Dog Rescue

[KikiFan]

I'm giving this it's own thread because I'm not only asking for some prayers, pixie dust, positive energy, light, whatever your preference I'm also hoping someone has some advice!

I'm trying to rescue a dog tomorrow before she gets put to sleep.

Long story not so short: I discovered she'd given birth in the back yard of a vacant house Christmas Eve. She was very protective of the pups and wouldn't let anyone into the back yard. She was in horrible shape, just skin and bones, nursing 8 pups. I was determined to save her and the pups - and get them into a no kill shelter. I fed her several times a day, even taking time to give her treats trying to earn her trust. But before I was able to collar her, my neighbor called animal control. They came took her and left the pups (they were ready to be weaned) My neighbor took the pups and they are now in a no kill shelter. But the mom is still in animal control's care. I knew that if she continued to be aggressive she'd be put to sleep. I was hoping that once the kids were out of the pic - she'd calm down. I'd hoped to adopted her (which would cost me about $50) and take to SPCA (No-kill)

But I spent the afternoon on the phone with the Animal shelter and they are telling me that she's not adoptable because she's "too submissive" WTH?? They won't adopt her to me, but they will "give" her to me. But the catch is I have to have a letter from a vet that I've made arrangements for all of her medical needs handled immediately. Which between shots, nuetering heartworm testing etc will run $300 .... which I don't have. Now obviously all these things need to be done, if not by a rescue group, then I'll need do them. But I can get done cheaper piecemeal (mobile vet, SPCA etc.) But they won't allow me to do it that way. They insist that I bring them this letter and they will deliver the dog to the vet themselves. The only other alternative is to have a rescue group pull her. But I've been calling rescue groups since the day after Christmas and no one wants to help. Does anyone in here have any connections with rescue groups in the Dallas area?? Or any suggestions? I've got until tomorrow or they will be putting her to sleep.

This dog has had a hard life, but she's a beautiful dog, with a big heart - it's killing me that she's going to be put to sleep because the one person that cares doesn't have the money to help.

Please any advice or prayers will be appreciated. TIA

 

[Linzybrooke]

Here is my advice.

Are you willing to keep her? Or do you just want to turn her over to another facility? If you are willing to keep her then you can sign her up through a PetSmart that has a Banfield Pet Hospital for a program. The program is great because you pay an initial fee which I think is about 150.00 then you pay monthly, our plan is 29.99 a month, and besides that only have to pay for any necessary medication like Heartguard. My husband and I love the service and the monthly payments. It also sets the animal up for a long and healthy life.

If you aren't going to keep her then I would contact the Humane Society and see if they can do anything. And contrary to popular belief the SPCA is not necessarily a no-kill organization...just last year an SPCA branch in Texas that had seized a bunch of dogs from one location euthenized those they deemed unadoptable. They do their best not to have to do that but there are situations where they have to in order to make room for adoptable dogs since they house them onsite. The Humane Society fosters dogs so they are able to be non-kill.

You might also consult www.dogsdeservebetter.org They deal with chained animals but might be able to offer some advice.

 

[Linzybrooke]

Hey, I just caught the Dallas piece. I'm PMing you a name.

 

[dreamcometrue]

can you work out a payment plan with your vet?

 

[munchkin bunchkin]

Good luck! Every animal deserves a descent life! Keep us posted!!

 

[heart4pooh]

Call around to different vets. My vet would write and fax a letter with no problem and then work out a payment plan or help you find other avenues. Vets are wonderful people. He wouldn't want an animal put down that someone wanted to save.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Under the circumstances (which seem ), I'd probably just Visa it and worry about it paying it later. Let us know how you made out, I hope the dog was spared. I'm shocked they separated her from her pups, poor baby.

 

[minechuchie]

Any updates on the dog? This is very sad....someone dumped a puppy in my neighbors back yard last August, she was a tough nut to crack but we took her in. Good Luck.

 

[jillyjoey]

I am praying too that it works out. We adopted a rescue dog - her name is Hope (how appropriate huh - the shelter named her) -- she is just a big ole love dog -- every day she looks at us and she seems to say thank you. Our 2 little bought doggies with papers don't. Go figure! Good Luck

 

[KikiFan]

Thanks everyone for all the reponses. Unfortunately this didn't end well. Partly because of the shelter and in the end because of the dog herself.


Because the shelter wasn't going to put her up for adoption the only way they would let me have her, was to do a "citizen waiver" Meaning that I would have to pay for or at least arrange for all her medical care prior to them releasing her. I didn't have the money, but a friend stepped up and offered to arrange things with a vet she'd used for years. Unfortunately the vet was in the wrong county and the Dallas county didn't want to release the dog there. It was just a ridiculous situation. It really is shameful how difficult they make it too save a dog. I do think that we might have found an alternative solution, eventually.

But the real problem came when they finally let me in to see her. She really had changed from an overly protective mom to a lethargic submissive dog. She lay on the floor not responding to me in anyway. I figured that it was depression and it would be better once she got out of the kennel. But after I spent 30 minutes outside her cage trying to get her attention, I slipped my hand inside (totally against the rules) and she snapped at me. I realized at that point that she might not really be adoptable. My landlord had already squashed my plan of keeping her myself. Though he was a good enough sport to lie to the shelter so I could get her out - he made me promise that I wouldn't bring her to the house. Which meant that my friend was going to be stuck with her until we found the dog a home.

