I desperately need advice....

[MareQ]

I got a response just now!



I'm not even going to respond to her!

Yup - ignore the message - let her take it to the next level

 

[Saffron]

"Dear Ex-coworker,

Yes, my New Year's Eve celebration was "good". Thank you. It seems as if yours was too. Gigi has bonded nicely with our family. I wish you all the luck in finding a new dog.

Sincerely,
Gigi's Owner"

 

[alliecats]

In my last email I asked if she was asking for Gigi back because I was confused with her emails, she kept changing her story..
So basically she was lying to me when she stated she wanted to visit with Gigi today and pick her up to spend time with her.
She was going to steal her!

I think you called that exactly right. I am glad you didn't let her. Does she know where you live? If yes, I think at some point you are going to have to tell her "NO you can't have her back, she's mine now" either via email or when she shows up at your door.

This woman is unbelievable. Even if she does miss the dog, I don't see any apologies for putting you out, I don't see any gratitude to you for taking care of her, I don't see any offer to reimburse you some part of the expense, I don't see any explanation for the abrupt change in her mind. She's just like, "Yeah, I want her back and I know you'll have no problem with that and this is all about me."
Unfortunately for her, you weren't born yesterday.

 

[poohandwendy]

I got a response just now!



I'm not even going to respond to her!

I think I would send one last email saying this:

You asked me to take Gigi in as a permanent part of our family and that is exactly what she is. I am really glad your move has been a good one for you and I wish you and your BF all the best, but Gigi has a home now and has adjusted beautifully. I am confident that you will understand that we are not interested in giving Gigi away, because she is a part of our family.

 

[WDWFUN]

"Dear Ex-coworker,

Yes, my New Year's Eve celebration was "good". Thank you. It seems as if yours was too. Gigi has bonded nicely with our family. I wish you all the luck in finding a new dog.

Sincerely,
Gigi's Owner"

PERFECT!

 

[WDWFUN]

Thank You all for the advice, I am sure I am doing the right thing. Gigi has bonded with us and I can't return her.
I really thought this person was honest and sweet but boy did she prove me wrong.

Yes, I will write her one more email, I'm just surprised she hasn't called

 

[wilderness01]

Don't let that dog out of your site, not even to potty. How do you know if this woman wouldn't steal her right from under your nose? What about when she doesn't want her anymore? I feel sorry for the dog in her care. Keep her and continue to give her a good home. I would also register her in your town and put a chip in her. That way your name is on all of "her."

I would also e-mail her back that according to all of her prior e-mails in your "file", you had given me Gigi and now she is a part of our family that we can't bear to part with. I'm glad you had a nice trip and are now enjoying your new apartment. Hopefully your journey for a new pet will be a smooth one. Don't give that woman another e-mail after that. Good luck.

 

[Beth76]

Yes, I will write her one more email, I'm just surprised she hasn't called

Well at least she admitted that she wants her back. I agree that you should send one last email saying that you're keeping her. Stick with emails, no phone calls. Keep every email and make hard copies. If she contacts you again either ignore it or respond "contact my lawyer". Send no more photos of the dog, offer no future visits. Again, good luck.

ETA: If you know where her apartment is, I would be tempted to call the landlord to see if they are indeed allowing pets now (which I completely doubt).

 

[FayeW]

I have a couple of comments about this situation.

You state that you got the dog on Dec 16th, and then left 4 days later, on Dec 20th. During that time you either boarded Gigi, or got a pet sitter for her.

You were gone for a week, so you then returned on Dec 27th. You were home for 4 days when the owner contacted you about "visitation".

So in the last 2.5 weeks you have spent 9 days with the dog, 4 days before your vacation and as of today, 5 days after. Yet the dog has "bonded beautifully with your family"????

The dog's owner pulled a fast one on you, no doubt about it. You deserve to be compensated FULLY for every penny you spent on that dog, and I wouldn't return the dog until it was paid. HOWEVER, I don't believe this dog's best interests will be served by keeping her from the person who has owned and loved her entire life!! You have had her for less time than some people board their pets in a kennel. Demand repayment for your "sitter services", and give the dog back.

 

[WDWFUN]

"bonded beautifully with your family"????

I believe she has. Gigi is comfortable here, she spent the week we were on vacation here at our home with a pet sitter and bonded with our Chihuahua...No doubt about that.

HOWEVER, I don't believe this dog's best interests will be served by keeping her from the person who has owned and loved her entire life! You have had her for less time than some people board their pets in a kennel. Demand repayment for your "sitter services", and give the dog back.

Sorry, Owning a dog is not just a privilege..It is a responsibility!
They depend on us for food, shelter, love and deserve much more.
This is a commitment SHE took when she bought Gigi into her home!
If she took the resonsibility of bringing Gigi into her life, She should had fullfilled that commitment.

If she LOVED her so much, why wasn't she EVER given any shots or spayed?
She is 9 months old now and has never seen a vet. Is that repsonsible??
When she first bought me Gigi to my home, she wasn't even bathed and her hair was matted. I took her to the groomers the very next day.

She also is not responsible in the fact is that she has lied to me.

No, she does not deserve Gigi back. Don't get me wrong, I did consider it, until she got sneaky on me.

 

[hiwaygal]

I have a couple of comments about this situation.

You state that you got the dog on Dec 16th, and then left 4 days later, on Dec 20th. During that time you either boarded Gigi, or got a pet sitter for her.

You were gone for a week, so you then returned on Dec 27th. You were home for 4 days when the owner contacted you about "visitation".

So in the last 2.5 weeks you have spent 9 days with the dog, 4 days before your vacation and as of today, 5 days after. Yet the dog has "bonded beautifully with your family"????

