DIdnt pick up their dogs

[ferretlov]

Have you ever had a client NOT pick their dogs up?
I have a client with 2 jacks (I have a jack) we ussually groom them and since we are a boarding facility too he dropped his dogs off wednesday and said he was looking for a home but hasnt found them one yet and needs to leave them because he has a contract with sea world and will be gone 5 days a week.
he was going to calll friday and let me know how long he needed them to stay. well he never called.My boss tried calling him and he doesnt answer.so bosses wife call from her cell aand calls her right back says hes picking up monday.well he never did and I called yesterday no answer! My boss wants me to call and tell him im taking them to the pound and pressing charges fro abandonment.
I think thats a tacky thing to do and I dont want to be a [email protected]*h .thats a terrible thing to say.
they are sweet little dogs that dont seem to have the terrible JRT traits. they get along with all the dogs they dont dig our yard up no nipping heals-they are just good dogs. the one does bark a lot if he isnt with you but mine will do that too.
Hoiw do I handle this with out it blowing up in my face? I left a message saying I have other reservations comming in and need to know what hes doing because Im running out of space for the dogs.never called me back.

[Particentral]

It could also be illegal to do that. You have legal ways that you need to handle this. In many places you have to hold the dog and notify the owner via certified letter that you are taking custody, give them ten days (or whatever it is in your area) then you can place them. Its TECHNICALLY not abandonment since they are in the care of someone (at least here it isn't). BUT you can take them to court for you bills and placement and collection costs. Likely wont ever get it.

It happens unfortunatly periodically. Know your state and city laws when you get into this business. Our Ag Dept in GA sets the rules. Its ten days before I can even notify the person of a problem, then I have to notify them and give them ten days. In the case of a stray its ten days from the date I lay hands on it until I can place it or turn it in.

Found out the hard way on the stray rules. If I ever touch it is mine for ten days .....I never do that anymore!

[SwissNChow]

Odds are he never planned to come get them. He told you he wants to place them, and now he is avoiding phone calls, it would surprise me if he shows up again.

You now have a verbal pick up date from him (Monday), so I would use that date as his intended date. He missed picking them up again, and didn't bother calling...experience tells me he's even less likely to come get them, but he's going to drag it out longer and longer (that is if you can even get in touch with him again.) I bet he's going to block that cell number.

Now the business needs to go through the official abandoned dog procedure. Every boarding kennel must have one. If the kennel you work for does not have a procedure, then they are simply late to develop one and now is the time. The boss needs to contact the authorities to find out the rules for your county/state. One of the best people to consult with is the vet as odds are they know the required procedure, but definitely double check with law enforcement and lawyer.

When I was in west TX, we sent two letters. One via certified mail, and one via regular mail to their address. The letter expressed that they had abandonded their pet and gave them 10 days from the date the letter was mailed and declaired the dogs would be disposed of after that date. Our letter always threatened euthanasia after the date. In order to pick up the dogs, they must pay for the dog's bill. Boarding calculated from when they were dropped off through the days until they actually pick up the dogs, include grooming if they were groomed. How soon you can send the letter really depends on your area. I've heard of 10 days in some areas, 30 days in others, and as short as 3 days in some areas. Make sure the kennel is locked up tight during this time, as it isn't unusual to see an attempted break in to get the dogs.

Why threaten euthanasia? Because the kennel may actually do it. If you rehome the dogs instead, great. But if you can't find them homes, the kennel may have to euthanize. The kennel may choose to turn them over to the shelter, where they may be euthanized, rehomed, or reclaimed by the owner.

Once the kennel goes through the procedure, the owner doesn't come get them, and the dogs become the official property of the kennel, then the kennel gets to decide what to do with them. If they go unclaimed, the kennel owner has every right to file against the owner for the monies due. And they should as it is theft of services. Even if the kennel has dogs coming in that have reserved that kennel space, the kennel can't just get rid of the Jacks until the procedure is followed, or the kennel can get in trouble. Crate the Jacks if you run out of room.

However, this is the Boss's job to file the paperwork, make the decisions, etc. You are an employee. Of course the boss can direct you to right the letter, leave a message, etc, but they can't direct you to do something illegal, and I would not allow them to make you harrass the owner. As a boss, I would never make my employees make that call. It's just not fair. Him abandoning the dogs definitely is NOT your fault.

The kennel needs to have a procedure in place for situations just like this one. What do you do when the owner drops off dogs and says they don't know when they are picking them up? Our kennel went to a pre-pay policy. If they don't know when they will be back, then they would have to pay for a week up front, and leave us with a credit card number. If they had not picked up within the week (we would refund if they picked up before their deposit was used up) then we would charge them for another week. We told the owner up front that if they didn't come, or if the CC did not process, then we would start abandonment procedure. If they are thinking about abandonment, they will hesitate. If they are definitely coming back to get their dogs, they won't have an issue with it. Our boss also had to approve the drop off in these situations, so it was always the boss's idea to board the dogs, not the employees.

