2/10/14 Missing golden retriever, Oxnard, Ca. Need advice?Help (legal, skin, rescue)

[JanND]

Hi...long story short....My ex son-n-law was just sent overseas for his job...He and my daughter were divorced this last year...tons of issues and animosity...won't even go there. And...the family golden retriever, Sophie is missing!!

Any help, ideas or links or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Here's what happened:
The family dog, Sophie was staying at the family house, just for convenience and to have a yard temporarily, Daughter and kids live a few blocks away in condo...no yard...kids going over to walk and feed etc daily.....

Upon his leaving, 2/10/14 day after ex SIl my Daughter went to check on Sophie...and to bring her home, and had the police accompany her...2/10/14....and Sophie the golden is gone...

The new (2 mths duration) girlfriend has moved in, this was a surprise til she opened the door to police, with my Daughter standing behind them to do well check on Sophie. ....Evidently Girlfriend now lives there along with the other "renters"....who were supposed to have been given notice to move...as house is going up for short sale asap..Police told my daughter house is getting trashed....yet another story...New home 5 years ago....immaculate til my daughter moved out last year

Police checked the whole house for the dog/Sophie, closets, backyard...separate MIL suite etc...when questioned girlfriend stated that Ex had sent dog to his Mom in Wisconsin.....Nothing could be done at that time....emails, texts etc in an attempt to confirm were not responded to by Ex SIL...and His Mom is not in contact w/ my Daughter since divorce, even by FB. At that point kids were hurt, but all were hopeful that at least Sophie was safe.

Now, zoom to yesterday 3/1/14...Daughter was called by ex BIL, who lives in Wisc...he had been to his Mom's...Sophie, missing golden retriever is not there...has never been there...All a lie.

Daughter and I are very worried...and do not even know where to start....Daughter checked prior to police visit...w/ local animal shelter...but is not fully aware of what other shelters to check within Oxnard Ca. area....Sort of in panic mode as you can imagine. Sophie has been missing since 2/10/14. She is microchipped....but SIL did this and his number does not work in his location...

I literally woke up crying from a bad dream this am...worried sick about this family dog...I honestly would not think this of my SIL....and part of me is afraid this Girlfriend did something...rather than ship the dog....Do not know what to do....Add to this, I live states away....so am trying to help long distance...
Again...Any help or ideas, or information is appreciated!!

[MissTerri]

I'm so sorry for everyone involved.

I would check every shelter in the area, put an ad on craigslist about the lost dog and update it every three days. Put signs up too. If she can get a hold of her ex, do so, and try to find out what is going on.

[willow wind]

The dog was likely sent to an animal shelter, sold on Craigslist or sold to a friend of one of the people living in the house.

Some suggestions.

Check on both the local to Oxnard and regional Craigslist sites going back to early February. Oxnard is in Ventura county, CA. See if you can find a listing for her.

Check with every animal shelter in the area. Go to Pet adoption: Want a dog or cat? Adopt a pet on Petfinder and look up animal shelters in the Ventura county area. They may be a city animal shelter and a county one, etc. They may have dropped her off at a shelter in another city.

Put up an ad on Craigslist asking for info on her whereabouts. Offer a large reward.

Check with local rescue groups for other ways to help. Again, find these on petfinder. They may have Facebook pages where you could list her or you could set up your own Facebook page. Good luck

[JanND]

MissTerri....Thank you, I appreciate those ideas. She tried to ask him immediately....after having the police search the house..He would not answer her txts..He was already out of the Country...
So, we were holding onto what we had been told even still trying to confirm it as true, that he had sent Sophie to his Mothers...until my Daughter got the call yesterday from his brother saying that it wasn't true.
It breaks my heart...Sophie is 9 yrs old, and has been a member of the family. To not know that sh is safe at least is horrible.

Again, thank you...I talked to my Daughter this am...She is planning on calling all the shelters...I was hoping there would be some folks that knew of shelters, or a list of shelters...and I do know she was planning on calling his company, and posting on the webpage of the community where they live.
I have not yet had a response from him from my email asking....Again...Thank you. Your ideas are much appreciated...I will tell them to my daughter right away.
I also suggested that she call the police back...knowing now that it was a lie, and that they were lied to....and see if they can do something.

[JanND]

Thank you Willow wind...I will send these helpful ideas to my daughter...I appreciate that very much.

[MissTerri]

Maybe you could post this on the Ventura County forum. Folks there might have a better idea of local shelters. This is really sad. I hope that you can find her.

[JanND]

I will do that...what a great idea. Thank you so much. Yes...it breaks my heart for my grand children...my ex SIL is not one to mistreat animals...he loved Sophie But, He is being so ugly towards my daughter...I'm not sure that he wouldn't have given her away just to be hurtful...I do hope that we find out something positive soon...I'm very concerned. Even knowing that he gave her to someone nice would be better than not knowing. My other concern is that someone at that house did as you said...

[phonelady61]

I would also report to whoever is doing the short sale that 5 people are living in there seems to me 5 people is alot for a condo . Not to mention if it is going for short sale why are those people still there ? I would put notice on craigslist and also ask if they bought this dog from someone in the house and if they did get a statement so that whoever can file charges for stealing the dog and selling sophie . My heart goes out to you and I will pray that everything ends well for you .

[JanND]

phonelady61 Thank you...that is a good idea about the statement. Sophie is the big concern...it is very scarey not knowing..

But, to explain....
The briefest explanation about why there are folks living in the house is that my daughter and ex were going thru divorce...she could not afford to stay in the house...and left and was lucky enough to find a condo in same large neighborhood...same schools for kids, just a blessing in many ways.
Meanwhile thru the divorce hearings etc, ownership of the house has been an issue....he rented the bedrooms and the MIL suite...but denied doing this to the court....to reduce support....all the time collecting rent....yet not making even one house payment the last 13 mths...
He was supposed to have given the folks notice beginning in Dec, when he lied and told the judge that he was letting them stay there out of the goodness of his heart........Anyway...He was found out...but it didn't change the time frames for vacating the home, but the judge felt sorry for the tenants...and gave them 60 days.... ....
For the last several mths he was supposed to be attempting to refinance the home....and of course he wasn't able to....not with missing all those payments....
So, it is officially my Daughters turn now...and as of April 1 sh has to either have it refinanced or ready to sell.......it is a nightmare...My daughter can't even get into the home to have it inspected, and prepare it.......and she has no choice but a short sale...because he lapsed on 13 mths of payments.....Calif. laws what they are, can't gt these folks out without legal drama...and He moved his new girlfriend in just before he left for overseas...so...a squatter and supposed renters or occupying the house..huge mess...so...She and her Attorney will be serving notice as soon as next court hearing this week I believe....Anyway...She has learned a lot...She left because she had to, to keep herself and the 3 children from harm.
But...

[Magnatomicflux]

I sure do hope you find her.

Aw...now I'm sad.