Police: Detroit Dog Rescue Can Keep Dogs - For Now - Amid Legal Questions
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Police say a Detroit animal rescue group is being allowed to keep its dogs as officials work to make sure it's following state guidelines.
Leaders from Detroit Dog Rescue have said that they sometimes get dogs that aren't surrendered by owners. But Detroit Animal Control head Harry Ward said it's illegal for the nonprofit to hold those dogs.
Ward told the Detroit News that Michigan law requires stray dogs to be impounded for four business days to give owners time to claim them before the animal can be declared surrendered. Ward had set a Monday deadline for the group to produce paperwork for their 17 dogs that shows how they were obtained -- or he would seize the animals.
Police Sgt. Cassandra Lewis, however, said that Detroit Dog Rescue could keep the dogs as they work together to come to a solution. Lewis said a meeting with rescue groups would be set up in the next couple weeks.
The police department oversees Detroit Animal Control. It's unclear what sparked Ward's initial visit to the rescue.
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