>From: FurTulsa <[log in to unmask]> >So legally/morally.... where do our obligations lay? Here in King County of Washington state, animals are considered abandoned after 3 days! We've had one situation where animal control took in a ferret, kept her for the three day stray hold and then turned her over to us. Two weeks later the owner contacted animal control, animal control told them to contact us. Animal Control told us that after 3 days stray hold, the owner would have to pay boarding fees to get their animal back from their facility. We could have lied and said she'd been adopted, but opted for taking the gamble, so we told the owner that they owed us for two weeks boarding ($60 x 2) when they came to pick up their ferret, and that was the last we heard from them. >Are we obligated to attempt to physically contact him? If an animal we are boarding is abandoned (does happen) we send a registered, return receipt letter to the last known address of the person. When that letter is returned, you have legal proof that you attempted to contact the person. Legally? Find out what the laws are in your area and go from there. Morally? You already know the answer to that one. :-) Sandi Best Little Rabbit, Rodent & Ferret House House Rabbit Society a non-profit animal shelter 14325 Lake City Way NE Seattle, WA 98125 (206)365-9105 or visit our on-line store at: http://www.rabbitrodentferret.org [Posted in FML issue 3292]