The owner was out of the country when his dog escaped ...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/303220_dog10.html

you would think that they would take the "authority" to treat the dog or stabalize it rather than euthanize it....

sad story...

Louis: I can really see how this could happen. It's sad - but there are people who won't pick up the phone when the animal shelter calls about one of their dogs. I've known people who've done this - afraid that animal control will slap them with boarding fees, etc.. So they just let the calls go, which often ultimately leads to a dog being put to sleep so the owner can skip out on something which might be as low as a hundred bucks.

It's terrible, but ultimately the blame for things like this lays with irresponsible owners. If everyone was responsible - ie, in a perfect world - shelters would be able to afford to keep the few pets that wound up there indefinitely.

But think about - with all the irresponsible pet owners out there - how much money a shelter would lose if they authorized vet treatment for every animal without first contacting the owner. In my opinion, this was just a sad result of someone having to say "that's all we can do" without contact from the owner.

Aye, it's a sad story. The reality for shelters is they do not have enough money to even take in and care for all the animals that need it, let alone the animals who are owned by other individuals.

Although it is very emotionally difficult for all involved, the Shelter Manager made the right decision. The dog was suffering and required emergency care that could run to more than the shelter could afford. It could not be ascertained whether the owner would even reimburse the shelter for that care. The dog was a 12 yo lab, so it was not certain that the dog would recover or not have more serious issues while the owner was away.

The owner should have boarded his dog with a good kennel or his vet. His reluctance to spend the extra money on that allowed the whole event to be put into motion. If he persisted in letting the neighbor care for his dogs he should have had a legal document allowing his neighbor to authorize treatment in his absence. Unfortunately, the dog and shelter both ended up on the receiving end of his carelessness.

i don't see how the dog's owner was negligent. it seems to me he did take all reasonable precautions, including microchipping his dog. some dogs don't do well in a boarding kennel. there's nothing wrong with leaving a responsible neighbor or pet sitter in charge.

this story is making me very glad i signed my dog up for pet health insurance. as part of the insurance policy, your dog is registered with a 24 hour pet locator service. the phone number for the service is on a huge tag you put on the dog's collar. it also alerts anyone who finds the dog that he has health insurance, which i would hope would send a message to vets and shelters that the owner wants the animal to get vet care.

calling animal control and the humane society in advance every time you go on vacation seems a bit much. even if the owner called ahead to pre-authorize vet care, maybe he would have chosen to have the dog put down, if the dog was in that much distress. without talking to the vet and finding out the specifics of the dog's injury, it's pretty hard to make a judgment call about what is best for the dog.

Jäger has his license and a dog tag hanging from his collar. The dogtag has his name, my phone number, AVID #, and "Cash reward for safe return". I gave the microchip people the business phone number for a friend's business, but, after reading this story I believe I'll spend the admin fee and have our vet listed as an alternate POC. They know Jäger's medical history, and, I can have an advance directive authorizing medical care in the event I'm not available.

What say you all?

I'm leaving town soon, for about 10 days and I've left a document authorizing emergency care for my dogs, as well as a credit card to use (some places won't treat without payment up front) with a note authorizing the person caring for them to use it for vet care.

None of this will help if my dogs escape the person with these documents, but they are microchipped with about a billion contact numbers.

Sheesh. This story is making me paranoid!

 Quote: Amber Morgan

I'm leaving town soon, for about 10 days and I've left a document authorizing emergency care for my dogs, as well as a credit card to use (some places won't treat without payment up front) with a note authorizing the person caring for them to use it for vet care.

None of this will help if my dogs escape the person with these documents, but they are microchipped with about a billion contact numbers.

Sheesh. This story is making me paranoid!

What I do when I travel:

I leave a letter authorizing my dog- and house-sitter to take my dogs to my vet for treatment any time that she considers it necessary, and another letter authorizing my vet to perform any and all services she considers to be appropriate in an emergency, whether she is able to reach me or not. I don't leave a credit card, but I do add a line saying that I will be responsible for the cost. (I've been with them long enough for them to know I will pay the bill.)

I leave a copy of both with each: the vet's staff and the dog-sitter.

And of course the dog-sitter has the vet's number and address, driving directions, etc.

Also, my dogs' chips link them to my vet, because I figure that the vet's office is a constant (even if she left that practice); they won't travel all at once and leave an unmanned phone.

I don't think you're paranoid, Amber.

 Quote: red thomas

Jäger has his license and a dog tag hanging from his collar. The dogtag has his name, my phone number, AVID #, and "Cash reward for safe return". I gave the microchip people the business phone number for a friend's business, but, after reading this story I believe I'll spend the admin fee and have our vet listed as an alternate POC. They know Jäger's medical history, and, I can have an advance directive authorizing medical care in the event I'm not available.

What say you all?

I think that "cash reward" should always be in a place that is not immediately visible to the casual observer. There are locket tags, or the cash reward part can be in script small enough to require a close look. (This is to keep an observer from seeing it and thinking that dognapping might be a source of quick cash.)

I have read in some dog magazines that there are some dog sitting companies, that will come to your house 3 times a day to check, exercise and feed your dog.

Before they can take care of your dog you have to sign documents stating that you are leaving you pet in the care of a sitter.
Anyway long story short, the sitter has contact details for your prefered vet, medical history etc. The sitter also places a tag on the dogs collar with their contact number on it, so if the dog is to get out and someone finds it the dog can be reunited ASAP.

If yu are going away the last thing you want your dog to feel is stress. Otherwise something bad is bound to happen.