Stray Dog

[Bird]

We used to never have our dog wearing a collar or tags unless we were going somewhere that we knew we'd be using a leash. I just figured the collar might be a little uncomfortable and might get hung on something sometime. One of my sisters lost a poodle once when she came home and found he'd hung himself by getting his collar caught in a chain link fence.

However, our town has a city ordinance that I'm sure is ignored by 90% of the population. It requires an annual $10 registration with the city and a tag that the animal is supposed to wear at all times. So now our chihuahua is wearing a collar with two tags; the city tag and one from the vet.

Of course we let the dog out in the fenced back yard any time she wants out and she can stay out as long as she wants. But my wife doesn't want the dog to go out front because she's afraid the dog might run off. But any time I go out front, that dog will make a mad dash for the door to try to get out with me, and I let her because she's not going to get far from me, and when I go back in, she'll try to beat me back in the house.

So one day last week, I went out through the garage to get the mail at the box at the edge of the street and of course she was right at my feet. Then I was walking back to the house, looking at the different pieces of mail at the same time, looked down to see if she was still close when I got to the garage door, and there she was; two of'em, in fact. Kinda startled me at first. The second one was the same height and color; just a bit fatter, a male, and no collar or tags, and I'd never seen him before. I looked up and down the street to see if someone was out walking with him. No one around. I watched the two dogs play together for awhile and was trying to decide whether to keep the stray awhile and try to find the owner, or to go ahead and call animal control to come get him, when a lady comes driving down the street, looking for him. Needless to say, I was glad to see her.

 

[bmac]

Mornin' All.

We will definately try to locate owner for the reasons mentioned above. Were my dog lost, I would like to have him back. Where I live, many folks let their dogs roam, despite county leash laws. I also don't rule out the possibility that the dog could have been dumped or that the owners were grossly irresponsible. The fact that the dog was roaming and has not been neutered makes me a little more suspicious about the owner.

Right now, our position is that the dog belongs to someone else. We will work on that premise until we exhaust our resources. After that, whether or not we keep him will depend on his behavior with our other dogs. So far, he is very lovable with my family, including the kids.

 

[EddieWalker]

Hey Bmac,

We had a stray show up last year on Christmas day. A beatiful Pointer that we all fell in love with. We were very cautious at first, but after researching the breed and watching him for awhile, we felt he was a great dog!!!

Then one day, just as Steph came home and gave me a kiss and a hug, we had trouble. Her 5 years old son had been home with me all day playing outside with his tractors and the dog like he did most days. Everything was normal and we didn't suspect a thing. Her son came up to us to great his mom and the dog followed him. The dog sat down in front of us like he was waiting for Steph to say hi to him too.

Her son reached out to pet him and he attacked. He lunged for Peytons face and bit him three times that I could see before I kicked the dog. The dog went flying. He landed, tucked his tail and disapeared. Her son had bite marks on his forhead and his bottom lip was tore open. His shirt was also torn from the front claws that scratched him up real bad, but neither of us saw that part of it. It was over in two seconds. I should have acted faster, but it was such a shock to us that we froze for a second.

The hospital notified the sheriff who interviewed us. We think it was to be sure we weren't abusive parents or responsible for her son's injuries. The doctor cleaned him up and said to leave the wound alone as it would heal faster without stitches. He prescribed antibotics for infection.

The dog was sent to be tested for rabies. The test was negative.

We realize that most poeple have good results with strays, but we also know that you take a chance with a stray. You know nothing about the dogs history or why he's out on his own. We thought he'd wondered off for some reason, but without a collor, it was just a guess. We spent a few weeks looking for lost and found notices and checking the local papers without finding anything. We know think he was dumped, probably for doing exactly what he did to Peyton.

Over the summer we had a very stong thunder storm and in the morning we found a very large puppy. Something like a hound dog with massive feet. He was very friendly and probably would have made a great pet, but we're not gonna take any more chances. We took him to the rescue center and paid $10 for them to find him a new home.

We'll probably get the kids a small dog one of these days as we really like them and want to have one, but it's not high on our list right now.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do,
Eddie

 

[bmac]

Eddie,

I remember that story. What a nightmare for you guys.

I've had dogs that have snapped at my kids before (not a full assult like you experienced). Got rid of them shortly thereafter (by legitimate means - no pounds or dumping). The point is that even dogs you get as puppies can become dangerous. Its not limited to strays. But I thnak you for the reminder to be especially cautious.

If we don't find the owner by Friday, I'll take him to the vet for a thorough examination and whatever shots they think are needed (just to be on the safe side). After that, if we don't find the owner and decide to keep him, I'll get him neutered and keep him contained to our property (probably via invisible fence).

