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age
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writes: So my boyfriend found a puppy on the side of the road, and he took him home, until we found find him a home! I immediantly started calling family members. I asked my grandmother (who just lost a dog, and was kinda looking for another one...but wasn't really seriously looking.), at first she said no, and then she said "let me think about it.", when my roommate got home...he absolutely loved him, and wanted him. But he never gave me exact answer on if he SERIOUSLY wanted him. I got a call this morning from my grandmother and was like "I want him! He would love it here" My grandmother lives on the beach, lovely home...and is able to afford vet visits, and groom the dog. She plans on coming down in a few days to pick him up.Well, Whenever i got home this afternoon, the dog was gone, and my roommate took the dog to his parent's house! He said they have a fence outside they can lock him in. I know some dogs are meant for outside, but not this little guy! I have never locked my dog in a fence, i have friends who do that, and don't even pay attention to them, except throw them a bowl of food!How do i get him back, without hurting my roommates feelings?
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (6 July 2011): There is a tactful way out of this. Play the grandma card. She's on her own, her dog has died etc etc. Having a puppy in her life would make her happy
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female
reader, chocoholicforever  +, writes (6 July 2011):
Did your roommate take the puppy to his parents' house only as a temporary measure because he was just trying to be helpful until you found a permanent home for the puppy? Or was your roommate assuming that here's a puppy who needs a home so he decided that he would give him to his parents?
I would tell your roommate, politely, that thank you for your concern for the puppy, but I've already found a home for him. and see what your roommate says.
if your roommate is saying that he thought his parents should be the permanent owners, well since it was your bf who found the puppy it shouldn't be your roommate's decision to make, and certainly not without consulting you first.
....as a long-time dog (and cat) owner and animal welfare volunteer I can say that I would recommend this puppy not go to your roommate's parents.
I believe that dogs shouldn't be locked in yards, and certainly not while puppies. Research and statistics back this up. Puppies need a lot of socialization and human attention to be taught good manners and what's expected of them, and to grow up well-adjusted. Puppies are a lot more high-maintenance than adult dogs. Even if these people would normally lock their dogs in the yard alone all day, they shouldn't do that with a puppy.
If they are already going to have the puppy spend a lot of time alone in the yard, I think this is a set up for a lot of behavior problems in the dog further down the road - and dogs which exhibit a lot of problems often end up getting surrendered to shelters where they may be put down after a few days for lack of space, or worse, abandoned or kept in the yard but neglected. I've seen it too many times in my many years of volunteering at animal shelters and rescues. My family also takes in, fosters, and re-homes dogs that were surrendered due to problem behaviors, or abandoned, so this issue is one that I feel strongly about.
Finally, I want to also state that if this puppy was found on the side of the road, there is a chance that he already has an owner and was just lost or escaped. If so, the first priority should be to locate his owners, and only if it's deemed that he had no owner, then should he be adopted out to someone (whether your grandmother or anyone else).
First take him to the vet and have them scan him for a microschip (many owners put microchips in their dogs as a form of ID). this only takes a minute and they shouldn't charge anything for it. If he doesn't have a microchip, then the next order of business is to make up "dog-found" flyers and post them around the area where the puppy was found. However, don't put a photo of the puppy. Instead, if anyone lost him and saw your flyer they can call you and you have THEM describe the puppy to you to see if it matches and they really are his owners. If you put a photo, anyone can call up claiming to be his owners when they just want a free dog (and people who would get a free dog this way are, IMO untrustworthy to begin with).
Finally, you can also take him to the nearest animal shelter because if he has a family and they're looking for him, chances are they'll be calling and checking the shelters. But, tell the shelter very clearly that if no one claims him as their owner, that you will take him (so the shelter won't adopt him out to a new visitor or rescue groups, unless you're OK with that). And also tell them that you'll take him if no one claims him so that they won't put him down if no one claims him and "time is up."
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female
reader, aunt honesty  +, writes (6 July 2011):
 I guess you just need to be honest with him. Tell him you are really sorry but that you didn't know for sure that he wanted the puppy so you have now told your granny that she can have it. Be sympathetic with him because it sounds like he has already gotten a bond with the puppy and apologise to him. I guess that's all you can do. But do it now soon before he gets any more attached.
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reader, anonymous, writes (6 July 2011): Tell him what you've told us. He probly would give him back since the grandmother's on the way and she's gotten her hopes up. And maybe tell him about the beach and how he would enjoy the freedom instead of being locked up in a fence.
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