This morning we saw a little black dog running full speed down the road as we were getting ready to walk the dogs. Did not see it on the walk but a couple hours later he was laying in the road in front of our house. So tired he would not get up even for cars. He is a senior, all grey around the muzzle, little neutered male maybe 15-20 pounds.I'm not a little dog person but I would say some pug and something to make his nose longer. Collar but no tag, haven't taken him to check for a chip yet. We brought him inside in a crate in the basement, water food, did not touch anything all day. Won't pee or poop when we go outside on a leash. He wants to leave so we have kept him on a leash.

We put up signs, called animal control and vet. NO one yet. Figured he could have run off with the fireworks, or hubby thought maybe he was chasing whatever car dropped him the way he was running.

Anyway, I put out feelers today to try to find a small dog rescue, and the guy at animal control said he would take him even though we are outside city limits. he said he does real well and has only euthanised one dog this year.

BUT, he seemed to be settling in a bit by this evening and his tail wasn't stuck between his legs. He had a bunch of ticks and I attempted to pull one off of him and he bit at me. SO we let it alone and tried to bring him back inside. He had to be pulled a bit before he would get up and come along, and he slipped out of the collar in the basement and went over and laid down.No big deal. SO my hubby attempted to pick him up but he bit at him.(I had picked him up off the road because he would not get up, and he was fine but he was also exhausted) SO he put gloves on a tried again, but finally we herded him into the crate, and that is where he is.

I'm a little stumped as to what to do with him. NO rescue is going to want a biting dog, neither is any prospective home, even if they didn't mind the senior dog to start with. if we take him to animal control, we have to be honest or let them find out quickly he is a biter, and I want to keep my rottie rescue relationship with the animal control guy. I can't see it ending good for him in any facility when he bites at someone.

What would you do with this dog? IF we don't find a chip in him, or get any calls on the signs and asking around to see what he belongs. Julie

First, THANK YOU!

You (and others like you) are the people who help make the world good.



Biting as in drawing blood, or warning-snapping?

I ask this for several reasons (including being very careful not to prematurely label a dog a biter), but especially for the possible-pain/injury reason for snapping.

Small dogs really are adopted far more readily than big ones (in general), I can tell you from experience. And the age may not be a big problem. (Also, a frosty muzzle can happen much younger than many folks believe.)

But anyway .....

A/C (shelter, whatever) is not instantaneous with updating records. I'd call again tomorrow a.m.

Others will have better ideas, probably ..... I just wanted to remind us all about being sure a dog is a biter before we say so to A/C or anyone else ..... if, for example, the dog is in pain and is warning you not to lift or touch him. Of course, you're there and I'm not, and I definitely don't mean to second-guess you .... just to say we can't un-ring that bell once we've said a dog bites people.

(Also, for human-health reasons ..... did he break skin?)


All JMO!


PS
I applaud you very sincerely for doing what you can for this little guy. Poor dog.

No. And I should have specified, biting at us. We have no idea if he is sick, if he is in pain from any injury he may have sustained while he was out. He held up a front leg for a bit until he rested through the day, but he is walking on it just fine.

The before bed out went better. We finally got him to eat and drink a little. I am a little worried, I guess, because I rehomed a boxer once who we found starving, and he snapped at us once through the crate and we didn't think too much of it, and where he went, he tried to bite all of them so many times they took him to the pound. We found out about it later. I felt terrible about it, but we didn't know anything then, way less than now, and we certainly aren't dog experts now by any stretch.:-)

And Thank You Connie, for the very nice compliment, but I don't know how anyone could drive by a little dog laying exhausted on the road when it is already 90+ degrees, and climbing. But then he may have even been dropped out.

I think it's super nice that you picked him up.

Maybe he jumped out of someone's car, or the back of a pickup. Or maybe he snapped at the grandkids one too many times and they took him for a ride and dropped him off.

I wouldn't mess with him too much, see if a bit of isolation gets him to warm up. Perhaps an owner will appear, it's a holiday "weekend" for many.

I think it's absolutely awsome that you had the heart to take the time to help this poor dog, you are a saint for doing so.

