Duke, a golden retriever

Crazy story about a lost dog...Good news, he has his family back.
Posted 7/23/2009 by scrpnchyk in NSBR Board

A friend of a friend's dog went missing on Monday. Owner called the shelter, described the dog...Said, "he looks just like the Bush's Baked Beans dog, answers to Duke."

She calls the shelter to see if anyone had turned him in, shelter says no, no dogs here that fit that description. She places lost and found ads online and in the local paper, no calls. She continues to call shelter each day. Each day being told there is no dog there.

My DD goes to the shelter, finds Duke! He's up for adoption and they even have his name posted as Duke. Adoption fee is $100, he has been there since Monday, his days are numbered. So DD calls owner and tells her that he is there. Shelter closes in 20 minutes, owner calls shelter and tries to claim him, they tell her it will be $175 because they've had him so long. She has to try to borrow the money and decides it will need to be tomorrow.

I guess the dog had a chip from the previous owner, new owner didn't know about the chip to update info, but that is how they knew his name. Shelter tried to contact registered owner and the phone number was disconnected.

She was upset that
1) She described him to a 'T' and gave them the name Duke and they didn't tell her a dog matching that description was there and had been there since the day he went missing.
2) Why is it more for her to get her dog back than it is for someone new to adopt him?
3) Given the strange events that they wouldn't make an exception, it's obvious there was a complete break down with the chip, old owner, new owner, etc.

Needless to say, Duke is back with his family.

Just a strange journey and it doesn't really make sense why the shelter wasn't willing to work with this owner that already saved the dog once and just wanted him back home.
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I'm really glad he's back with his family, but I think the shelter did the right thing. One of the reasons to keep the chip info updated is to prevent the dog being stolen. I can describe my neighbors dog to a T and know her name, doesn't make her mine or give me a right to claim her.
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While I agree that in some situations this could prevent animals from being stolen, I also feel for the gal who adopted him, wasn't told about the chip and then mourned for days, not being able to find her friend.

I guess this is a case where the dog would have been better off without a chip. My DD went with her to get him and said the reunion tore her heart out. The shelter told her there is no way to change the chip info without being able to contact the previous owner. She will pray that he never gets away again. They will never be able to change this info, she has NO way of reaching the previous owner. They left the state, which is why she has Duke.
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I'm surprised she didn't know about the chip even if she couldn't update the info. When we got Boomer and took him to the vet the first time one of the first things he did was scan for a chip. For their records and to be sure we hadn't stolen him. The people we got him from gave us all the chip info but the co. wouldn't let us change him to our name until the registered owner called and ok'd it.
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I know, I don't know the entire story and there is always 2 sides to every story. Maybe she didn't take him in for a check up when she adopted him. I know finances are an issue for her, she had to borrow $175 to even get him back.

Also, you would think that the previous owners cared enough to get him the chip, why didn't they finish the process and get the info changed over and inform her?

No one to blame, just glad it worked out for her and Duke.
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The shelter told her there is no way to change the chip info without being able to contact the previous owner. She will pray that he never gets away again. They will never be able to change this info, she has NO way of reaching the previous owner. They left the state, which is why she has Duke. ________________________________________

There are ways, First - what company or registry, get the chip information from the vet, and contact a person there.

Second - How long have they had the dog? You might be able to get a letter to the original owners by using the last known address.

Third - The process if the original owners do not give you the paperwork to change the registration is MEANT TO BE DIFFICULT to prevent pets from being stolen and sold, and "re-registered without the real owners' knowing about it." It can be done.

Do you have a bill of sale, or if the dog is AKC registered, the transfer paperwork? If there was a rehoming fee, or other paperwork that transfered the dog??? Some vets and shelters will do an affidavit of ownership. Since they had to "bail out" the dog, that can also be used.

One reason why I take LOTS of photos of my dogs and their distinguishing markings and coat patterns. To prove ownership.

Like I said, it can be done, it just takes a little more effort and follow-through.

PSA for owners that chip their pets. KEEP THE CONTACT INFORMATION CURRENT!! And if you have to re-home your pet, TRANSFER the forms to show transfer of ownership.

And a big lesson learned -- GO IN PERSON TO THE SHELTERS AND ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITIES. You look, the pet may have been injured, or got into something to recolor their coat, or the person may just be too busy to go look at every animal and may not know one breed or color or marking from another. Go in person, and often. Bring some of your photos of your pet too! (I've volunteered a few times at a local shelter)
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NEVER depend on someone else to recognize YOUR dog.
I see over 700 animals a month. EVERY day owners call and try to describe their dogs to us, we ALWAYS say we cannot identify your dog, visit the shelter daily to claim a lost dog.

One owner said his dog was a pure bred collie, looks JUST like lassie, can we not look and see if it was there. We of course ask him to come in. He came to claim his dog and it weighed 22 pounds full grown, short brown hair and short nose. THAT did not look like Lassie OR a collie!

And think about it, out of 700 dogs a month, how many blonde dogs do you think I got in looking like "duke"?
Or even funnier when someone calls and does not want to waste their time driving down to the shelter and ask why can't we just call them when a black lab mix comes in. LOL Can you imagine how many black lab mixes we get!
I'm glad Duke made his way back home. Microchips are the greatest but only if they are kept up to date.

If this upset you, the best way to help everyone involved is to volunteer at the shelter. Any time a dog comes in with a chip, get on the internet! You can find people even if the chip info is not valid.

Send letters to that address, just in case the phone number has changed.

We have done MANY things to contact owners in the past.

You can look up the address, contact neighbors, family members, call the shelter or vet that put the chip in and see if they have additional info.

Think outside the box! We have reunited many owners with pets with just a few extra hours of research. But employees are NOT payed nor do they have time to do this research. GO VOLUNTEER!

And be a good pet owner and update all your info NOW!

Source:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&forum_id=15&thread_id=2850567