How Do I Get My Dog Back From A Foster Family?

Question

Hi All!

My friend placed her Beagle into a foster home about a couple months back due to problems with her temporary living arrangement. She is now at an extended stay hotel, but says she will have adequate housing by next month or no later than December and now wants her doggy back.

Unfortunately it appears that the foster parents for the dog will not give him back to her and she is very distraught over the trust that she placed into this family as well as the rescue organization that recommended them.

The fosters even offered to pay cash for him, but my friend refused stating that all she wants is to have her pet and is now fearful that these people will never give him back. Just today they told her that he was lost. I find this very hard to believe since the fosters had him microchipped.

I feel so badly because I was the one who initially recommended foster care for the dog. Does anyone have any advice for her OR has this now turned into a legal case?

Some people can't seem to understand that my friend truly loves her Beagle and he is like a son to her so at the time she figured that she was doing the best thing for him by allowing temporary foster care and so did I. It's really a crying shame if this family has stolen this precious little guy from his original owner. I don't believe that any contract was ever signed. More than likely this will become a legal matter. Thanks to everyone for the great feedback!

Answer 1

In my experience, it would depend on they type of agreement and contract she had with this rescue. Did she sign an agreement/contract for this to be a temporary foster situation, or did she SURRENDER the dog to the rescue? Does she have in her possession, a contract stating that this was temporary?

If she has a signed contract to prove that this was a temporary arrangement, then she *should* send the rescue and foster a letter of intent. If that doesn't get her dog back, then it's likely that she will have to take them to court. (Provided that she maintained her "end of the deal".)

If she SURRENDERED the dog, he's property of the organization now, and there isn't much she can do short of adopting him back from the rescue.


Added: If no contract was signed, then 1) that rescue isn't a very credible or reputable rescue. A contract should ALWAYS be in place for this very reason. 2) Your friend, I'm sorry to say, doesn't have much of a leg to stand on. Has she provided medical care, food, toys, covered all of the expenses for this dog? Or has this been left to the rescue and foster home to take care of? If she has foot the bill financially for her dog while he's been in foster care, can she prove that she has?

Answer 2

Speaking from a foster point of view, it sounds like they aren't willing to give up the dog until your friend is stable enough to keep it...
If they did lie and say it was lost, I'd suggest going to the rescue organization to find out what happened and get the
REAL reason as to why the dog is not being returned.

The fact that the foster family had to microchip the dog tells me they are looking out for the dog (why didn't your friend do that anyway?!)
While it is very hard to foster dogs without getting attached to them, foster carers do know that the situation is temporary...

I find it interesting that the rescue took the dog in knowing they were fostering a dog that was meant to be returned to your friend... Most rescues only take in fosters that have been released by their owner or found in the pound. They normally don't provide a dog-sitting service for free...

Answer 3

My friend has a similar case, only she's on the opposing side. She (and her three children) are the foster family.
She was looking for a pet, when she heard about a girl who was looking for a foster family for her pet. The pet was a 3-year-old female Schnauzer. Her and her 2, 6 and 11 year old kids became so attached to the dog they called "Lizzie", and then about six months later, they recieved a call from the previous owner. They chatted awhile, then the previous owner "broke into tears" and starting telling my friend her sobstory about how she, "dearly loved" Lizzie...My friend talked her thru it but didn't offer to give the dog back, and this made the other lady super mad...so she threatened to call the cops! My friend loves this dog so much, and her kids would go "bonkers" without the little 'cub'. They cry nearly every night, they just want to keep the puppy. Well, this morning she got a call. The previous owner. She was all smug about it, sure, but she said; "Well, i will be the bigger person here. My lawyer called me; i can have the dog if i want. haha. but, i suppose, you can have it." and w/not but my friend talked to her lawyer, and she had already won the case! She was so happy she bought that dog so many toys....lol! she threw a party ;D .. all i'm saying is - consider the other persons feelings too.

Answer 4

First id go to the society that placed her with these people, and then if that doesn't work call the police if she didn't give the dog to the people or the society permanently then this foster family is stealing the dog. There is also a chance that this is a scam they might not be a foster family at all and might try to steal the dog id hurry and get the police or the society.

Answer 5

Ok, first: did your friend sign any contract of ANY sort with this foster family? If she did, she needs to go read it. Most of the rescue groups I belong to state in their "OTI" forms that the dog now belongs to the rescue group.
If she signed one of these, she's pretty much finished. Unless she wants to go challenge it in Court, which may be a hopeless battle.
If she signed no form, things can get dicey. Although Texas is better about someone's 'word' being acceptable, and the foster family agreed to keep the Beagle TEMPORARILY, you may, again, have to go to Court, but she's got a better chance of getting her dog back.
Bottom line is, possession is 9/10 of the law, and she relinquished possession voluntarily, albeit temporarily.
I'd get a lawyer. If she's poor enough, get her a pro bono - call Legal Aid.

Answer 6

In order to foster pets, people have to agree that they are not going to keep the pets permanently and be willing to give them up at any time. I agree with some of the other posters here. This looks like a scam. If the dog is a purebred, chances are they might be looking to sell the dog to someone else for a much higher price. The reason they might have told your friend the dog is lost is because they sold him already. Another possibility, as horrible as it sounds, is that they sold him to a medical research laboratory.

Answer 7

Perhaps your friend should think about what is best for her dog. It doesn't seem right that they would keep it like this but obviously they loved the dog or they wouldn't have spent the money to have him microchipped. I think if she waits until she gets adequate housing, the dog will be even more settled in his new home and should be left there. It doesn't sound like your friend needs a pet right now.

Answer 8

There seems to have been no definite plans stated when she placed the dog with the family as to how long the dog would stay with them, if it would be temporary or permanent, who would take care of the food and vet bills, etc. If she sued them in court, the court MIGHT give her ,pmey for the dog but could not order them to return the dog. Also they could countersue her for room and board and she would have to pay whatever the going rate is in their area. The best thing for her to do would be to get herself straightened out, into some regular housing and a decent job showing she is capable of caring for herself and a dog and then go to he humane society and adopt a new one.

Answer 9

if the foster family is under contract then they are obligated to give the dog back. I would suggest contacting the rescue agency that recommended them and find out more information. If worse comes to worse write an official letter to the family stating your rights and intent of getting the dog back (a lawyer could help with this).

Answer 10

This unfortunately sounds like a legal case. teh thing I really think is against her is if the foster home microchipped the dog and registered the dog in their name. does she have any proof the dog is hers??
Has she tried to get in contact withthe rescue organization that recommended this foster home??
I do hope it will work out for her.