On my way to work, in a busy road just beside a large park/forest. She was frantically running in the road, soaking wet and shivering, and cars kept pulling around her. She came right up to me when I got out of the car.
She’s adorable. Husky or husky mix, blue eyes, about 10 lbs and around 12 weeks. Has a pink collar and a chewed-off leash.
I took her to our vet, no microchip. Our county animal shelter took in 57 dogs this week and has announced they’re at capacity.
WWYD? I know someone who would love to have her, but I feel like I should try to get her back to her owner. Vet suggested keeping her and dropping off at shelter later (right. Like that would work with 2 kids and a dog of our own at home). She’s “very adoptable” (says vet). Vet also says her owner should never have left her outside on a lead at this age/teething stage.
I can’t keep her (allergies). And the shelter doesn’t want to take her due to overcrowding. Any suggestions? Do I just give her to my friend for now and try to track down her owner in other ways?
Can you post pictures on Facebook? I know that in my area we have a Lost Pets page. You could also reach out to local rescue organizations and see if any of them can help.
I would try finding her a temporary home while you try to search for the owner. You might check local Facebook pages for lost or missing pets, post photos and see if you have any luck. If your friend is willing to temporarily foster, with the possibility of keeping permanently or until a permanent home can be found, then I think that’s a great solution.
I'm a bit annoyed about the vet's comment that the owner shouldn't have left her unattended. Maybe they shouldn't have, but it sounds like this could have been an honest mistake and it's entirely possible they haven't had a chance to microchip her since she is so young.
Personally, I would take her home and post on Nextdoor, Craigslist, and FB. Don't provide a picture. Make anyone who responds give identifying information (pink collar, one blue eye, etc.). I'd at least keep her for a couple of days to try to give her owner a chance to find her before giving her away. I get that you have allergies though. Maybe your friend would be willing to take her while you track down the owner? And if that doesn't work out, then friend can keep her?
Post by lightbulbsun on Oct 15, 2019 10:51:33 GMT -5
See if there are any lost and found dog facebook groups for your area. We have one for my county and a lot of dogs get reunited that way.
Also, try to contact rescues in your area. Breed specific rescues would be best, but it sounds like he would be desirable to a lot of rescues. At least they might be able to give you some better advice.
I would post on local FB groups, Nextdoor, and contact all the vets in the area. And I’d let the friend take her, but with the understanding that if the owner is found they’ll have to give the pup back
I'd ask the shelter for recommendations. They should have a plan B they can recommend if they are turning away pets. I get that they only can take so much, but I'm actually kind of annoyed if they just said "no" without any suggestions. That might cause some people to just dump a found pet.
If not I'd see if your friend can take it temporarily and just post a bunch of pics on FB and Nextdoor. Maybe put up signs? Is this near your home?
I would post on local FB groups, Nextdoor, and contact all the vets in the area. And I’d let the friend take her, but with the understanding that if the owner is found they’ll have to give the pup back
I think contacting vets in the area is a great idea as well. It's possible she was recently seen or has an upcoming appointment and a vet's office should have a description of the age and type of dog.
If you've got Pawboost in your area, try posting on that too. Here, legally, there can be issues rehoming an animal on your own. We have to do a 5 day stray hold. Do you have a local husky rescue who might be able to help spread the word?
Thanks. I’m going to have my friend take her today, with the understanding that if we find the owner, we will get her back home. I’ll also post on FB etc. will let you know what I find out!
I would have your friend foster her and post on social media (ND, FB etc.). Chances are you'll be able to reunite her. If you friend wants to keep her after the appropriate amount of times passes, I would facilitate that through local animal care and control (can help with licenses and prob tell you the legalities around it)
Post by cabbagecabbage on Oct 15, 2019 11:15:22 GMT -5
Could you keep the puppy overnight? I feel like if it has been seperated from a good family, they will be desperately searching and easy to find within a day. Contact a local rescue group or a breed specific group. Thry may have foster families ready to go. A healthy puppy will get a new home in a flash.
OMG poor baby. I can't imagine a situation where someone who was responsible enough to have a puppy would have let her chew through a leash. Especially a puppy that young who would have also have to have been outside. Sorry, I'm with the vet. I'm probably a bitch but especially if she isn't chipped, I'd be in no rush to find the owner. (No shelter or responsible breeder would have let her go home without a chip anyway).
