Expert: Lee Meyer - 11/2/2010

Question
Please help me.  On Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010 my Maltese went missing.  We spent that day looking for her and I had flyers posted up around our neighborhood within 2 hours of her being gone.  On Tue. the 26th I found the person who found my Maltese.  She told me that she found her on Sunday and she took her to the Rancho Cucamong Animal Shelter but that they told her she needed to take the dog to the Fontana Animal Shelter since thats were she found the dog.  She states that she didn't want to do that and that she would rather find a "No Kill" shelter.  As she was leaving the Animal Shelter two men approached her and said that they would take the dog to a "No Kill" shelter in Riverside.  She handed my dog to them without getting any information about the men. That evening I went down to the shelter to make sure my Cassie wasn't there and she wasn't.  On Wednesday the  27th I spent my day in Riverside going to all the animal shelters out there, even the "No Kill" shelters.  Cassie wasn't anywhere.  I spent that evening going onto all the animal shelters web sites looking for her.  I got a tip on Wed. that a Maltese that looked like mine was in the Downy Shelter so I drove over an hour on Thursday to Downy just to find out she wasn't there.  By Friday I had gone to vets, groomers, Petsmart, Petco and shelters putting up flyers of Cassie.  I also went back to Rancho Cucamonga Animal Shelter to see if they would review there cameras.  They did and I got the results back today, Monday, November 1st.  The cameras never showed a couple come into the shelter with a Maltese or the two men the couple described to me.  I don't know what to do.  It looks like this couple lied to me and they have my baby or gave her away or they did go to the shelter but the cameras didn't pick them up.  What do I do now??  What legal rights do I have????  I really need help!!  Cassie is a big part of our family and we really miss her.  If I dont do something no one will.  Please help me.  Thank you.

Answer
Hi,

I am sorry to hear about your dog.

I am not a lwayer, I'd just tell you what I'd do.

I would get the police involved, give a statement, ask them to interview the folks who said they gave the dog to "a couple of men" and see if they can see any inconsistencies in her story.  Perhaps tell the officers you don't believe that story since you went to all the shelters around your area and no two men ever came in with your dog.

Have you had problems with this neighbor or have they ever made comments about your dog before?

You could ask the officers if they could look around her house for the dog.  She can say no but if her story's off or they hear barking...

You could also hire a detective to record their activity and see if they have the dog, or are buying dog items but going into the house with them.  Or if they ever meet up somewhere with the "2 guys".

You may have some kind of civil issue with the neighbor because she gave your dog away to strangers she has "no idea" who they are.  You'd have to talk to a civil attorney for that.  She basically gave away something of yours to people she didn't know or verify who they were.  She should be liable for some kind of negligence, I am guessing.

I am hoping this gives you some ideas to think about.  This just sounds too fishy, you don't just be responsible one minute and then totally irresponsible the next.  I would never give my animal, much less someone elses' to total strangers.  I don't care how nice they appear to be.