We found a stray boxer, at what point is she considered ours? LONG

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boxerxlover

Boxer Pal
I'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum, but I wasn't really sure where it fit in. It is also kind of long, here goes:

We had adopted a boxer mix puppy last fall, however we had to rehome him due to aggression towards me and the kids (we tried numerous training methods). We were heartbroken!! The same day that we found a new home for Tater I took my children to one of the many parks we have in our development. I was helping my four year old slide down the pole and turned around and saw my 18 month old sitting on the back of a beautiful dirty boxer girl. She just laid there and seemed to love the attention. There were many people at the park and I assumed that she belonged to someone. After watching a few families try to shoo her away I started asking to see who she belonged to. One family said that she came with a man, but that he had left. A few minutes later this man came back, however I then saw him trying to shoo her away. I asked him if she was his and (there was bit of a language barrier) he said that she had been hanging around the park for a few weeks. He had taken her home the week prior, but when no one came looking for her he let her back outside. I was horrified and thought that if I took her home I was sure that the owners would be looking for her or I would turn her over to a local rescue. She jumped right up into the back of my SUV and I put her in the backyard. I didn't want to let her in the house not knowing if she had fleas or what her temperment was. She sat at the back door and kept falling asleep sitting up. When my husband got home he took a shower with her and she loved it. We let her have roam of the house and quickly realized that she is an amazing dog. She loves the kids, the cat, other dogs and us. Her nipples are huge and it is obvious that she has been bred at least once if not many many times. :( She is also so well behaved and obviously used to sleeping on the couch and beds. We can leave her alone in the house while we are gone and she is an angel. I assumed that there would be a heartbroken family looking for her, but I searched online, vets, shelters, and the papers with no luck. There are no signs in the neighborhood or at the grocery store. I don't want to post a found ad because she is an intact pure bred and I am sure we would have people coming out of the woodwork to "claim" her. We took her to the vet and had her scanned for a chip (no chip), given shots, and had a check up. She estimated her to be around 4 years old and said that they would have heard if someone was looking for an intact pure bred boxer and they had heard nothing.

We have now had her for about six weeks and I still look everyday to see if someone is missing her, but at this point it is looking pretty slim. We adore her and she fits in with our family so well. We have waited to get her fixed because it is going to cost around $450. This includes removal and testing of a small growth on her side. I have no problems doing this and want it done ASAP (I really really don't want her to go into heat on us), but I don't want someone to show up and claim her after we have paid that much. We have already spent $200 at the first vet appointment and are okay with that if someone were to come find her. So, what should I do? At what point does she become our dog, not just a stray that we taken in? We love her so much and have named her Kayla. I am scared to take her out walking because I don't want someone coming up and saying that she belongs to them, especially when she was obviously used for breeding and they have not made an effort to find her. We live in a very small town with only one vet to contact, one grocery store to post a flyer at, and one small local paper. So, what should I do?

Thanks!
Jen
 

mrstevens

Boxer Booster
I think after 6 weeks and you having done all you could to find her original owner with no luck she's yours. I couldn't imagine my baby being gone so long without looking for him. It sounds like Kayla is much better off with you!
 

greengas

Boxer Pal
I would say she's yours! You have given her a happy home and cared for her. If someone tried to claim her, then shame on them. You have vet records to back up the fact that she is yours and has been in your care for a good period of time.

I understand how you feel though. We adopted two wonderful boxers from the humane society and they are just great. They are sweet, so good with the kids, silly, couch potatoes, house trained, and spayed and neutered. After I took them home and realized how great they were I started to wonder how in the world they became homeless. They were found together emaciated and stray. Who in the world would be crazy enough to give up two great dogs?! I called the humane society and asked them and they told me that the dogs are yours- nobody can claim them. The previous owners gave up the right to the dogs when their dogs went stray with no id and they did not search for them. I wish so badly that I knew their story.

Perhaps you could call the humane society or your local animal shelter and ask them about it.
 

dizzydogmom

Boxer Booster
From a legal stand point, most shelters are required to keep stray dogs for 5-7days before putting them up for adoption. I think the same applies to people who find strays-if you take on a dog for longer than a week or so, you become its legal owner with all assoiated privledges and responsiblities.

So, congradualtions on your new baby!
 

boxerxlover

Boxer Pal
Woo Hoo!! This pretty much echos my thoughts, but I really wanted to see what you all thought. Thanks! I have been trying to get some pics of her in my gallery, but am having some sizing issues. Hopefully I can get that worked out so you can see our beautiful girl.

Thanks!!

Jen
 

garvinsmum

Completely Boxer Crazy
Without a microchip they would be pretty hard pressed to prove anything anyway.
It's more likely they just drove her somewhere and abandoned her when they were 'finished' with her.
She couldn't be local or your vet would know.
 

K8IE

Boxer Insane
I just went through a similar situation with a pure bred Lhasa that I found. I called about ten different clinics, my local animal shelter and others in the surrounding counties, put up fliers, took her to the only local vet to be scanned (we also live in a small town with one vet) and put ads on line and all kinds of other things. I asked our county's animal control how long an owner had to claim a dog and when she would be legally mine. They said in our county in was 30 days. (I ended up placing her with a dear friend of mine and she is a great little dog and is so happy!) I would call your local animal control and ask what the legal time limit is, but I would think it would be less than six weeks. I think it would be safe to say that she is yours and if someone wanted her back they would have been looking for her. She sounds like a sweetie and she is very lucky to have found you!! :)
 

ladyluck_t

Boxer Insane
We had a similar situation at our rescue, fortunately the dog was "rescued" by a pair of lawyers ;) They checked out all the laws and such, and come to find out if the original owners tried to claim her then we and them could file a law suit for the money that we spent on her care (Mira had been hit by a car) apparently it is something to do with property rights, if you loose property and someone picks it up and "improves" it, then you are responsible for the improvements.

I would check out your local property laws and your local animal ordinances. Get your ducks in a row and prepared. THen if the orginal owners ever show up, then you and her are protected.


** edited, little Mira was adopted by the son of the Asst. Director of Environmental Affairs of our city, the dept in charge of the animal shelters :D Perfect home and perfectly protected forever!
 
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