Just playing devils advocate here, but what if the puppy got away while on a walk. His leash was still attached and while he was running it got snagged. He ultimately ended up chewing through it to set himself free.
Yes, the owners could be complete crap, OR they could be decent human beings who made a mistake and are desperately trying to find their puppy.
I'm so glad you stopped to pick her up! Some of these may have been mentioned, but I would drop off her pic and brief description to the local shelter in case someone comes looking for her. Also at each vet office. Our local radio station also posts lost pets on their FB.
OMG poor baby. I can't imagine a situation where someone who was responsible enough to have a puppy would have let her chew through a leash. Especially a puppy that young who would have also have to have been outside. Sorry, I'm with the vet. I'm probably a bitch but especially if she isn't chipped, I'd be in no rush to find the owner. (No shelter or responsible breeder would have let her go home without a chip anyway).
I'd find a breed-specific rescue.
My puppy is 7 months old and I have been having a hard time getting the appt to get her chipped without paying an high amount $100... I don't consider myself to be an irresponsible pet owner.
Just playing devils advocate here, but what if the puppy got away while on a walk. His leash was still attached and while he was running it got snagged. He ultimately ended up chewing through it to set himself free.
Yes, the owners could be complete crap, OR they could be decent human beings who made a mistake and are desperately trying to find their puppy.
Or they tied the leash to a post while they ran into the store or library. Goodness knows I did that all the time with my dogs. I suppose someone could have stolen them, but that never happened and walking my dogs while running errands was a great way to get them some exercise while I got things done. I just hate to automatically assume that her owner is a terrible person. They likely made a mistake and are freaking out about it.
Post by liverandonions on Oct 15, 2019 12:09:02 GMT -5
I was told to leash my dog in the house with me when we were training her so she could stay around me and also learn to walk on a leash. She chewed through it very quickly because she had razor sharp teeth, and i was working-right next to her. At 16 months she chewed through her harness in the car. Dogs are dogs. Hopefully this puppy has a responsible owner who is looking for her, and they are reunited soon.
OMG poor baby. I can't imagine a situation where someone who was responsible enough to have a puppy would have let her chew through a leash. Especially a puppy that young who would have also have to have been outside. Sorry, I'm with the vet. I'm probably a bitch but especially if she isn't chipped, I'd be in no rush to find the owner. (No shelter or responsible breeder would have let her go home without a chip anyway).
I'd find a breed-specific rescue.
My puppy is 7 months old and I have been having a hard time getting the appt to get her chipped without paying an high amount $100... I don't consider myself to be an irresponsible pet owner.
RE microchip Check with your local shelter - I haven’t looked out here - but our old county one would do microchips at their rabies shot clinics and they were $10
Tractor supply does them for ~$20 as do some Petco store
Re pup - put in a found report with your local police dept. even our current one (much larger area) usually posts found pups on FB.
My puppy is 7 months old and I have been having a hard time getting the appt to get her chipped without paying an high amount $100... I don't consider myself to be an irresponsible pet owner.
RE microchip Check with your local shelter - I haven’t looked out here - but our old county one would do microchips at their rabies shot clinics and they were $10
Tractor supply does them for ~$20 as do some Petco store
Re pup - put in a found report with your local police dept. even our current one (much larger area) usually posts found pups on FB.
Yup- I was about to post the same thing. Many city/county shelters will do microchipping. Petco here does too during their vaccination clinic on the weekends. Both options here are $20.
Having worked with shelter dogs a lot, I agree with the vet. It’s really difficult to lose a 12 week old puppy without negligence being a factor. They don’t move very fast or for very long at that age. Also, at 12 weeks they’re not fully vaccinated so shouldn’t be walking around in public anyways for their own health. My state has a mandatory 5 day stray hold, but it does not apply to young pups for their own health (the danger of being in a shelter for 5 days). Look up what your state law is. Social media posts (without identifying issues because all sorts of crazies will try to claim a puppy) are a good idea too. Please require proof of ownership (pictures, vet records, etc) to protect that pup. Thanks for grabbing her.
OMG poor baby. I can't imagine a situation where someone who was responsible enough to have a puppy would have let her chew through a leash. Especially a puppy that young who would have also have to have been outside. Sorry, I'm with the vet. I'm probably a bitch but especially if she isn't chipped, I'd be in no rush to find the owner. (No shelter or responsible breeder would have let her go home without a chip anyway).
