NC Dog Owner Files Lawsuit For Return Of Her Dog Sold By County Shelter [Video]

What would you do if your dog accidentally escaped from home? Most people would look for the dog, put up posters, contact shelters, and even form search groups. On January 21, Bobo the golden retriever wandered away from his home, and a good Samaritan who found him took him to the Cumberland County Animal Control. The good Samaritan told the shelter that he would take the dog back after the three-day mandatory holding period, because the dog seemed so well-behaved and in such great shape that he was certain there was a local owner, according to YesBiscuit.

Most shelters have time limits in which they have to hold companion animals, to give owners time to find their lost pets. Cumberland County gives owners three business days to claim a pet from the shelter. A county ordinance requires that the timeline be extended another 72 hours “if the owner is known.”

Approximately 10 minutes before the initial deadline, shelter staff learned that the Davis family, Bobo’s owner, was looking for Bobo. However, the shelter adopted the golden retriever out anyway, according to WRAL.

Bobo’s owners didn’t sit around when he was lost. They allegedly physically searched for him, networked with neighbors to find him, including the local fire department. Because of the Davis family’s efforts, the good Samaritan who originally found Bobo discovered that the Davises were the owners and determined their address. He left his card at the Davises’ residence, as they were not home.

On January 26, the good Samaritan was going to pick up Bobo from the shelter. He called the shelter to advise them he was on his way and to give them the owner’s — the Davis’s — name and address. Despite the fact that the shelter then allegedly knew that Bobo had an owner, a shelter staffer he spoke with told him if he didn’t arrive within the next 10 minutes — which was when the three-day holding period was up — the dog would be sold to someone else.

Twelve minutes later, the good Sam arrived at the shelter and found a man adopting Bobo. The good Samaritan again told the shelter staff that Bobo had a known owner, and he told the adopter as well. No matter. The adopter indicated that he could provide a better home for Bobo. The shelter staff adopted Bobo out to the Eatons. Now, both families are claiming ownership, and the Davises have filed a lawsuit against the Eatons and Cumberland County to get their dog back, as they first tried unsuccessfully to get Bobo back without filing.

There have been other similar cases in the last few years where shelters and rescue groups have refused to return animals, even to loving homes, unless legal action was taken. A video of Bobo can be found here.

Animal Control Director Dr. John Lauby supported the Cumberland County’s Animal Shelter’s staff and stated the following, according to WRAL.

“Cumberland County Animal Control followed its procedures in dealing with the stray dog dropped off at the Animal Shelter with no identifying tags or microchip. The impounded animal was not claimed by its owner after the required three-day holding period and no owner’s name or address was provided to the department. The dog then became available for adoption and we followed our procedures for that process.

It is upsetting to lose a pet and we sympathize with the Davis family. We encourage pet owners to have their animals microchipped. All pet owners should make sure their pets are wearing proper vaccination and identifying tags. Should your pet go missing, contact or visit Animal Control immediately.”

Cary, North Carolina, patent attorney Steve Terranova was so incensed over the situation that he agreed to represent the Davis family for free. The lawsuit alleges that the adoption was “improper and not valid” because the Cumberland County Animal Control “became aware of and did not attempt to locate or contact the owner.” The lawsuit also alleges the “Eatons improperly adopted Bobo knowing the owner… had been identified.” It’s also disputed whether Bobo had identification.

The Davis family indicated that they are devastated and heart-broken at the loss of Bobo. Animals bond and have feelings. They are not things that should be passed around. Who do you think should have custody of Bobo and why? Please leave your comments below.

The reality series Pit Bulls And Parolees has been renewed for a seventh season by the Animal Planet network. The show chronicles the Villalobos Rescue Center and its daily efforts to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home pit bulls and pit mixes who have been abandoned, neglected, or abused, according to an article in the Inquisitr. Tia Torres, in my estimation, would be glad to return a lost dog to its loving home.

[Golden Retriever (not Bobo) — Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images]