Found a puppy - update- post 1 - new owners decide not to take her

[escape]

I saw a little dachshund mix puppy following the mailman the other day. He said that the puppy started following him about a block earlier. The mailman was worried that the puppy might get hit as she kept running in the road unaware of the oncoming cars.

I decided to help the mailman out so I put the puppy in my fenced-in backyard. I then went around to various neighbors to see if I could find the owners. When that failed, I put up signs around the neighborhood and I am running an ad in the local paper. In addition, I've called various vets and the animal shelter to alert them of this found dog.

This little puppy is so sweet and friendly. I wish I could keep her but I can't right now. However, we have found a loving family that would love to adopt her. Here are my questions - what more can I do to find the owners? How long should I wait until I give this puppy to the new owners?

Obviously, I want to do the right thing but I also don't want to become too attached to her. She is such a sweetheart!

Any advice?

Edited 2/26/06 - New owners decide not to take her. The wife decided she wasn't up to taking care of 2 dogs. I'm so upset. I don't know what to do now. I can't keep her at this time and I don't want to take her to the animal shelter if the owners don't claim her. After this week, I'll try to find her a new home but I thought we had already found the perfect family for her. I just want her to have a good life with kids she can play with - she deserves that much.

 

[ugadog99]

I would only wait a few more days. It sounds like you are doing all you can to find the owner. You are so sweet to take the puppy in and find it a good home!

 

[sweet angel]

I would say maybe let the other family take her with the understanding that if the owners are found, they'll have to give her back. Kind of like foster parents.

 

[escape]

Thanks for responding.

A neighbor of mine just told me a horrifying story. I told her about this little puppy and she said she saw some man beating on a puppy the other day...about 2 blocks from me. She was driving down the road in front of this man's house and saw him "spanking" on a little black puppy and the puppy kept yelping. She said if she hadn't been in a hurry to get to where she was going, she would have stopped and scolded the man. She said it sounds like the puppy I have. Now, I'm not saying that this is the puppy. I don't know. I do notice that when I reach down to pet her, she looks worried and shrinks down until I pet her a few times and then she seems okay.

If this is the owner, I don't know that I want him to find her.

 

[sweet angel]

Maybe he just let her go?

 

[luvmydogs]

Could she be microchipped? Most vets/animal shelters will scan her to see of she's chipped for free. In my 14 years of shelter experience, though, if the owner didn't chip her or ID tag her and you've already given the owner time to respond to your ad and signs, then you've done *everything* you can and she's up for a new good home (especially if there's an inkling of abuse).

You've been very, very kind to her.

 

[luvwinnie]

I'm sorry, but I am so upset that your neighbor was in too much of a hurry to help that poor pup! I would have called the ASPCA or SOMEONE.

Bless you for helping this poor pup. They obviously aren't looking too hard for him!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

First off, I don't think I could have slept that night had I not reported that man for beating that dog - ANY dog.

Second, bless you for taking the little thing in. I can't stand to see strays. Especially near a street.

As OP said, I would take the puppy to a vet to see if it's microchipped. I had my dog chipped as soon as I purchased her.

I wouldn't have an issue letting the friend take in the puppy, but only with the understanding that it be given up if the original owners came back into the picture. Maybe an inexpensive newspaper ad can be run for a week?

 

[escape]

Unfortunately, microchipping is not available in our area. The house I'm in now is not in the best of neighborhoods and I would suspect that the owner, if from this area, did not have this done. They would have had to take the dog 2 hours away to do this. I wanted to get chips for my cats but my vet told me that no one in the area has equipment to implant or scan the chips.

I took little puppy to my vet yesterday just to make sure she's okay and the vet gave her some medicine for worms. We also bought some puppy food from the vet so I know she's getting fed well.

First off, I don't think I could have slept that night had I not reported that man for beating that dog - ANY dog.

I was a little shocked when I heard this story. This neighbor is basically a good person, I just don't think she was thinking clearly. She's not much of an animal person but abuse is abuse. Hopefully, this is the same puppy because she is no longer being abused.

Thanks all for responding. Hopefully, we can get this adorable little puppy into a permanent loving home soon.

Edited to add: I did put an ad in the paper yesterday. It is supposed to run through next Wednesday.

 

[luvmydogs]

Unfortunately, microchipping is not available in our area. The house I'm in now is not in the best of neighborhoods and I would suspect that the owner, if from this area, did not have this done. They would have had to take the dog 2 hours away to do this. I wanted to get chips for my cats but my vet told me that no one in the area has equipment to implant or scan the chips.

I took little puppy to my vet yesterday just to make sure she's okay and the vet gave her some medicine for worms. We also bought some puppy food from the vet so I know she's getting fed well.

I was a little shocked when I heard this story. This neighbor is basically a good person, I just don't think she was thinking clearly. She's not much of an animal person but abuse is abuse. Hopefully, this is the same puppy because she is no longer being abused.

Thanks all for responding. Hopefully, we can get this adorable little puppy into a permanent loving home soon.

Edited to add: I did put an ad in the paper yesterday. It is supposed to run through next Wednesday.

