So I adopted one of my dogs from a local animal shelter. He had been there for over a month. Took him home and the next day took him to the vet. The vet came back into the room asking me if I knew he had a microchip, I told her I had been told that he wasn’t chipped.

She then nervously informs me that he does in fact have a chip and that it pulled up previous owner information. Cue a whole fiasco with the sheriffs department getting involved, but this very reputable shelter had some how missed his chip in all the time he was there.

The sheriff called me, spoke to the previous owner who informed him that she wanted him back. According to my County’s laws any dog who is in animal control care and is not claimed within one week is legally available to adopt. He was legally mine and the officer told me I was under no obligation to give him back. He told me she was a young girl who had given him to friends to watch while she was off at school. The friends were letting him run loose and he was caught in a trap on a farm property and then proceeded to spend over a month in a shelter.

I was torn. I couldn’t fathom being in that girls position. But I also couldn’t get over the fact that no one had come to look for him for over a month. Maybe the friends who were keeping him lied to the owner when she called to check in on him, maybe she never called. I won’t ever know.

I often think of his original owner. Wondering if she thinks about him, wonders how he is. When I informed the sheriff I wouldn’t be giving him back I told him to tell her he was now in a loving home and would be well taken care of, but I do wish I could have been given her information to let him know how well he is doing and how much he is loved.

I do feel guilty when I think about the situation. I hate feeling like I took something from someone, even though the law says he is rightfully mine. Had there been any evidence anyone had ever gone looking for him I would have given him back without hesitation, even though it would have broken my heart.

I know this isn’t exactly like the stories you are talking about (which I totally agree with), but I suppose I share my story just to say that not every situation is always so black and white... and I guess to air some of my guilt. Sometime people truly do think they’re doing the right thing...