A dog that followed me home hasnt left. can i keep it?

[Sidney]

My cousin and I were riding horses down the road and a dog(we didn't even notice it until it had been walking behind us for who knows how long) followed us home. That happened yesterday. Anyways, we live out in the country and there are only a few houses the dog could have come from. She is really friendly around me and the people she has met(like my cousin, brother, grandma, and uncle) but she is really skittish about other stuff so im sure she belonged to someone at least at one time, especially since she has a old looking leather collar on(but no info about the owner). Right now, she is on my porch loose so that if she belongs to someone she can go home whenever she wants. However, she seems pretty at home lol. My cousin and I both put several pictures of her on Facebook, Instagram, etc. to see if anyone recognizes her, but no answers yet. If a lot of time passes(I read that about a month is a good amount of time) can I keep her if she sticks around? I know her owners could come back and get her at any time, but I don't see why I couldn't keep her if no one claimed her. What do you think? no rude answers please

[Jordan]

You can keep her for now, since she's probably lost. But I'd still put up flyers because the owner is most likely worried sick. You should ride down to the houses where you found her and see if the dog is theirs. If a month or two passes, than deffinantely keep the little cutie c:

[Sara]

You need to contact the local sheriff office and shelter. She belongs to someone else. ALSO call the vet office and see if they can recognize the dog. ONLY after you have exhausted every way to find the rightful owners can you keep it.

[Helen Rempel]

"My cousin and I both put several pictures of her on Facebook, Instagram, etc. to see if anyone recognizes her, but no answers yet."

The owner is not going to be looking on your Facebook page. You need to contact the nearest Humane Society and Animal Control. They can also check for a microchip. It would be a good idea to also put up flyers at local vets and pet stores, plus free online ads with Craigslist and Kijiji.

"If a lot of time passes(I read that about a month is a good amount of time) can I keep her if she sticks around? I know her owners could come back and get her at any time, but I don't see why I couldn't keep her if no one claimed her."

The only way you can keep her is if you notify the Humane Society and Animal Control. Those are the only 2 agencies that can give you *legal* ownership if the owner doesn't contact them within a certain time frame (ask what that is when you phone them).

This dog has a collar. If someone just dumped her, it's highly unlikely they'd leave a collar on. She has an owner.

How would you feel if you lost a dog--or one of your horses--and the person who found it simply kept the animal? Wouldn't you expect them to do more?

[Kate M]

No, you can't just keep her. If the owner comes forward, you have basically stolen their dog.
Since there are only a few houses around, go ask the people there if they know the dog. Take a photo of the dog with you if you don't want to take the dog. Take flyers if people are not home. Not everyone looks online, so that can't be the only place you post.
If there is animal control, you do need to report her as found. You might be able to hold onto her until an owner comes forward, but you might not. See if you can post flyers in local vets, pet stores, feed stores and other local businesses.
If you did want to keep her, you need to do it legally. If there is animal control, they have a set hold period for an owner to come forward. After that, the dog becomes their property and they can then adopt them out, euthanize them, or transfer them to another rescue. Most will let you adopt once the hold period is up (you will have to do any paperwork still).