In light of everything you've said, I think you've gone above and beyond. I know if one of my dogs were missing, I'd do everything and anything to try and find her--signs, calling shelters, respnding to ads, putting in my own ad, you name it (and many loving owners do--like I said, I've volunteered at shelters for 14 years, and people do whatever they can to get their pets back)... If this owner doesn't care enough to properly ID or look for the pup when it's missing, I think you've got every right to find the sweetie a new home.

Thanks for caring about her so much.

 

[christineann]

We found a hunting dog out in the country who appeared to have been beaten. He had a tag, so we called the number to check it out, and the man who answered the phone said he didn't want the dog back. He called back (via caller ID) the next day and said he had changed his mind, so we told him the dog had run off. Actually, we gave him to a friend who had several hunting dogs which were treated very very well. He still has the dog and says he's one of the nicest dogs he's ever had. I'm so glad you have taken the pup in.

 

[Hannathy]

Tell your friend next time to at least lay on the horn. Sometimes just letting someone know that someone is watching is enough to make them stop, it is also from the safety of your car in case the person is crazy and mean.

 

[jedi_librarian]

Unfortunately, microchipping is not available in our area. The house I'm in now is not in the best of neighborhoods and I would suspect that the owner, if from this area, did not have this done. They would have had to take the dog 2 hours away to do this. I wanted to get chips for my cats but my vet told me that no one in the area has equipment to implant or scan the chips.

I took little puppy to my vet yesterday just to make sure she's okay and the vet gave her some medicine for worms. We also bought some puppy food from the vet so I know she's getting fed well.


I was a little shocked when I heard this story. This neighbor is basically a good person, I just don't think she was thinking clearly. She's not much of an animal person but abuse is abuse. Hopefully, this is the same puppy because she is no longer being abused.

Thanks all for responding. Hopefully, we can get this adorable little puppy into a permanent loving home soon.

Edited to add: I did put an ad in the paper yesterday. It is supposed to run through next Wednesday.

What you're doing is wonderful. Thank God for people like you!

 

[Magickndm]

Have you put anything in your paper? I know here that if you post a "Found" there is no charge.
I had a dog who got out and ran away and some wonderful soul posted in the paper when she found her.
I laughed about this later...my ad said:
Lost Dog
Brown mixed breed, wearing red collar

Right below my ad was:
Found Dog
Brown Mixed wearing red collar.
I was one happy person.

edited to say duh....I didn't see you say you have posted it in the paper.
I think it's wonderful you are doing so much.

 

[HOGFAN]

i wouldnt be too alarmed about the dog "shrinking away" from you. we have had our mini weiner dog since she was 6 weeks old (she is now 7 years old)and she still shrinks when we are reaching down to pet her. I think its just a response to being "littler" than anybody else.

 

[DLBDS]

I read your other post about the abusive neighbor two block away and had to reply before reading any further. If it were me, I would give the dog to the nice people and take down/cancel any notices about the dog. If the abusive neighbor isn't the dog's owner then the real owner has been proven unfit. If they were trying to find their dog they would have seen your notices and come right away. I say, you've done your best and it's time to place the poor pup. Ypu may want to ask the new owners some questions though to make sure they're responsible (do you have a fenced yard? can you afford regular vet visits? blah blah blah). Good luck. I'll read the rest of the posts now.....

 

[VSL]

i wouldnt be too alarmed about the dog "shrinking away" from you. we have had our mini weiner dog since she was 6 weeks old (she is now 7 years old)and she still shrinks when we are reaching down to pet her. I think its just a response to being "littler" than anybody else.

Aww, you made it sound so cute!
'Littler'!

 

[escape]

i wouldnt be too alarmed about the dog "shrinking away" from you. we have had our mini weiner dog since she was 6 weeks old (she is now 7 years old)and she still shrinks when we are reaching down to pet her. I think its just a response to being "littler" than anybody else.

At first I thought it might be because she didn't know me very well and this is probably the reason. It's just when when my neighbor told me about the abuse scene she witnessed, I started wondering. This may not even be the dog she witnessed.

Thanks to all for your advice and encouragement. I don't know that I'm doing anything differently than what most people would do. Just mainly trying to keep the puppy safe and find the owner. The good news is that if the owner is not found, there is a wonderful home waiting for her -- complete with another puppy and 2 pre-teen kids for her to play with. These people actually live in the neighborhood that we are moving into so I'll get to see her every now and then. Waaaahhhhh. I'm becomng attached. (She'll be better off in her new home.)

 

[escape]

I read your other post about the abusive neighbor two block away and had to reply before reading any further. If it were me, I would give the dog to the nice people and take down/cancel any notices about the dog. If the abusive neighbor isn't the dog's owner then the real owner has been proven unfit. If they were trying to find their dog they would have seen your notices and come right away. I say, you've done your best and it's time to place the poor pup. Ypu may want to ask the new owners some questions though to make sure they're responsible (do you have a fenced yard? can you afford regular vet visits? blah blah blah). Good luck. I'll read the rest of the posts now.....

Not to worry, you couldn't ask for better people. My DH, who works with the husband, says he and his wife (who used to work with DH), are two of the nicest people around. They do have a fenced-in backyard. They wanted another puppy to be a companion to the puppy they already have while the family is away at work and school. I think she'll be in good hands.

 

[luvmydogs]

Tummyrubs to the little pup. Keep us posted, OK?