You see a poster on the street stating a pet has been lost and there is a reward. You find the pet. Do you insist on the reward?

Yes. otherwise, Mr. Boots is going over to the Fun Wok.

Don’t offer if you aren’t gonna put out.

I don’t look for lost pets for money. If I found one, I’d return it. That’s it.

I wouldn’t insist, but I would not refuse if they offered.

As a devoted pet-parent myself. I would have to say re-uniting the lost pet would be plenty of reward for all. It can be like losing your best friend in the world.

Times are tough.

Hell yes I would.

I took in someone’s dog once, kept it at my house and took care of it until I could find the owner, which took days. She was so thankful that she tried offering a reward, but I refused to take it. I was just happy they were reunited.

If you are a pet lover returning the dog to a good home would be it’s own reward. I think I would pass now if it was a cat that’s a different story.

As an animal lover, it makes me feel good to reunite a pet with its owner. Taking money for it doesn’t feel good at all…

I wouldn’t make them pay me, returning their pet would be my reward.

I’d say if they said “here’s your money” I’d take it.

I’m greedy

I probably would say “No, that’s ok,” when offered.

Then I would say “No, really.” if they insisted.

If they offered a third time I would take it.

Never. I wouldn’t take someone’s money for returning a lost member of their family.

It would depend. If I had to spend any money on the pet or on getting them reunited I would specify that politely and leave it up to them since they did state a reward.

If not, just the satisfaction of knowing that the pet was back in it’s home would be satisfaction enough. However, if they were really insistent about it I wouldn’t be churlish about continuing to refuse.

I had something similar happen when I lived in an apt. building. There was a problem with the ceiling in my kitchen which the landlords had not yet fixed. Something made it’s way into the apt. but I thought it may have been a mouse or squirrel as my cat was really really interested.

A day or so later, the new neighbors living above me came knocking at everyones doors to enquire about their missing ferret.

Well, sure enough, I found my cat playing with him the next day and since I’ve had previous experience with them I didn’t hesitate to pick him up. I guess he had been keeping himself alive with my cat’s food and water and most likely using the litter box also since the total time he was missing was close to a week. They were worried that he might have gotten trapped behind the walls and died or something.

So, a short walk upstairs and happy endings all around.

A day or so later she left me a nice note along with some homade choc chip cookies which were appreciated but just seeing the look of relief on her face was reward enough for me.

A couple of months ago, I stepped outside for a smoke around midnite. Something curled around my ankles, scaring the fuck out of me. It was a cat. There was a severe thunderstorm coming, so after I finished my smoke (as I ordered it home and it just stared up at me, in that idiotic way cats do) I took the damn thing in the house, kept it away from the dog, which would have eaten it, and put it in a critter carrier for the night. The next morning, I took it to the local animal shelter, and that was that. I wasn’t going to go door to door asking if anyone lost a cat, not in this neighborhood.

I felt kind of bad because it wasn’t a no-kill shelter, but people who let their animals run without a leash should be more aware. There is no excuse for not being in control of your critter. That’s why cats are trouble, they don’t take to training the way a dog does. I also got paid for my good deed, as the little beast had fleas, I got bit a few times, and I am allergic to flea bites. A pox on cats, damn things, anyway.

Of course not, but I wouldn’t refuse it either.

@evelyns_pet_zebra Do understand you sent someones pet to be killed. It sounds like you might not appreciate it if someone did that to your dog because they thought it was an infernal critter. Not cool.
Just sayin’

I wouldn’t accept any offered reward. I wouldn’t feel right about it.
One thing I would like to mention is I notice a lot of people don’t state the DATE in which their pet had gone amiss in the posting. This is an important detail.

I would say that depends on a variety of factors:

First, I find it necessary to ask, in what manner, if at all, is the offer being presented to you?
Is the person ready and willing to pay up, without a ‘reminder?’
If you have to demand it, I’m not sure it’s worth it.

1. Did you go completely out of your way to unite the pet with its owner? For example, did you chase doggy around for hours, missing the last half of your work day?

2. What is the financial situation of the owner? Obviously if they made the offer they must, somehow, be able to pay, but how much of a hardship will it be on the person?

