Dog Allegedly Given Away Is Reunited With Owner
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A happy ending for this dog owner!
A dog has been reunited with its owner after the dog was allegedly given to someone else.
Vicki Remolde claims the Animal Care & Control Team in Philadelphia violated a 48-hour hold policy by allowing someone else to take her dog from the shelter, immediately after someone dropped him off.
But ACCT said their 48-hour hold policy only applies after a dog has been surrendered to their care, which they say did not happen in this case.
Remolde's dog, Jake, went missing from her yard on July 13.
Later that evening, Chris Ferraro says he found Jake near his doorstep about a half mile away.
He says he took the dog to ACCT and filed a report with the shelter and provided his contact information.
That's when he says another man in the lobby approached workers about taking care of the dog until the owners came forward.
In a statement to Eyewitness News, ACCT said:
"The dog that we believe to be Jake was never relinquished into ACCT Philly's care. An individual who found a dog that matched Jake's description brought the dog to ACCT Philly on July 13th, but before filing a lost report, passed the dog to another person, and left. We do not know why the original finder chose to do this, and we do not condone this kind of interaction between members of the public, but do not have the authority to restrict it. The second individual, who now has the dog that matches Jake's description, provided identification and completed a found animal report, which is in line with ACCT Philly policy and procedure."
Today, ACCT Philly tells Eyewitness News Jake has been reunited with his owner this morning after being returned to the shelter.
They say, "The man who filled out the lost report and took the dog home brought him back this morning. Apparently he hadn't checked his phone in a few days, but contacted us as soon as he listened to the voicemails. He said he heard the shelter was full and just wanted to help by bringing Jake home and had no intention of keeping the dog."
