assume he was meant to find them.

If I hadn't lost everything, and the dog just ended up with an average family who wasn't anything special and provided equal care that I could? I try to get the dog back for at least the first year, and after that it would maybe depend how the dog is settled...if it's a much older dog, if the dog would have anxiety or not adapt well to another change of environment, I'd let them stay. If the dog was happy go lucky or still clearly bonded to me after I went to see him, I'd try harder to get it back.

If I really thought the dog would be much better off with me, I would pursue it legally.
This was one of my issues with the Katrina victims. Even after a year, many of them hadn't come back. The ones that had were fixing their homes and trying to rebuild their city. It didn't seem like a great time to bring back a loved pet.

I think of the big issues was the lack of organization in the whole thing. Nothing was done with the pets until people started seeing dogs on roofs and thought "Oh, what do we do about the animals?" It ended up being a big mess.

From what I saw.... many of the dogs left were not in the best care. They showed several horribly scared pits and many other dogs were not spayed/neutered and had other untreated medical conditions. (I know the spay/neuter thing is an iffy topic here, but 'casual' pet owners should probably not have intact dogs. They're not responsible enough, in my opinion.)
One lady was talking about her GSD and how it was such a great dog and some nights they would even let her come inside and sleep with them. The dog lived outside and was found to have heartworms. Now, she wasn't an awful owner but the people who adopted her had another GSD and kids and the dog was a family member, not an outside pet.

Even though the GSD was her's to start out with, the people who adopted her seemed to take much better care of her. So should it be on the well being of the dog or on the opener's 'right's?

I don't know enough medically to say if the dog was being 'ignored'. In most situations it seemed the dogs were better off with their new owners. They were being taken care of. The people adopted them thinking "This is my dog now."

It might seem callous but, in that situation, I would have a lot more on my mind than having my dog back. I would miss Gwen terribly but not having a house, a job, a car.... everything being destroyed... I would be happy to know that she was being taken care of. And after a couple of years, I would get another dog. I can't think of circumstances where I expect to reasonably get my dog back after a year. And I also can't think of many situations where I would give back a dog after a year. (Especially if the dog wasn't micro chipped or spayed/neutered.)
 

-bogart-

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#14
As a Local and '"victim" (if thats the right word) , I will say , Every single pet should have been given back to there owners , no matter what.

Pets are Property , Period.

Yes people do not get there pets / spayed , make them live outside , and feed them crap . These things happen a lot down here. Just because a person does not take the same level of care you do , does not give a "rescue" organization the right to take your pet and give it away.


That storm really brought the national spot light on Evacuations and the importance of having a plan for your pets also.

The local governments also have Pet plans now.




I personally would get my dog back no matter what . legal or otherwise.
 
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#15
One problem with Katrina particularly is that many dogs were "rescued" and removed from the state improperly - without actually looking for the original owner or observing any kind of waiting period whatsoever. A lot of groups did a lot more harm than good in that respect during Katrina.

Personally I would consider my dog mine forever unless I willingly relinquish ownership. There might be circumstances where I would choose to relinquish ownership rather than fight a legal battle, but for the most part... If I find out you have them, I am coming for them. You can be sure of that.
 

Red.Apricot

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#16
Elsie's mine. I can't imagine being able to walk away from her.

I mean, I understand, if you had a dog for a year or two or three how it would be your dog, but with Elsie... I can't imagine being able to be okay with that.
 

skittledoo

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#17
It would completely depend on the situation and the dog honestly...

Of course all three of my dogs I'd want back... but depending on how long they've been gone, what kind of care they are getting, etc.... would determine different possible outcomes.

Bamm is a tough dog to live with for certain types of homes and is not the right dog for most people. He also is so attached to me that I don't know how he would do in someone else's home without me. He probably would adjust, but I do feel like even though he is a pain in my neck sometimes, he is better off with me.... but I'm being biased I'm sure. I definitely would try to get him back, but if he seemed like he was happy with the people that had him then I might not pursue legal action provided they are taking good care of him. I would be really hurt though that he wasn't with me. If I didn't personally feel right about his new situation then I would pursue legal action to get him back.

Cricket... I think I would fight tooth and nail for this dog. I'm so over protective of her probably to the point some people would consider ridiculous. Mainly it's because I don't ever want to lose her. That dog is my heart and soul lol. I probably would proceed legal action if I was told I wouldn't get her back.

Joey, honestly as long as he is cared for properly and the people that had him understand his energy level and his need to run run run, I think he would do ok in a new home. Of course I'd still want him back, but depending on the situation I don't know if I would pursue legal action if it had been a few years. He loves everyone he meets pretty much and would be happy anywhere as long as he has an outlet for his energy.

That said, all of my dogs are my property, microchipped and I have zillions of photos of each. I would do my damndest to try and find them if any of them turned up missing and would NOT stop looking for them.
 

Julee

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#18
My dog is MINE. I would go to any length to get my dog back. I don't care how long it's been.

That being said, if it was someone else's dog who I had adopted... well, it depends on what kind of owner they are, how hard they've been looking, etc. If they're drug addicts or something, lol no, they're not getting their dog back. If they're a good home who has been looking hard, had proof the dog was theirs, okay. By returning that dog to them, that opens up a place in my heart and home to rescue another.
 

Lyzelle

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#19
I would want my dog back. And I hate to say it, but I would probably pursue legal action, especially under the circumstances described. All my dogs are chipped and I have plenty of proof that they're mine. If someone rescued my dogs and put them up for adoption while I'm trying to find them after a hurricane I would be PISSED. I know there's not many options and rescuers do the best they can but....you shouldn't be able to just give my dog away.

And on the flip side of that, I would have to give back someone's dog if I had adopted it (in those circumstances). It would break my heart but if I was absolutely positive that the dog would get the same level of care and affection I can give and their former owners desperately wanted them back...I think I'd have to.
Exactly this. You'd have to be technically stealing my dog. With chips, tags, all up to date information, vet info that is easily pulled by his rabies tag and chip...you'd have to be either STUPID or WANTING to take my dog in order to "not know" it was mine. So if someone "rescued him" and gave him away...I'd absolutely be pissed.

And sad thing is, that isn't uncommon these days. Memphis Animal Shelter was pulling people's dogs out of their yards("rescuing"), and shipping them to the Northeast. So I'm very aware of a situation like that.

In a disaster like Katrina, I wouldn't leave my dog. But also as Sassafrass said...many of those groups did more harm than good.
 

Beanie

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#20
Yeah, my dogs are mine forever and I would not stop searching. And if I found somebody had my dog, I wouldn't let it go. That's my dog.

If I adopted a dog and YEARS down the road somebody showed up with their arms full of pictures of their dog, crying, a story about how long they had been searching, and asked for their dog back... would it break my heart to give the dog up? Yep. Would I still give the dog back anyway? Absolutely.
 

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