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OK, so today I was driving home and there is an adorable little bassett-like hound in the middle of a rather busy windy road, just sort of roaming back and forth and looking at the cars as they slowly drove by and swerved around her.
So I was the sucker who stopped and took her into my car. No tags on her collar, of course. I'm living at my parents' home right now, and they have two crotchety old cats. I love all kinds of animals but I've never owned a dog, and I don't really know anything about how to acclimate cats and dogs to each other. So, left her in the garage with a bowl of water while I made some phone calls. After she got tired of sniffing her new surroundings, she started barking.
Turns out the shelters are all full and the pound is euthanizing after 3 days. I called a young woman I know who fosters animals; I thought she might have some tips for me about what to do or where to take the dog. She begged me not to call animal control. (I'm a softie, but not a total pushover. My thinking is, if I can't keep the dog I'd rather see it euthanized than hit by a car; maybe that's just dumb and no more humane, but well, that's how I feel I guess.)
So she called me back and asked if I could bring the dog to her. I ended up meeting her at her vet, where they scanned the dog for a microchip. I didn't say what a really good, sweet dog this is. Attractive, a bit of a deformity in the front leg and foot, but it didn't seem to get in her way. She was calm and friendly, got right in the car and was right at home there. Alert but not hyper--just a sweetie. If I were in the dog market, I'd take her. She obviously loves people and has been well-cared for.
Well, they found a microchip, which really surpised me because my friend said that she had seen this dog loose on the same road once before and almost took it, but then someone else there said "we'll take care of it." However, there were problems locating the owner. The phone had been disconnected, but there was an address.
So my friend took the dog to that address, and I haven't yet heard what became of that. In this case I'm afraid no news is bad news, because it was over an hour ago and I think she would have called me if she'd found the owner. It was an apartment, and I'm guessing the owner moved out and left the dog behind.
And now I'm feeling bad because there went an afternoon of work (yeah, here I am on Hatrack not working anyway), and because this girl has too many animals already and doesn't need another dog in her life. I won't call her again if I get in a similar situation, because I did not want to make this her problem--I was just hoping she would give me some advice or leads to call. And now I'm going to feel obligated to help place this animal if she ends up taking her home!
Posts: 3149 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Anything is better than letting it get hit by a car.
I hope things work out and it was great of you to take the time to help out the dog!
My mom has picked up plenty of dogs and I can't think of a case where something good didn't come of it.
Check with some rescue groups. My mom and our neighbor used to help with 'Border Collie Rescue' and 'Golden Retriever Rescue' so there might be similar organizations for other breeds. They're great for fostering and finding homes for dogs.
Posts: 1733 | Registered: Apr 2005
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I was walking home from school on Tuesday and I saw a kitty get hit by an SUV right in front of me. It was horrible, and the car just kept going. I ran over to see if I could do anything, and the poor thing's head was practically snapped off. It was a really disturbing image and I'm having trouble getting it out of my mind.
Posts: 959 | Registered: Oct 2005
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awww, I'm so sorry dantesparadigm. That's an awful thing to have to carry around in your head.
Posts: 3149 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Any idea what kind of dog it is? Mutt, purebred?
Like Shanna said, check with the rescue groups, especially if it looks like it may be purebred. There are rescues for all sorts of dog breeds. Don't be discouraged if the rescue isn't close by; organizations such as Drive For Life will transport animals to a shelter, rescue, or forever home, even if it's out of state. Posts: 1805 | Registered: Jun 1999
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Uprooted, you'd be surprised at how effective putting up Found posters in the neighborhood you found the pup in is. It sounds like it's a well cared for dog, and the likelyhood that it's family is looking for it is probably pretty high. Put up signs and, if you can, put out an ad saying where you found it and giving a general description, holding back certain details so you can ascertain if it's really the dogs owner. I've reunited many lost pets and their families this way, and it's worth the effort before you bring it to the pound.
Posts: 499 | Registered: Mar 2004
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I don't think she's purebred; looks like a basset/beagle mix to me, but all tan. Has big basset-like feet and fairly short legs but shorter ears and tighter skin like a beagle; bigger than a beagle, less stocky than a basset.
I still haven't heard back from the gal that took her. I think I'll end up more involved in getting a home for this dog than I ever planned to be, because I feel terrible burdening her with another animal. OK, best case, we find the owner.
Posts: 3149 | Registered: Jul 2005
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I just heard from my friend. She went into the apartment complex and found the building and she said the dog led her straight to the door of the address that was registered with her chip.
When the man opened the door, my friend said, "Hi, you must be Steve and this must be your dog." He said, "I'm not Steve and that's not my damn dog" and slammed the door in her face.
She said the dog began crying and has been acting depressed ever since --threw up in the car on the way back to her place.
So she brought the dog home and told me not to worry about it, that fostering animals is what she does and that she should have her placed in about 3 weeks because she's small and really sweet and friendly. I'll buy food and pay whatever other expenses--she said that a shelter has already agreed to sponsor medical care if she fosters the dog.
Posts: 3149 | Registered: Jul 2005
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quote: He said, "I'm not Steve and that's not my damn dog" and slammed the door in her face.
Holy crap! If that mans name was Steve and that was his dog, he deserves to burn in a special hell for a long time. Irresponsible aholes who refuse to acknowledge responsibility for their pets are evil.
Posts: 499 | Registered: Mar 2004
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However, if that truly wasn't Steve, I bet he's had the dog show up a couple times and he's getting frustrated. Lousy way of responding, but I can understand if people keep trying to bring puppy home.
Poor puppy, knowing he was home and being turned away like that. No wonder he was depressed and throwing up.
Can the vet change the microchip database to show that the address is a former and that the dog was apparently abandoned? And has anyone done any kind of directory assistance searches on the name of the listed owner to see if they can find a new address?
Kudos to you for not just passing him by and to your friend for being willing to foster and find him a new home!
Posts: 4515 | Registered: Jul 2004
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<gives the dog a hug and good patting> Maybe the dog was sad because his owner had moved away without him.
I don't know about dogs, but cats grow at least as attached to places as to people. I adopted my cat Peaches from the neighbors next door in the apartment I was living at the time. For a while I let her go outside occasionally as she had been accustomed to do before she was mine. My new next door neighbors told me that one time their door was left slightly ajar and Peaches just walked right in and made herself at home there with them. I explained how that used to be her home. She was pretty welcoming of the new people who moved in with her, I thought. Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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Poor doggie... I hope they find a good home for her... I reckon her owners must have just dumped her Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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