3. How much do you really need the money?

4. Are there any reward alternatives? Permission to visit cute doggy every now and then? Date with foxy pet owner?

Personally, I doubt I would take the reward, however, I do think the finder is entitled to it without any guilt attached.

If they looked like they could afford it and they insisted

HELL YES, I would take it.

If they looked liked they were working hard to keep their heads above water, I would just tell them to pass the favor along and do a good deed for someone else.

@roeytoo I doubt you say “HELL YES!” to the owners face.

@XOIIO – again, it would depend upon the situation, I might say it!

My young dog took off this morning. She saw a flock of correlas and took off like a bat out of hell. I had her on a cotton web 30’ lead which she snapped like a thread, and she is only about 22k. She disappeared into the bush chasing the flock which took off at her approach. There is much evidence in this area of wild dog/dingo packs, I was terrified. I figured best thing is to stay in the same spot and yell or else I could get lost in the bush. She is a part dingo so I hoped she would find her way back to me. Thank goodness the correllas must have been very fond of the food in that patch because in a matter of minutes they started to circle back. I kept hoping my dog would follow them back and shortly she appeared charging in from the opposite direction she had taken off. I started in towards her, first noting the position of the sun so I could find my way back out and yelled and she came flying back and knocked on my butt. I wanted to strangle her and kiss her at the same time! I am going to have to get her a new lead and check it daily for weak spots. I love this dog, she is a very special one, and I would pay anything to get her back if she were lost and I wouldn’t care if the returner yelled HELL YES when I gave them the reward!

Good point, and funny story. My dog has run away so many times I can’t count. Once she ran under a firetruck! (yes, it was moving!)

I would get much more satisfaction from returning the pet than I would from receiving a reward. I don’t need the money that bad either.

No I would negotiate for a higher reward.

Me [via Skype]: “So “Fluffy” is only worth $50 to you? Wow I’m sure I could get $400 for her on CraigsList. Isn’t that right, Fluffy? [yelp])

</only joking>

No

Nah, I wouldn’t take it. It sense of relief knowing that the pet is back with his/her owner. That’s reward enough.

No, but I rescue pets anyway. If they insisted, I would give it to the humane society.

@The_Compassionate_Heretic yeah, I realize that. I felt bad, I really did, but you know, I felt there was no other option. You want to condemn me for that, go for it. I did what I thought was best, given the circumstances. If I’m going to Hell for the death of someone’s cat, well so be it.

sheesh, I knew I’d get shit for leaving that answer. Oh well, that’s what being honest gets me.

@evelyns_pet_zebra Did you think it was going to be me that gave you shit for saying that?

@Tink1113 naw, I had no one in particular in mind, but I just knew I’d get shit for it. I probably should have explained that my wife is highly allergic to cats, but hey, it’s done now, no point in dragging it out any longer.

@evelyns_pet_zebra No explanation needed, I know how you are and I don’t mind :)

The idea of no kill shelters is a difficult concept. If no one euthanized animals, we would be so overrun there would be no room for people. It is sad but so many people do not take responsibility for their pets, as in desexing them. I have seen no kill shelters that are not ideal, I think animals might be better off being put to sleep than spending their entire lives in a cage. At just one animal welfare operation in Darwin, a relatively small city, the numbers for one year were 453 cats surrendered or found. Of those only 92 were able to be rehomed, the rest were put down because no one wanted them. People can be so stupid.

I wouldn’t mention the money if they didn’t. If they did I’d say there was no need and would accept if the person insisted.

I wouldn’t, would probably refuse all together any modest amount from an average person. Now, if an insane celebrity offering over $1000.00 or something like that, I wouldn’t insist but I would want to collect.

no. i don’t really care. sure, the reward would be awesome, but chances are i’m not returning the pet just for it.
the other day my friends and i chased down a soaking wet dog for like an hour and waited with him for 20 minutes for his owner to get there.

Of course not! That’s like saying “Oh, this is your son? I found him wandering around the street. I’ll give him back for fifty bucks.”

I wouldn’t take a reward even if it was offered.

i would not insist but if they insisted i would take it. if it were me on the other end, i would be so happy to have my pet back i would not mind paying the reward to have the pet back alive and well. the alternative, losing a pet and having it get hit by a car, or just disappearing or someone keeping it and me never knowing would be too devastating.