In the end I just wasn't comfortable with the notion that I was going to try to adopt out a dog that had tried to bite me three times. I don't know how long she'd been a stray before I found her or what her temperment really was going to be. But I finally had to realize she'd never had any interest in people outside of the food they gave her. All my feelings for her came from watching her interact with her pups. Walking away from her was the most difficult thing I've ever done. And I guess some people will second guess me, I've been doing it for the last two days. But in the end I just wasn't convinced that she would ever belong to anyone, there wasn't a social bone in her body, and I wasn't sure I'd ever trust her. So she was put to sleep yesterday afternoon.

If there was one good thing that came out of this horrible situation, I've decided to get more involved in animal rescue. I'm not totally sure how, I just know that the way it is now really sucks. Most of the rescue groups I dealt with were rude and uncaring, the city was bogged down in red tape, and the dogs needs weren't really being met. I'm not sure what I want to do yet but something, I can't let her death be meaningless.

Anyway thanks again for the support and advice

 

[Muushka]

No second guesses from this animal lover. I adopted a dog that was pregnant and we did not know it until the pups were born. Prior to the birth the dog was not that social, after the pups were born she was just plain mean.
Sadly, we brought her to the Humane Society after she tried to bite us a couple of times.

But all the pups were adopted and we kept one for ourselves. Having a dog that will bite is not something that I would do or expect anyone to do. You did the right thing. And what a tender heart! Good luck with the animal rescue. There are some great organizations out there.

 

[munchkin bunchkin]

Thanks everyone for all the reponses. Unfortunately this didn't end well. Partly because of the shelter and in the end because of the dog herself.


Because the shelter wasn't going to put her up for adoption the only way they would let me have her, was to do a "citizen waiver" Meaning that I would have to pay for or at least arrange for all her medical care prior to them releasing her. I didn't have the money, but a friend stepped up and offered to arrange things with a vet she'd used for years. Unfortunately the vet was in the wrong county and the Dallas county didn't want to release the dog there. It was just a ridiculous situation. It really is shameful how difficult they make it too save a dog. I do think that we might have found an alternative solution, eventually.

But the real problem came when they finally let me in to see her. She really had changed from an overly protective mom to a lethargic submissive dog. She lay on the floor not responding to me in anyway. I figured that it was depression and it would be better once she got out of the kennel. But after I spent 30 minutes outside her cage trying to get her attention, I slipped my hand inside (totally against the rules) and she snapped at me. I realized at that point that she might not really be adoptable. My landlord had already squashed my plan of keeping her myself. Though he was a good enough sport to lie to the shelter so I could get her out - he made me promise that I wouldn't bring her to the house. Which meant that my friend was going to be stuck with her until we found the dog a home.

In the end I just wasn't comfortable with the notion that I was going to try to adopt out a dog that had tried to bite me three times. I don't know how long she'd been a stray before I found her or what her temperment really was going to be. But I finally had to realize she'd never had any interest in people outside of the food they gave her. All my feelings for her came from watching her interact with her pups. Walking away from her was the most difficult thing I've ever done. And I guess some people will second guess me, I've been doing it for the last two days. But in the end I just wasn't convinced that she would ever belong to anyone, there wasn't a social bone in her body, and I wasn't sure I'd ever trust her. So she was put to sleep yesterday afternoon.

If there was one good thing that came out of this horrible situation, I've decided to get more involved in animal rescue. I'm not totally sure how, I just know that the way it is now really sucks. Most of the rescue groups I dealt with were rude and uncaring, the city was bogged down in red tape, and the dogs needs weren't really being met. I'm not sure what I want to do yet but something, I can't let her death be meaningless.

Anyway thanks again for the support and advice

So sorry to hear things didn't work out .Who knows- maybe her previous"owner" may have beaten her and that along with being taken away from her pups may have contributed to her agressiveness.

 

[Goofyluver]

I was so sad when I read your story. But, I think it's wonderful that you tried to help at all. You went above and beyond what most people would have done. I'm trying to rescue a dog now. I want to rescue one that really needs me. Reading your story made me realize what important work this is.

 

[damo]

Thank you for trying to help. You did everything you could do.

 

[mickeysgal]

Thanks for trying. I'm sorry it didn't work out for both you and the dog.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

She may never have belonged to anyone. I believe your efforts were not in vain, and I'm sorry it didn't work out. I hope you keep us updated on the puppies as well as your animal rescue efforts.

If it's any consolation, something similar happened to me after I rescued a young dog living under a dumster. Long story short, she went after my DH and then my neighbor and her two children in a very viscious way that surprised the heck out of me. We had to send her back to the shelter and I was honest about why. Last I heard a boy who worked there was thinking about taking her home, but I can't imagne with her personality that they would have allowed that to happen. I found out from Animal Control they suspected homeless people in the area she was found were rewarding her with food for "protecting" them by acting aggressively. Very sad.

 

[Linzybrooke]

Kikifan,

I don't know where in the area you live but I would be willing to help you out with getting more involved in Animal Rescue. Its something I have always wanted to do...

Just think...Plutos Pals!