A lady who claims to be a a dog catcher in my town of 400 caught my dog out of the fenced in yard.?

Question

She knows exactly who the dog belongs to because she has caught this digging, little, sly, cocker spaniel out of the yard before. This "dog catcher" knows my dog and lives less then 2 houses down from me. She takes her to the vet where she works (for examination)instead of calling to let me know she got out. The vet runs up an increadible testing and exam bill, them will not let me have my dog back until I pay her bill. The dog has county tags. Shouldn't this be illeagal? The last time she got her it cost about $170 to get her back. It happens about 1-2 times a year. Its not like I am letting my dog run the town. I work and she digs out once in awhile.

The dog has a pet door to get out of the house and a fenced in yard. She digs under it. We have done everything to keep her from digging. You should see the fence line. She has been fixed, so its not that, she just instinctively digs under the fence row. I think the " dog catcher' is running a scam trying to make money for the vet. This dog is not abused in any way and she doesn't run the hood. She is just sneaky and gets out.

Answer 1

I am not sure about where you live but here if you have county tags they must return the dog straight to you. Here the purchase of tags even pays from the county any damage that the dog may have done, such as killing chickens or such. If it was me I would have her butt. The county would be paying the bill since I had it tagged and did not permission her to vet it.

Answer 2

Sounds like an illegal scam to me! That said, it's YOUR responsibility to keep your dog in your yard. You can get some heavy wire fencing or chain link fencing and either bury it or lay it flat on the ground next to the existing fence. Wire it to the bottom of the fence and she won't be able to dig under any more. Or, if you've got big bucks, you can pour a 3 foot sidewalk all the way around the inside of the fence. Or you can build a dog pen with a concrete floor, so she can't escape. Or you can keep her inside the house, in a crate if necessary. Problem solved.

Answer 3

I'd check your local laws, but usually if an animal is not on your property, it can legally be picked up by a dog catcher (animal control officer). I can make no comments on "the vet runs up an incredible testing and exam bill" , without more info, but most vets are commissioned to treat animals for the county animal control and animal control will pick up a certain amount if the animal goes unclaimed an the vet will eat the cost of the rest of it and write it off as charitable work, but if the animal is claimed the full charge goes to the owner.
Our local animal control hardly brings us anything unless it is serious or needs immediate medical treatment. But that's how it works in our county in Indiana.
Hope that helps,
-a dvm

Answer 4

Sounds like your dog has continually been a problem getting out. The woman is doing her job. It is your job to keep the dog from getting out. One of these days your dog will get killed by a larger dog or it will be hit by a car and killed, or you will have much larger vet bills to pay. She is trying to protect the dog. To keep the dog from getting out, you need to get some chicken wire and put it on the bottom of the fence with part of it laying on the ground, so that the dog cannot dig its way out.

Answer 5

I agree with what Elayne Trakand wrote. It is your responsibility to make sure your dog is contained at all times. If this was a one-time thing then I would be more on your side, but you said it happens once in a while so that means it has happened several times before. Your dog should be inside when you are not at home and if you don't want to let him in your house then maybe you should consider finding him a home where he will be properly cared for and looked after.

Answer 6

Maybe you need to talk to the evil dog catcher....Sounds like she has a major problem against cocker spaniels or you....Explain the situation to her and if it still occurs..call the police???? That cannot be legal...Or go to a library and look up the rules if there are any about the limitations a dog catcher has.... Good Luck...

Answer 7

First try putting your dog on a run, so she can not dig out. Talk to your local Sheriff about harassment. Talk to a lawyer. It sounds like this dog catcher has a problem with you or your pet.

Answer 8

You can keep a digger in by putting a l shaped piece from your fence bottom turning to go parrellel witht the ground about a foot in from the fence. Cover with a shallow coat of soil. she's highly unlikely to think of digging over 1 ft back. from the fence & if sh'e closer she hit the wire.
Or leave her in the house while you're gone.

Answer 9

I may try and fight that... but you should do something to secure your dog better so he/she cannot dig out. Whether she knows the dog is yours or not it is your responsibility to make sure your dog is secured. I do not think it fair for her to run up a vet bill but I feel you should have to pay something to get your dog back.

Answer 10

does this so called dog catcher wear a uniform.get her name and ask the county if she really is a dog catcher.they have to be liscense, i think.if shes not a real one,press charges on her for stealing your dog!or try talking directly to her,and explain that it digs out while you are at work!sounds like a scam to me!she should be taking it to a pound if its real!