The dog's owner pulled a fast one on you, no doubt about it. You deserve to be compensated FULLY for every penny you spent on that dog, and I wouldn't return the dog until it was paid. HOWEVER, I don't believe this dog's best interests will be served by keeping her from the person who has owned and loved her entire life!! You have had her for less time than some people board their pets in a kennel. Demand repayment for your "sitter services", and give the dog back.

While I can understand your thoughts, the dog was NOT loved and cared for when she was given up.

The OP stated the pups coat was matted. This is not "love and care" for a breed KNOWN to need a good deal of grooming.

The original owner stated she wants to breed the dog. Most "loving and caring" owners understand the hazards and costs of breeding dogs and wisely choose to spay and neuter their pets.

Dogs (especially puppies) adjust and adapt quite quickly to new homes and situations. And yes, a bond can be formed in such a short time (my adopted basenji bonded to me within HOURS).

OP...you did the right thing by keeping Gigi! Good luck to you and give her a hug from me!

 

[WDWFUN]

While I can understand your thoughts, the dog was NOT loved and cared for when she was given up.

The OP stated the pups coat was matted. This is not "love and care" for a breed KNOWN to need a good deal of grooming.

The original owner stated she wants to breed the dog. Most "loving and caring" owners understand the hazards and costs of breeding dogs and wisely choose to spay and neuter their pets.

Dogs (especially puppies) adjust and adapt quite quickly to new homes and situations. And yes, a bond can be formed in such a short time (my adopted basenji bonded to me within HOURS).

OP...you did the right thing by keeping Gigi! Good luck to you and give her a hug from me!

Oh yes, I forgot to add, Gigi has an umbilical hernia.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

I have a couple of comments about this situation.

You state that you got the dog on Dec 16th, and then left 4 days later, on Dec 20th. During that time you either boarded Gigi, or got a pet sitter for her.

You were gone for a week, so you then returned on Dec 27th. You were home for 4 days when the owner contacted you about "visitation".

So in the last 2.5 weeks you have spent 9 days with the dog, 4 days before your vacation and as of today, 5 days after. Yet the dog has "bonded beautifully with your family"????

The dog's owner pulled a fast one on you, no doubt about it. You deserve to be compensated FULLY for every penny you spent on that dog, and I wouldn't return the dog until it was paid. HOWEVER, I don't believe this dog's best interests will be served by keeping her from the person who has owned and loved her entire life!! You have had her for less time than some people board their pets in a kennel. Demand repayment for your "sitter services", and give the dog back.

I agree completely with you. However, it seemed like after my original post there was no need to post further because the OP and the majority of the people here seemed to think she should keep the dog.

I do think the OP would make a better home for the dog, but the first owner had the dog for probably at least 6 months. I would return the dog. I agree that she should be fully reimbursed. I just wouldn't keep a pet that I had taken care of for only a few weeks, when I knew it was loved and wanted by his original owner, even if his original owner had problems. It doesn't look like the original owner abused the dog. She did make some very poor decisions.

 

[Regina]

Another reason that she used you is because there isn't a kennel that I know of that will board a dog without proof that it's been vaccinated. She couldn't board that pooch and needed someone willing to keep it in a home.

 

[lillygator]

Another reason that she used you is because there isn't a kennel that I know of that will board a dog without proof that it's been vaccinated. She couldn't board that pooch and needed someone willing to keep it in a home.

great point...!

 

[WDWFUN]

Another reason that she used you is because there isn't a kennel that I know of that will board a dog without proof that it's been vaccinated. She couldn't board that pooch and needed someone willing to keep it in a home.

You're absolutey right!

This girl, really has some nerves! She doesn't call me, she communicates with me through email or cell phone text messaging.
She just text messaged me with, "when is it ok to come pick up Gigi today?"
She apparently must have not read my last email or is playing it off.

Well, Gigi got her shots and microchip today and is being spayed tomorrow at 8am...What do you think about that?

 

[eclectics]

Well, Gigi got her shots and microchip today and is being spayed tomorrow at 8am...What do you think about that?

 

[KristiKelly]

I'm so glad you've decided to keep the dog. Your ex-coworker is not a responsible person and has no business having a pet. The fact that Gigi had not been vaccinated tells me that she just used you for a kennel. I wouldn't worry anymore about it but keep all e-mail & text messages from her just in case she tries to take legal action.

Let us know the outcome.

 

[horseshowmom]

You're absolutey right!

This girl, really has some nerves! She doesn't call me, she communicates with me through email or cell phone text messaging.
She just text messaged me with, "when is it ok to come pick up Gigi today?"
She apparently must have not read my last email or is playing it off.

Well, Gigi got her shots and microchip today and is being spayed tomorrow at 8am...What do you think about that?

Personally, I thing you're doing the right thing. This woman has attempted to use you to the extreme and has been very deceitful in the process. This isn't just a case of an owner who is heartbroken and wants to correct her error of giving up her beloved pet. She knew just exactly what she was doing and didn't mind abusing you in the process (if she'll treat you this way, I suspect she's not a very good place for ANY dog to be).

 

[ziggystardust]

Something similar actually happened to me. My DBF and I adopted my pug that you see in my sig from someone that was moving to an apartment that didn't allow dogs. In my mind, if you have a dog - you don't even look at an apt that doesn't allow them b/c they are like your children but anyway. She was giving him up and a rather large breed dog as well. These animals were not treated in the way they should have been while they were with her and we were very suspect of abuse with the animals. Well a few weeks after we have our pup, I hear through the grapevine that she wants the dogs back. Luckily we went through a middleman of sorts (a relative) to get him so she didn't know who exactly had him. There was no way we were giving back a dog that we had completely bonded with to an abusive household.

If I were you I would keep the dog, tell her that you were given the dog no strings attached. You would probably win in court if it came to that.