I need help.

This morning at 5:10 AM I picked up a Maltese that had been hit by a car, he was still alive, and put him in my car, rushed home to call Humane Society to pick him up for treatment.

5:15 called Humane Society, listened to 2 minute menu, staff said no one there that could pick him up until 6AM.
5:18 called Animal Control, listened to 3 minute menu, finally got to "if animal has life threatening injuries, press 4", pressed 4, "if you want to talk to a representative, press 0", pressed 0, "please call back during our normal hours, goodbye".

5:30 (took me a while to find another agency phone number to call) called Pet Rescue and Transportation, listened to another damn menu for another 2 minutes, got to "press (whatever) for injured animals", pressed it, got message "thank you for calling, please call back on our next normal time of operations, Saturday at 9AM".

My inability to get this dog help and the frustration caused by these useless agencies and their stupid menus and hours of operation had me crying and so upset I didn't know what to do. The dog died. I'm so upset.

I called them all back after he died and left messages on machines, and with Humane Society I spoke to the person I talked to and my message to all was "dogs don't get hurt between 6AM and 5PM. If you won't provide life saving hours of operation 24/7 then you are useless, f*(**@ useless."

Waited until 7AM to call Animal Control to now pick up a dead dog. Was asked where the dog was, told them on my front porch on a towel. She told me they aren't allowed to come on private property. WHAT??????? I said can you knock on my front door? "No". I said I give you permission to knock on my front door? "We can't." We went around a little more, something about "it's in their contract", a bunch of BS.

I asked what do you want me to do with him? "Put him on the sidewalk". I asked what time will they come get him so I don't have to put him on the sidewalk for hours to bake in the sun. "We have no way of knowing what time he will be picked up."

I'm at a loss, very upset, don't know what to do. I can't treat a dead dog like that, just leave him out in the stupid Phoenix heat for hours. What should I do?

Good GOD Sandy!! What a horrible morning! I'm so sorry, for you and that poor little dog. I'm sure the same thing would have happened in any number of places - my first instinct would have been to get him to a vet - even if I just walked in and left him on the counter - but if it was between working ours, our nearest emergency vet is about 45 minutes away, and I'm not sure A. I would have been able to make the trip, or B. if the injured dog would make it that far.

The part about Animal Control picking up the body (or NOT!) is just infuriating. I'd don't even know what to say...

How VERY frustrating, but thank you for at least doing everything you could to help that little guy.

~Natalya

Sandy,

Can you just bury the dog on your property? I've been given the run around when I found cats hit by cars. I took one in so it wouldn't die in the freezing cold of winter, it was pretty badly injured, so I thought it would go quickly. After calling agencies for an hour without help, I decided to take the cat to an emergency vet since it was still alive (though the emergency vet also said they don't take strays). After taking the cat there it stopped breathing when an iv was inserted and was put to sleep. The hospital didn't make me pay for any treatment since it was a stray, but still in emergency situations I have yet to see city agencies do anything to help the animal and most hospitals will tell you they can't help over the phone. If you go in person they really have no choice. At least you tried to help : (

Kimberly

Holy cow, Sandy, what an ordeal.

I'm assuming that their response to you was or will be something about them not having the resources to attend to every dog or cat that is injured. They're probably right in that respect, unfortunately.

I agree that it makes the "Humane Society" look like a misnomer and I would probably have the same reaction that you did.

I do NOT understand what they're talking about when they say they can't go on private property. I would ask to speak to a higher-up on that one to get some answers. That just makes no sense to me.

I hope this never happens to you again, but if it does, I would try to call local vet offices. Some of them will give you the same song and dance that the HS did, but some of them have 24 hour clincs or vets who will take in a dog and at least stabilize the animal (ours does) or determine if the dog is too injured and will prevent further unnecessary suffering. Maybe you could ask your vet what his/her policy is on that next time you talk to them.

I'm assuming the dog wasn't tagged? It could be that he's microchipped, but a lot of good that does now. Another reason why microchipping alone is not enough.

I'm glad you were there, Sandy. A horrible situation, but I'm glad the dog was with you instead of on the side of the road when he died.

I deal with a lot of animals injured by vehicles. Our local emergency vet is a godsend as they take all of them in and give them quality care. They will do surgery or whatever it takes to save the animal if it can be saved, all at their expense. Our animal shelter have the same type of hours as yours. All they're good for after hours is dropping strays off. If the police call they send an officer at night. Other than that, the civilians are on their own.

I'll keep a 24 hour emergency vet clinic address in my car from now on. I may not have the money they would want to treat the dog, but at least I could have had him euthanized humanely instead of suffering. I think he was unconscious, in shock. He wasn't moving at all, even when I picked him up. Maybe internal injuries mostly cause only a drop of blood on his lip.

I called Animal Control back after 8AM to see if they could bend the "rule" of not coming on my property. Again told no, referred to the actual contractor who picks up the dead animals, called, left a message on their machine to call me back. But they are the ones who are bound by a city contract to not come on private property, even with permission. So I'm sure nothing will happen.

I can see it now, Memorial Day weekend coming up and if I wait for a callback (big laugh - as if that would happen), it would be Tuesday before anyone would come out. I just called Animal Control back and have to surrender to their stupid policy and put this poor little dog in a bag on the sidewalk. I can't express how that makes me feel.

I would bury him in my yard but I'm afraid my dog would try to dig him up. Maybe if I had some acreage I could do that and put a little fence around him, but as it is, it wouldn't be a good idea.

I'm distraught at the callousness of these agencies.

 Quote: Howard Knauf

I deal with a lot of animals injured by vehicles. Our local emergency vet is a godsend as they take all of them in and give them quality care. They will do surgery or whatever it takes to save the animal if it can be saved, all at their expense. Our animal shelter have the same type of hours as yours. All they're good for after hours is dropping strays off. If the police call they send an officer at night. Other than that, the civilians are on their own.

Thank you Howard. I'm going to call a few 24/7 emergency vets/clinics and see if they will do something like that. Even if they don't, in the future I'll take the poor thing in anyway. They may not have been able to do much as far as treatment, cause he died about 30 minutes after I picked him up. That's the only thing I can say to myself to ease this guilt of not taking him to a clinic. I spent so much time on the phone trying to get help. I could have taken him in instead. I thought someone would come.

God Bless You and Your Efforts.

But it is likely that even if you had driven right to your nearest local Animal Emergency Hospital, the dog probably would not have made it and you might not have made it there in time even.

When a dog is hit like that, it chances are slim to none.

My heart goes out to you for what you went through just because you are a kind and human person, and the trauma of that poor animal.

Chin Up! You did what more than many that you spoke with this morning.

Louanne

 Quote: Sandy Moore

he died about 30 minutes after I picked him up. That's the only thing I can say to myself to ease this guilt of not taking him to a clinic. I spent so much time on the phone trying to get help. I could have taken him in instead. I thought someone would come.

You should have zero guilt. Our best is what we have ... no more. Our best changes, but at any given time, that's what we have.

And as it happens, your best was pretty likely the best possible for the dog. The poor thing was blessed when you picked him up and gave him comfort.

P.S. My vet will take and dispose of remains. I don't think it's unusual.

Sandy, Our emergency vet (opened during non-working hours) will take a body. I'll bet yours will too. I'm so sorry for such a horrible experience.

I've had similar experiences with our Animal Control but I understand their side too. They are WAY under resourced, they have to deal with liability issues with private property (here in CA you know, we sue everyone), and deal with so many left over animals (Hey, it's only tax money and we'd rather spend it on illegal aliens :-).

Thank you for trying to help that poor dog. You did the right thing!

Lynn