I'd find a breed-specific rescue.
My puppy is 7 months old and I have been having a hard time getting the appt to get her chipped without paying an high amount $100... I don't consider myself to be an irresponsible pet owner.
You can buy chips online for about $10 if you're ok with doing it yourself. I do it for rescue dogs and it's pretty easy. It's $25 to register them online.
ETA: Sometimes rescues have free microchipping events, so you should check and see if there are any in your area.
Where I live, it is a law that you have to report a found animal to animal control even if it is a puppy. The puppy's family has XX amount of days to claim her (it's called a stray hold), and then the dog will go up for adoption after that. I work in dog rescues and the reasons people lose pets can be really crazy. Most of the times it is because of an irresponsible owner, but sometimes strange things happen. For example, we have reunited pets who were originally stolen from the original owner, and then the person who stole the dog ditches it on the side of the road. You just never know. If an owner is truly negligent and doesn't want the dog then they won't look for it while it's on its stray hold.
Do you have any other dog rescues that you can contact? Puppies usually get adopted easily so many a rescue would be willing to take her and put her up for adoption.
OMG poor baby. I can't imagine a situation where someone who was responsible enough to have a puppy would have let her chew through a leash. Especially a puppy that young who would have also have to have been outside. Sorry, I'm with the vet. I'm probably a bitch but especially if she isn't chipped, I'd be in no rush to find the owner. (No shelter or responsible breeder would have let her go home without a chip anyway).
I'd find a breed-specific rescue.
My dog is about 18 weeks and still not micro-chipped. He's going for his neuter surgery this week and they will insert his chip while he's under anesthesia. The rescue we got him from gave us the chip and it's all ready to be registered. They said it's easier to do it while they are under, since it's a pretty big needle and is painful.
I bhave my brand new 8 wk old puppy. We have literally had her 3 days and she isnt micro chipped yet. I would be DEVESTATED if she somehow got loose and someone decided to keep her and I for one would be frantic. I understand the vets point of view, but me personally, since the MC needles are so big, I prefer to do them when the are under for spay/neuter.
OMG poor baby. I can't imagine a situation where someone who was responsible enough to have a puppy would have let her chew through a leash. Especially a puppy that young who would have also have to have been outside. Sorry, I'm with the vet. I'm probably a bitch but especially if she isn't chipped, I'd be in no rush to find the owner. (No shelter or responsible breeder would have let her go home without a chip anyway).
I'd find a breed-specific rescue.
My dog is about 18 weeks and still not micro-chipped. He's going for his neuter surgery this week and they will insert his chip while he's under anesthesia. The rescue we got him from gave us the chip and it's all ready to be registered. They said it's easier to do it while they are under, since it's a pretty big needle and is painful.
I still remember by dog getting microchipped. It was newer technology and she was older. She was not under anesthesia and she was yelping and bucking around. I don't blame anyone for not wanting to put their dog through that if they don't have to.
Update: dog is being fostered by my coworker. I have been in touch with the closest vets and other dog-related businesses (dog daycare x2). All have suggested not posting pics, but asking owner to id. The dog daycare we use will post on nextdoor for me and we will try to get her home. I will also post on my neighborhood listserve, but I’m not entirely hopeful.
The area where I found her is mostly park/forest/farms with no neighborhoods around (for, like 5 miles). She’s too young to have got away from a person supervising her - she doesn’t go very far or fast. And she pretty obviously has worms. Well, had, we got her dewormed first thing.
Vet did tell me that “many people just keep” dogs they find (not me. We are all full up on pets now) and there is nowhere here that will take her immediately. We will give it a few days/week, and then I will try for a rescue to take her or for someone to keep her. For now, she is safe and cared for. And I wish her owner had been more careful if she’s lost, and not an @sshole if she was abandoned.
My puppy is 7 months old and I have been having a hard time getting the appt to get her chipped without paying an high amount $100... I don't consider myself to be an irresponsible pet owner.
You can buy chips online for about $10 if you're ok with doing it yourself. I do it for rescue dogs and it's pretty easy. It's $25 to register them online.
ETA: Sometimes rescues have free microchipping events, so you should check and see if there are any in your area.
Yes, th city does it but only twice a year and the other time was 12-4p and I missed it.
She has will be done next Sat at their Halloween event 😊