Neighbor steals dog, tries to cut out microchip, leaves it at the pound. UPDATED
Neighbor took our dog to the pound without telling us.
This is happening in Maryland. My neighbor trespassed in our back yard this morning and took our dog, a Jack Russel Terrier, to the shelter. We have her on video from our outdoor cameras taking her.
She admits to taking her, but is refusing to tell us where the dog is, she simply said the dog was at the pound, in the shelter, etc. The police have been less than helpful with this situation, and we are in the process of contacting all the shelters in our area about her actions.
What are we capable of doing from a legal perspective in this case?
Comments immediately poured in.
You need to continue escalating with the police. They stole your property and trespassed. If they won't take a report then ask to speak to a supervisor.
Did she tell you why she took your dog? Does it stay outside all the time and bark? Has she complained about the dog in the past? Have you been written up about the treatment of your dog? This seems so random. I hope your dog is found soon.
I wonder if they’re the neighbors who just toss the dog outside all day and it just stands there yapping. All f*ckin day. In the side yard. Right by the window where I work. But this isn’t about me or my hick neighbors who seem to have gotten so used to dog barking that they don’t even hear it.
OP returns with an update after the initial responses.
UPDATE: Dog has been located at a shelter, who have agreed to return the dog to our care after seeing the camera footage to prove she was stolen. Motive still remains unclear on the neighbors side.
Readers expressed concern and gave more advice.
I am glad you were able to find and get your pet returned. Personally, I would go down to the police department. Request to file a police report, and request charges. At a minimum, you have trespass and theft charges. Additionally, request a restraining order.
Be prepared to provide documentation of ownership of the pet, security footage, and records of the dogs admittance and return from the associated pound.
Your neighbor clearly has a problem. Whether it’s mental health or substance abuse, no one in their right minds would do that. Did you ever have any disagreements? Are they old? My guess is they are probably mentally declining and can see your backyard from their house, they probably see the dog often and decided maybe it needs to go to a shelter. So they tweaked into your backyard and did just that.
From a legal standpoint, you can file charges at the police station with the video as proof as well as a statement from the vet. You will both most likely get a court date in the mail and have to settle it with a judge. Not sure what the outcome will be but hopefully your neighbor gets some mental help.
The OP returned a few hours later to explain even more.
UPDATE 2: A lot of questions about the dogs living conditions. She is fed, healthy, regularly walked, active, and sees a veterinarian once annually. People in our neighborhood see our dog walking almost every day, so they’d back us up on the dogs living conditions.
The dog is considered an indoor dog, but gets a lot of outside playtime, and as stated before, she is regularly walked. We have NEVER left her out of the house at night, in the rain, snow or anything of that sort. We have also never left her outside when we aren’t home.
This morning she was let outside so she could use the bathroom, and run around a little bit, but none of us were watching from the windows, we have high fences with no gaps and a gate so she can’t escape so we aren’t superstitious about leaving her unattended.
Readers had more questions and advice after this.
If your dog isn't micro chipped please do so ASAP, and make sure you register the microchip online. That will help you get the dog back in the event the neighbor steals your dog again and takes it elsewhere.
Less than an hour later, the OP was back with a disturbing update.
UPDATE 3: Our dog is back home with us now. We have acquired surrender documents from the shelter and they prepared us a copy of their security footage of the neighbor on a flash drive. The documents are written as if she was the owner of the dog. Stating she “can’t afford her anymore”.
We have spoken to police again, this time at the county level. We filed a report with them and my parents are pressing charges.
There was however one problem, the woman tried to find and remove the microchip which is implanted in our dog. There were cuts in the dogs skin that the shelter employees discovered while trying to scan the chip. Our dog needed bandages, which the shelter applied. The chip is intact, and is still implanted, but I am pissed that she went as far as to try to do that herself.
We have not spoken to the neighbor since leaving but we are not letting our dog outside alone for a long time, and one commenter suggested putting locks on our gates, which we plan to do.
Readers responded.
When I read this story, it makes me think that OOP's dog barks obnoxiously all day long, which drove the neighbor to steal her.
I certainly don't condone the trespassing or the stealing or trying to remove the microchip, but as a person who lives behind a German shepherd that barks basically all day long, I can understand how infuriating it can be, especially when the owner seems completely oblivious to it.
IMO, the charges should include animal cruelty, re: attempting to remove the chip. Perhaps the DA will have something else regarding attempts to cover up a crime. You'd have to prove intent there, so perhaps difficult. (disclaimer: not a lawyer)
Jack Russells can be obnoxious as all hell. I live by 3 (technically one is a JRT/pittie mix) and they are barky, obnoxious, and constantly outside.
But you know what has worked incredibly well to quell the barking? Talking to the neighbors. They know their dogs are barky and are pretty embarrassed about it. All three are teens and the two families that the dogs are split between are related to each other. It has helped a lot.
Coulda worked great for this neighbor.