Good luck with this. Should the owner pick up the dogs, the boss needs to have a policy of what to do if he wants to board them again, or simply refuse him service. It's not that he wasn't able to get the dogs in time, cause life happens, but the fact that he is avoiding communication with the kennel, now that is the problem...sounds like you would not be able to consult with him in the case of an emergency.

[grooming goddess]

Over the years, I have had two clients drop off for grooming and never return. I sent both dogs to the shelter after I kept them for three days with repeated attempts to contact owners. I even drove to the address on one of the files, but no one lived there. I don't know what I would do if I had been able to acommodate them in a boarding facility. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Some people just don't deserve to own pets.

[puppy love]

Please, not the pound! Is there a JRT rescue or some other rescue group that you can call to come pick them up after it has been completely determined that they have been abandoned?

How could someone sleep at night and face themselves in the mirror knowing that they abandoned their dogs who trusted them with their lives? That is just too sad for those little dogs...

[ferretlov]

Well my boss got ahold of the owner today and the owner said he was sorry he was going to pick them up today and left his credit card number AND NEVER SHOWED UP. HE HAS HAD THEM FOR 5 AND 6 YEARS.youd have to pry my dog out of my cold DEAD HANDS to get her away from me!!!I have actually had the ITS ME OR THE DOG argument with my husband when she was about a year old- long story short I packed my husband a bag and he went to his mothers for a week. he called every day and asked is that dog still there?
I said yes shes on the couch,he came back and sunshine is 8 years old now.
Anyhow,the closest rescue is in GA and they are full.It is a russel rescue.I wouldnt take them to the pound jacks dont have a goood chance there I know that.I really like these dogs they are soo sweet.the girl sits up and begs when she wants attention and the boy wants nothing more than a pet on the head.this is soo awfull.I have no is=dea what will happen to them but I am looking for a home for them ill have the owner relinquish them ill look for something online.

[Smart-n-Pretty]

Well my boss got ahold of the owner today and the owner said he was sorry he was going to pick them up today and left his credit card number AND NEVER SHOWED UP. HE HAS HAD THEM FOR 5 AND 6 YEARS.youd have to pry my dog out of my cold DEAD HANDS to get her away from me!!!I have actually had the ITS ME OR THE DOG argument with my husband when she was about a year old- long story short I packed my husband a bag and he went to his mothers for a week. he called every day and asked is that dog still there?
I said yes shes on the couch,he came back and sunshine is 8 years old now.

LMBO! "And she's in YOUR spot!" Love me, love my dog.

[SwissNChow]

Charge the card and quit playing his game. If he actually does pick them up, don't ever take them in again.

[bednbones]

Well

If he gave his credit card then he is willing to pay for the boarding of his dogs. It may be just circumstances with his job. We had a dog where it kept extending only to find out that her husband left her w/his secretary. The took all the $$ out of their joint accounts and quit paying the mortgage. She put the house on the market but of course it didn't sell. So she was out of a house, never worked in her life and had children. The dog was with us until she could afford a place to live that would take her dog -- big Great Pyr. It took her 3 months and we helped get the dog certified as a service dog so she could move into her apartment.

Maybe its something like that. I always want to believe the best first ....

[Smart-n-Pretty]

Charge the card and quit playing his game. If he actually does pick them up, don't ever take them in again.

My HERO!

[groominshuman]

What an awful mess. Some people are just insane, you are wonderful for loving these little guys. God Bless you!!!

[Particentral]

In GA, if the credit card runs (And I would run it EVERY DAY for the days charges and boarding) then they are NOT abandoned. PERIOD. YES they should have gone home, but if the bill is paid, then there is little you can do about it.

I have a yorkie here that was dropped off on Tuesday for a bath and playtime (I dont offer real daycare, but he cannot be left at home), haven't heard from them, but the card runs every evening for boarding until he gets here.

If he's paying, then he's doing what he is supposed to do.

[Meesh]

Well, seeing as this is the Mobile Groomer Board, it's not a problem we mobile groomers tend to have. I have had people take off "for just five minutes" while I was grooming, get sidetracked and not be there when I was finished and not have made arrangements for me to be able to put the dog back in the house. On the (thankfully rare) occasions I have to wait for someone to return to their house so I can continue on with my day I charge them a buck for every minute I have to wait, just like the day care centers do for late pickups. It NEVER happens again.

Just another problem avoided by being a mobile groomer. I'd hate to have to keep to shop hours and wait for people to get their dogs.

Meesh

[ferretlov]

ok they are still with us- no call wont answer from him. we ran his card once a week so his bill has been total of 700.00 now.I gave them a bath yesterday and trimed them up a bit its been a while since theyve been done and they were looking ruff (lol)
Im am starting to get attatched that sucks.

[Smart-n-Pretty]

Be prepared with documentation in case they try to dispute the credit card charges.