I lost my dog, a male, small, un-neutered Yorkshire, a week ago, August 4 at 7 pm, in Queens area. I contacted Animal Care Center (ACC) to file a missing dog. Three days later, I saw in ACC’s website that someone found a dog that has same characteristics as my dog on the same day at 2 am in the morning. I contacted ACC, and we have a three-way call since the finder refused to call me directly. However, the finder insisted that the dog is not mine since our houses is 3 miles apart. So, I asked if the finder can send me the picture of the found dog (all the communication is via an ACC’s agent as a middle person since the finder didn’t want to give any of their information to me). When I received the pictures via email, I definitely knew that it was my dog. I contacted ACC straight away to tell the finder that it was my dog. However, the finder insisted that it wasn’t my dog and eventually stated that she wanted to keep the dog.
The problem is I don’t have the finder information at all. The Animal Care Center knows it, but is not allowed to give it to me without the finder’s permission.
How can I bring someone to the court if I don’t know who they are. Until now, we’ve been communicating via Animal Care Center. However, I know for sure that it is my dog. I asked them if I can meet the dog, that way they will know whether I’m the owner or not, but they wanted to keep the dog.
When the dog was missing, he didn’t have his tag on (he hates wearing it, so I took it off). He’s not microchip-ed as well. However, I have a bunch of his pictures and has his birth certificate.
The agent of Animal Care Center told me that the finder claimed that they spent 0 for the vet cost. Do I have to reimburse that money to them if I get it back? I don’t know if they are lying or not.
I did take care of my dog. I gave him meals everyday, take him out for walk everyday. I just didn’t take him to the dog saloon, and shave his hair by myself, so his hair looks uneven (all my friends do the same). But doesn’t not groom your dog in saloon means you do not take care of your dog?
I have some of his hair in his comb if they want a DNA proof.
He went missing because my roommate open the door (3rd floor) and he ran outside. Usually the entrance door on the 1st floor is always closed, but that time it was open. I wasn’t home that time, but after my roommate called me and told me, I went home straight away. She began the searching right after the dog ran out, but she lost the track. We search for 4 hours, put fliers within 1 mile around my house, but no result. Until I saw the posting in Animal Care Center website that someone found a Yorkshire on the same day.
I also wonder how come he could walk 3 miles. I just know for sure (and all my family and friends also) from the pictures from the finder that it was my dog.
But can the finder microchip a stray dog and the dog legally belong to them? I thought there’s a law in every state before they’re allowed to do that (I live in NY state)? Does the dog need to have a birth certificate to be microchip-ed?
I also have all the emails and posting from the finder that the dog is actually a stray dog.
I call the cop, and they can’t help me because I don’t have enough proof that it’s my dog. Apparently pictures and birth certificate are not enough. The cop said that they can’t arrest people or force them to meet up with me at the shelter.
Could you please let me know what should I do? Does the finder have the right to keep the dog? Can I get my dog back? Please, this is very important to me.
Thank you, guys.
I don’t know the finder email address. The agent at ACC copy paste the picture and sent them to me. So, I don’t know any info about them other than they live in Long Island City, NY, at 35th Street, 4th floor.
I overheard the conversation btw ACC teams.
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