'You took my dog': Two years after taking a stray dog in, dog owner faces a woman who claims to be the original owner

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jan 9, 2024 10:00 AM EST

How long does it take for an adopted pet to start feeling like a family member? Is there always this big moment in which you look at this little creature you took in and think to yourself - "Yep, this is their forever home"?

I remember the first night after I rescued my cat. She was really nervous and would not stop pacing around the apartment, exploring and looking for places to hide. I still had many doubts then about whether or not I made the right choice. But on the third night with me, she went into my bedroom and cuddled with me throughout the entire night. That was the first time it felt like she was at home.

Now imagine rescuing a pet from the street and taking care of it for two whole years. That little pet definitely becomes a family member in that time. Then you meet someone who claims your pet as their long-lost pet from two years back. What would you do in that situation? When this woman turned to Reddit with the exact story about her dog, she refused to give it away to the person claiming to be the original owner.

Scroll down for the full story and the comments about the entire situation. When you are done, scroll back up and click here for a collection of relatable memes for an accurate description of 2024 so far.

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  • 01
    AITBA for refusing to give someone their dog back?
    via u/One_Locksmith_3680
  • 02
    I (17m) and my boyfriend (19m) found a little puppy after a really bad storm almost 2 years ago. She was clean but had some mud, she didn't look like she walked too far at all. We made posters stating we had found a lost female dog in the given area.
    via u/One_Locksmith_3680
  • 03
    We posted them up everywhere; stores, lamp posts, stop signs, etc. You name it we most likely put one there. We posted it on facebook, instagram, and all the social media platforms. We also went to every vet within an hour drive. 4 months
    via u/One_Locksmith_3680
  • 04
    pass and we get no information from anyone about who this dog is. We get her fixed and get her a brother as she is a puppy and needs constant attention even when we are sleeping.
    via u/One_Locksmith_3680
  • 05
    This all happened 2 years ago, now she is about 2 years old and her brother is about a year old, we have spent a lot on both dogs. This woman approaches me and my dogs at a dog park and says
    via u/One_Locksmith_3680
  • 06
    "Matilda?" My dog looks at her, keep in mind when we found this dog there was no tags or chip so we renamed her and everything. She then says "that's my dog that went missing 2 years ago." I said I
    via u/One_Locksmith_3680
  • 07
    am sorry, but this is my dog. She got mad and said to give her the dog. I told her it was my dog and that she can't just demand I give her the
    via u/One_Locksmith_3680
  • 08
    dog. I left the park with both dogs but she threatened to call the police. My family and friends are split on if I did the right thing. So AITBA?
    via u/One_Locksmith_3680
  • 09
    Ordinary_Map_5000 4 days ago Not the bad apple. You did everything possible to find the dog's owner who never came forward. At that point, it was reasonable for the dog to be
    via u/Ordinary_Map_5000
  • 10
    considered abandoned and for you to decide to become her permanent carers. You have records of your ownership and care spanning 2 years. She's your dog. No reasonable person would consider otherwise.
    via u/Ordinary_Map_5000
  • 11
    One_Locksmith_3680 OP. 4 days ago What also kind of made me not give her back was the reaction I got. The dog wasn't happy to see this woman. She was growling and barking something I have never seen her do.
    via u/One_Locksmith_3680
  • 12
    Ordinary Map 50004 days ago Yikes! Your dog told you what kind of home she came from OR if the woman was actually not the former owner, your dog sensed something was wrong with her
    via u/Ordinary_Map_5000
  • 13
    DoctorGuvnor. 4 days ago I seldom believe people, but I invariably believe dogs when they tell me something.
    via u/DoctorGuvnor
  • 14
    Waterbaby8182 . 4 days ago If you've never seen her act like that ever, your dog's reaction is telling. There's either something wrong with that woman or that is the forner owner.
    via u/Waterbaby8182
  • 15
    Enquent 4 days ago Honestly, no. The dog has no memory of this woman. The dog just came across a woman who was very role by dog standards. Probably intense direct eye contact, came forward either
    via u/Enquent
  • 16
    rapidly or hesitantly, then started acting erratic and loud. That makes dogs nervous and defensive.
    via u/Enquent
  • 17
    Whatsmyusername2u · 4 days ago Apple Connoisseur I wouldn't have given her back either. She's yours
    via u/Whatsmyusername2u
  • 18
    000lastresort000. 4 days ago You said this dog was a puppy when you found her? How the hol could this woman know that this dog is her dog? The dog would look completely different than she did as a puppy. She's full of , I highly doubt it's her dog.
    via u/000lastresort000
  • 19
    christikayann · 4 days ago Plus even if it is the same dog it could have been picked up by animal control and adopted from an animal shelter. After 2 years OP is 100% in the clear. That woman is s.
    via u/christikayann
  • 20
    starrmommy41. 3 days ago Even shelters are only required to keep a doggo for 14 days, if the owner doesn't show, they are free to put the pet up for adoption.
    via u/starrmommy4
  • 21
    bluedreamer62. 4 days ago Make she is chipped and get vet records to show you have been taking g care of her for 2 years just in case she tries to do something.
    via u/bluedreamer62
  • 22
    One_Locksmith_3680 OP. 4 days ago Oh she is chipped, has a tag, and is updated on everything
    via u/One_Locksmith_3680
  • 23
    000lastresort000. 4 days ago I don't think there anything this lady could "pull" to get anyone in law enforcement to give this dog to her. It's been two years, this lady has no rights over this dog, and
    via u/000lastresort000
  • 24
    there's not even a way she can prove the dog is hers as any pictures she has would be of a puppy, not a grown 2 year old dog. Even if the dog had a microchip, it's been with op for 2 years, far longer than it was with the original owner.
    via u/000lastresort000
  • 25
    (I am assuming this occurred in a country where I'm familiar with the laws regarding pets, but if it happened in a country I'm unfamiliar with, ignore my confidence that there's nothing this woman can do to get the dog back)
    via u/000lastresort000
  • 26
    Gennevieve14 days ago Even if she could prove that this dog once belonged to her then OP would have the right to ask for reimbursement for all the costs - vet bills, pet food, pet sitting fee. The cost would be astronomical. I bet that the woman would not pay it......
    via u/Gennevieve1
  • 27
    tropicsandcaffeine 4 days ago ΝΤΑ It has been two years. You are the owner. Don't go back to that dog park for a while.
    via u/tropicsandcaffeine
  • 28
    Bobbie JeanAndie - 4 days ago I'm sorry you're NTBA, but she is. You've provided medical care for it, so it's legally yours.
    via u/BobbieJeanAndie
  • 29
    Due-Koala125 - 4 days ago Is she an expensive breed? Quite possibly this woman is just a dog thief. Unfortunately stealing dogs is now big business
    via u/Due-Koala125
  • 30
    Murky-Technician5123. 4 days ago exactly. there is NO PROOF this dog was ever hers. Not even a photo of her with the dog, nothing, no chip. You have no idea if this ever was her dog in the first place.
    via u/Murky-Technician5123

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pets reddit story Reddit weird animals missing dogs stray dog adoption drama lost dog dog owner missing dog reddit thread pet owners
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