Good to hear from you.

 

[Captinjack]

Two young male beagles walked into my WV deer camp last week. I didn't feed them and tried to chase them off with roman candles and they came right back.

After 4 days without leaving, I fed them and put a flyer with pictures at 2 convenience stores and 2 bars. My cabin is in a real rural area and everyone stops at one of these stores eventually. Didn't get a single call. In the past, I called the locals and the grapevine (hen line) and the dog's owner was found and the dog returned.

I have 4 beagles and all my dogs always had a brass tag with telephone #'s. Why people don't have ID numbers on collars is unfathonable by me.

I brought the dogs home yesterday and they get along real well with my other beagles. They are good rabbit chasers and I shouldn't have a hard time finding a good home for them.

 

[Paddy]

bmac,

I have always felt there are thousands of dogs put down every year, if I'm going to save one I want a good one. The ones that get thrown out along my country road, don't get my attention. Dogs live a long time and I don't want a non-perfect fit. The dog pound is full of options, they have shots and are all ways fixed. I have even taken a animal shelter dog only to return it a few weeks later. I've also had to shoot one because I didn't want someone else having the same problems all over again.

Pick a good one and you will have a a nice 10 years.

 

[bmac]

Paddy,

Well, I guess it depends on what you would call a "good one". Unfortunatly there are a lot of good dogs that have had the misfortune of being raised by crappy people. Actually, I believe there are more crappy people than bad dogs. Sadly, the dogs pay the price.

 

[czechsonofagun]

This is what all our dogs wear on the collar:

Boomerang Tags

We have three dogs from rescue:

Venus was first and now we did not name her. She is a great pyr and she is beautiful, but she tends to escape and go for a walk on her own. Actually, she is roaming somewhere right now, because I was busy raking horse manure andforgot to put her on the line with dark.
Also Venus sometimes snaps at people and we handle her accordingly - she is on the line when we have visitors, and we lock her up for storms b/c she is nervous and we want her to feel secure with the thunder rolling.

Montmorency is my boy - airedale terrier about 95 pounds, 5 years old, smart, friendly, sleeps by my bed and I can wrestle a fresh bone from his jaws without a sound. But he snorts and snickers and yawns and makes tons of comments on things he does not approve - like when we are having a romantic moment and he wants to sleep. My wife thinks he is trying to say: "Come on, folks, get a room, this hard working dog would like to sleep"
But he is a killer, mice, rats, birds, turtles - you name it. Few weeks ago Monty and Venus tried to split racoon to two pieces and my wife had to deal with them. Monty let go on word but Venus needed a kick in the butt to hear the command. She is a wolf, if you know what I mean.

Clementine is my son's dog. She is 8 month old airedale from rescue, sleeps under his bunk bad and keeps Monty moving. The mouth wrestle for hours and the house shakes with it. She was and still is protective of her food - growls when you get near the dish she is eating from, but we respect her and leave her alone - it is the only time she growls. Also with raw hide chew toy she can get personal, but we believe she will get better by working with her. She is very smart, ADT girls usually are smarter than boys

During the day the house is empty, kids are in school, adults are working.
Today I got home first and the gate was open - the wind blew it probably , Venus was on the line as always - and Montmorency and Clementine were siting behind the open gate - they never crossed the property line - making angel like faces and waiting for somebody to come home.

 

[Paddy]

So true and well said. My comments come from folks I've met who take a dog that's been droped off. They had no intension of getting a dog before that point and they just sit out doors in the cold. In the shelters, 10 good dogs will get put down for every one good dog adapted. My point is, I don't take in a stray because it's lost and needs a home. There are thousands of great dogs ready for the taking, not just the one droped off in front of your house.

At some point, you have enough dogs and can't help any more. Some folks in my neck of the woods seem to think helping is taking in more dogs, 6-10 dogs. Sounds like a pack to me. A few years back, an elderly gent was mauled to death taking census data. The family had many drop off dogs.

The true slobs are the people who don't get their dogs fixed and then let them roam!. They are the ones droping the dogs off in the first place.

 

[bky]

BTDT, and when the good for nothing owners show up and say how much they missed there dog and how much the kids love it and why should he have a license cause hes "always" inside, put the bill for the vet, collar, chain, food, dishes, flea dip etc in their face b4 they touch the dog.

Wow .is all I can say other than I know first hand a pet of 12 years can get out with out a collar on after a bath and disappear with out collar and come up missing.
Sometime things happen that are out of the pet owners control.