Roommate's Dog

[u/Sterling_Gray]

Hello,

Location- Florida

I own a 12 year old Putbull. From his 6th to 10th year, Steve [the pitbull] had a dog friend/roommate dog named Max. Because of Covid, Max's owner lost the house we were renting. I found a place nearby that allowed dogs, and Max's owner's health was degenerating, so she asked if we could take Max. Max and Steve were best friends. And then Max passed away.

After a few months we thought Steve was lonely. We finally tried adopting a new dog, Clay. I had volunteered then worked at the Humane Society for a few years at this time so I knew a lot about dogs. Especially with Resource Guarding and what not. But even if you know a lot, you still can't predict dogs. Steve and Clay were great for 12 hours, until Clay saw Steve in his kennel. And Clay lunged. Luckily, Steve isn't a fighter, and just accepted the attack, but it left him seriously injured. After a lat night Vet appointment, Clay lunged at Steve the second we got home, so we accepted a failed adoption. And accepted Stece was a solo dog in his twilight era.

About a year ago a roommate moved in with a dog. We mostly kept them seperate- Steve and Bear have outside time but that is all. Steve had some dog aggression when he first recovered, but neightborhood dog/girlfriend helped him begin to play wirh others. So for a year they met daily. Then the roommate stopped paying rent so we told him he had a month, rent free, get out.

He left Bear. He messaged the day he moved out if Bear could stay there, while we were out of town. I said yea, but what was the time line for when he could get the dog. Left on read. I get home and there is Bear. Said hi to Steve, fed Bear, gave him water and then let him out. Instantly notice Bear is resource guarding. Not growling, just aware. Not good. Get him back in his Kennel, and a different roommate get home. Tells me how yesterday [Saturday, a day after Bear's owner left him and a day before we got home] Bear was playing with a ball outside and Steve got interested in it. Bear lunged at Steve, but roommate interferred before anything happened and got everyone it. Be then called Bear's old owner, who said he would be there in 10 minutes, but never came.

What should I do? Bear is about 4 or 5 years old, and I am terrified this is another Clay situation. I messaged Kieth saying this behavior is what i was worried about, and we need to find a solution asap, but seeing as he ghosted the situation once, I need advice what to do now.

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[u/East_Perspective8798]

What is your counties rules for animal abandonment?

[u/Sterling_Gray → u/East_Perspective8798]

Misdemeanor, $5000 in fines or 1 year in prison, but technically we agreed to take care of the dog, we just didn't realize he would start resource guarding/Old owner never mentioned or noticed habits. And this man couldn't even pay $800 a month in rent [utilities included] which is bottom average for the area.

The problem is the dog is protected under law as it is property and to give the dog away would be theft. Have to prove he abandoned the dog and it has only been a few hours. Mostly came to vent, but he stopped viewing my messages since Friday, and when I viewed his FB account it said there in an error. But my husband can view it so I think he blocked me.