Duck Dilemma - UPDATED #35

[NYRIR]

Sorry....hope they will change their ways of caring for their ducks

 

[chickensioux]

Well this is just weird. They were supposed to come and get the ducks yesterday but called and decided that they really weren't set up for ducks and are not coming. BUT he was going to call the original owner of the ducks and see if he wanted them back.....????????? I kept saying they were fine right here and were happy. Now he is supposed to get back to me to let me know if the original owner wants them.

 

[dumb_cluck]

Sounds like a sting going to happen. I would cut off all communication...

 

[La Mike]

Actually the ducks from what I understand were stray (or off his property when caught) right. and by a concerend neighbor
If so then you did not recieve them illegal and in my state any tray animal cared for you after 3 das leggaly belongs to you. Also you can charge for the time,effort, and expense as seen fit by you for caring for the ducks. My time is worth alot more than they would be willing to py to get them back

 

[ducksinarow]

Pet sitting fees - $20 per duck per day. Start charging when he did not pick them up.

 

[desertdarlene]

This is odd, very odd.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Yes, very strange.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Quote:
Yes, very strange.

Yup.


What a mess, be sure to thank your friend.

I hope you get to keep them.

 

[NYRIR]

Really weird....hopefully the one who got rid of them to begin with can't/won't take them back...let us know!

 

[FenDruadin]

Original owner?? That's absurd. It's all already been said, but you owe nothing to these people and it's obvious they have no clue who the ducks 'belong' to.

In our area, if you take in a stray animal, you must surrender the animal if the "owner" shows up. However, you are within your legal rights--and the rescue organizations all strongly suggest--to charge a daily fee for the care plus any expenses. So, a charge for any feed they've eaten, treats you've given them, water they've used, plus a daily fee for your efforts in caring for them. You are NOT obligated to surrender the animal unless the fee is paid.

People are so stupid and weird. I recommend you contact a rescue organization--even a dog or cat rescue will do--and ask them what the laws are in your area. The animal control department can tell you also.

Then line up your documentation (i.e., write down the dates of each event and a description of where the ducks were found--emphasizing that they were STRAYING off property), when you were contacted and by whom, and refuse to surrender them unless they jump through your hoops. Which they won't.

I wish I had known all of that when we rescued a stray dog a couple years ago. The poor thing ended up back at the "original owner's" house until he strayed again and ended up at animal control. They said they were going to collect him but they never did--they wouldn't even pay the $80 fee to collect their own dog from the pound! Lucky for him, he was adopted very quickly. Unlucky for me, it was by someone else because despite the $250 I had put into him in the week I had him, they would not notify me when he was available. Long story. Sorry.

Anyway, you almost certainly DO have legal ground to stand on here, but you need to find out what it is and then stand there firmly. Good luck.