I second what Betty said, isolation, and if he needs to be brought out for potty I'd use more food luring/baiting then anything else. Being physical with him isn't going to do anything but reinforce that he can't trust you. Patience is the key.

I tell you what, I'd be a little unnerved too if strangers brought me to a strange place that smells different, made me do things through physical means, and don't know what to expect.

Think about what he must feel like though. He has no relationship with you, trust takes time and with some it takes more time then others.

That's all absolutely true. We talked about just those possibilities, too.

It pains me to see a bunch of ticks hanging on him, and know they could be making him sick, but to hold him down and force him to let us remove them would not be pretty. I took him out to the horses empty paddock this morning so he could have some outside time without peeing and pooping in the dog's yard. And won't have any other dogs barking at him or staring at him.

I got him there slowly with some cheese, he wants to lay down a lot. He is either old or his legs just had all they could take running. No way to know right now. Or both. I will make some more calls today, and get him by the nearest vet for a scan. We are laying new wood floors today ourselves(too expensive to have someone else do it!) so he will have plenty of time that is peaceful. If I take him to the vet though he will have to be picked up. Hmmm.. Maybe we should hold off over the weekend. We'll see.

Thanks for all the nice compliments. It should be the norm, though, to pick up a dog out of the heat(it was 104 yesterday) and at least take him to the shelter. Or call AC.

Good morning Julie,

I admire your willingness to take in the little stray. Good hearts you and your husband have.

I hate ticks.

When I've had a dog show up here that has any issues from long, untrimmed nails to ticks, my objective is to get it set for staying in a normal state as soon as possible. So, at the risk of infuriating folks that comment...

I use a towel and a pair of gloves, and I 'subdue' the dog if necessary, and do the remediation necessary to make sure its stay is otherwise normal. I know, cruel.

My philosophy includes a vision that a few moments of serious control in the best interest of the dog will not leave a traumatic mark. My experience seems to support that vision. I control the dog and the bride or one of my daughters takes care of the need, including the removal of ticks and application of some topical antiseptic. Along the way we try to assess if there are other issues which might need to be addressed, for example tooth problems. And we try to talk in soothing tones...

Usually, when the 'treatment' is concluded, there is an opportunity to, for lack of a better descriptor, 'comfort' the dog. Often, the dog seems to be more in the group after such an interaction.

Ticks. They make me shudder.

It isn't my intention to sound like a miserable, uncaring rat. I want the dog to have the best chance for health. Sometimes you have to take the bull by the tail and face the situation.

Ticks...

Well the new little dog is more settled in today. He had his ticks removed and got a Comfortis for fleas. he is happy to see us now and wagging his tail and doing spins, instead of moving away.

I'm sure he is meant to be an inside dog although he is a basement dog here as he is on quarantine from our dogs. Glad we have an empty paddock to put him out in so he can have some "grass" time without being pestered by us or the dogs.

Local no-kill shelter will take him in 2 weeks if we don't find a home before then. Plus a $50 fee. Boy, I hope we find a home or his home before then. Can't blame them for that, but if he was dropped off, I most certainly blame the people that did it. No one coming forward after 2 days and no calls into animal control or local vet, no calls on signs. I think we will make a flyer and hang it at the dog places aorund town. He will make a great little dog for the right people.

He was so much better today and even let me pull quite a few ticks with just a little bit of hotdog. Even rolled over for a belly rub, but ticks on belly required a gloved hand and a good hold on the line he was wearing, but he wasn't any the worse for wear afterward, and came right inside, laid down and got petted, then got cooled off and got a comfortis and dinner.

We took a few walks around the yard today on leash, and he does well. I think if we can find him a place, he will do good.

Edited by Julie Sloan (07/06/2012 06:56 PM)
Edit reason: change title

Julie,

I am not sure where you are, but check online dog recovery sites or Facebook pages. Like Betty mentioned it is a big vacation week, could have jumped from a car, got loose at a campground,someone else watching him while owners are away, etc.

A few years back I found a Lab doing laps in our pool. It took some time to find the owner. He lived in Connecticut, visiting friends 3 towns away, and the dog wandered off.

Good for taking him in!