Dilema

[Raiye]

What would you do?

You take your kid to the park and tied to the swings with blue string is a dog. He's covered in open sores and obvious mange, as you say hello, the fleas tango over your hands. His eyes are all crusty and his ears are full of mites. He is soo skinny you can count every single rib and he has pressure sores on his elbows and behind.
No one is around, the dog is alone.
You take him home. Call the dog warden as you should and sign the papers to keep for he required 28 days as the local pound has a terrible rep and you know they wouldn't treat him very well.
The following day you are at the vets, you get him deflead, de wormed, and start his treatment to clear his mange. You give him a bath, a good meal and a comfy bed.He is only a baby, about 8 months guesstimate with a really lovely nature. A darling of a dog.
You are at work a few days later when a neighbour that you know by face happens by with a dog the spitting image of the one you have found. This dog is in the same state as the other, half bald and half starved. You strike up a non committal convo and discover the dog you found was the brother to this dog (its obvious just from looking) and that your dog has been dumped by her brother. They are even walking this dog on the same blue string your boy was left tied with. Basically you have found the owner of your dog. The owner lives on the same estate as you and there is every chance you could bump into them while walking your recovering itchy skeleton.
What would be your next action? What would you do?

[Sephrenia]

Report them for cruelty. Anonomously of course but if you know these people are treating the animals like that then I wouldn't hesitate.

[chumba wumba]

Report them but move the dog you have on fast as soon as the 28 days are up-----btw I thought it was only 7 days?

rune

[Raiye]

7 days in the pound, 28 days in your home.

[chook]

Speak to the boss tomorrow, get him moved on - and report the people with the other dog,
if they see him theres every chance they could clam him back, and theres nothing you can do, if they can prove he belongs to them,you would have to give him back, otherwise you could be done for theft,
it would be up to the rspca to sort out any abuse.

[kazschow]

I'd report, and move him somewhere safe you can trust out of the area right now...

[Vase]

Curb stomp the b*****d and give them a salt mouthwash!

Sorry, I dont have any constructive advice, but people like that make me hate the human race even more.

Huge respect for taking the poor dog in

[Mynona.]

If the intention was to move this dog to a permanent home once he recovered then, I agree with the others - move him quickly and report the so and so who owns the brother and keep quiet about the one you have.

If not, keep him as much out of sight as possible and still report the so and so with his brother. Once the boy has recovered, I would imagine he will be more or less unidentifiable because his condition will change his looks so much that it would be very costly for them to prove this was their dog. Of course, if the other dog is removed or a court case is brought, I doubt they would want to try to claim that they were responsible for getting two dogs into such a state so either way your boy wins.

[bluninja]

Errr...if they were to prove that they were the owners of the dog, wouldn't they have to stump up for the medical bills, food and expenses whilst in your care?

[johnderondon]

The 28 day rule does not transfer ownership. The owner could reclaim their dog at any time.
Discuss with local dog warden wether he would "seize" the dog, enter it into his register but leave the dog with you for the required 7 days.