How much farther would you take this? Update pg. 2

[KiminChicago]

My DH and I had told the kids that we would get a dog this summer. They're old enough now to help out with the cats so we feel that adding a dog wouldn't be too difficult. On Sunday we went out to dinner with MIL, FIL and BIL. After the meal my BIL mentions that he found a dog wandering in his neighborhood, and since he knew we were looking for a dog, he asked if we wanted it. It has a city dog tag and a county rabies tag, so I said that we had to make a sincere effort to find out if someone was looking for the dog first.

Well, my BIL and I both called the county office number from the rabies tag and found out that the rabies shot was given by animal control, so we figure the dog must have been in a pound at one time. The city dog tag expired at the end of February, so this dog could have been a stray for a couple months. I've called a couple of vets near BIL's house and no one has reported a missing dog. My last thought is to see if the dog has been micro-chipped, but if not, have I made enough of an effort to find the owner? My BIL and I have both called the city and county offices a couple of times, and no one seems to be able to tell us how to find the owner. I'm tired of getting the run-around and, to be perfectly honest, this dog seems perfect for us.

 

[piglet too]

This is just me, but I would worry about its temperment. I know that the shelters around here check to make sure the dog is "nice" before allowing it to be adopted out. I applaud you for wanting to rescue this dog, but I would not do it. Go to a shelter or through a breeds rescue group to be a little on the safer side.

 

[mickeyboat]

Have you put an ad in the paper's lost and found section? Some papers will put them in for free. Maybe put up a couple of signs around where he was found. I would hate for the true owners to find him some day and break your family's heart because they wanted him back.

Denae

 

[KiminChicago]

I guess I should have added that my BIL already has a dalmatian and 3 cats, and he's had the dog for a week with no signs of aggression. I don't know how much more checking a rescue group or a shelter would do. We do intend to get a crate for him and we won't leave him alone with the kids until we're sure we can trust him.

mickeyboat -- that's my fear too, that we would someday find the dog's original owners and feel compelled to give him up. Although, the odds of that are slight since we live so far from BIL's house.....

 

[CRSNDSNY]

If I were you I'd get a temperment test done before you commit.

 

[MICKEY88]

I would post flyers in the area where the dog was found, some child might be heartbroken at the loss of their dog..

 

[Melora]

I think putting up some signs and checking to see if ts been mirco chipped would a good way to see if someone is looking for him.

It is possible, but I probably wouldnt do it if I really wanted to keep the dog, to take it to the shelter and let him stay there for a week. Out here by us, you can tell the shelter that YOU want him if no one claims him. They call it First Rights, but I would worry about anything he might be exposed to there. You can also try putting signs AT the shelter, that way if someone was coming to the shelter to look they would see your sign and you wouldnt have to leave him there.

I think he will probably be fine. Especially if hes been OK with other dogs and cats. Even the best dogs who have been deemed kid friendly and safe can have a bad day and snap or bite so getting a test may not always find a problem.

 

[AMClvsMKY]

That is almost the same way that we got our first shepard. He was picked up by the villages animal control and was kept at the police dept for a certain amount of time ( I don't remember how long their requirement was). ANyway, he turned out to be one of the best dogs we ever had.

Good Luck!!

 

[KristiKelly]

I would go to a vet to see if the dog is microchipped. I would put an ad in the paper & maybe some flyers out, give it a couple of weeks. If no one claims the dog, I would then take it to a vet to have it checked out thoroughly. A vet should be able to get an idea of the dogs temperment. I would also use your judgement as the best source for determining this dog's temperment. The workers at our local animal shelter don't really seem to care or know to much about that (no offense if any of you are in that field, I'm referring to the one in our town) - when my mom lost her Dalmatian, she called the shelter to see if they'd picked up a Dalmatian and they said "can you describe it?" She said "Yes, he's white w/ black spots." they said "nope, we haven't seen one." You'd think they would know if they had a Dalmatian or not, I don't feel as though they're very reliable (I'm not referring to humane society, but actual animal control). Also, see how the dog acts around you & your husband with food around, will he let you take his bowl away without feeling threatened? Our puppy is 6 monthes old and at least once a week, I get down in her face while she's eating or chewing a bone, I take her food away & give it back, just to let her know that I am in charge - not her. Good Luck!!!

 

[Disney Doll]

I do the microchip and newspaper thing for a week, and if there's no response, I'd say the dog is yours.

 

[peg2001]

Congrats on your new dog. We obtained our late german shepard as a stray that just wandered into our yard. She did not have collar or tags and was thin and missing half her fur. She ended up being the sweetest animal on the face of the earth.

About a year after she wandered up, a car pulled into our driveway and an elderly lady got out and asked to see our dog. The dog was quite distinctive because of a single crumpled ear from an old untreated infection. The lady petted the dog, calling her by name, and commenting on how good she looked. As she got back into her car, she said, "I'm not going to tell my son where his dog is. You are obviously taking better care of her."

Peggy

 

[Feralpeg]

There is a lost dog registry in our area. I've found dogs before and called there to find the owner. Do you have such a thing in your area? If not, sounds like you have done what you could.

 

[ilovepcot]

Makes me feel sad, sad, SAD!!! for the dog that you aren't seeing flyers and a "lost and found" newspaper notice about him. Causes me to question whether he is LOVED and WANTED. If the dog made my children and me happy, I'd definitely keep him and love him to the end of his days.

 

[C.Ann]

This is interesting because we once had an experience with a "found dog" - except in our case, the dog "found" my son (who was only 5 or 6 at the time) and absolutely REFUSED to leave his side! A week or so later, a man showed up at our dog looking for his lost dog and sure enough, it was "Gumby" (that's what my son decided to call him).. The man was a saint though.. When he saw how attached the dog was to my son and vice versa, he told us that we could keep him..

My son would have been absolutely CRUSHED if that man took his dog back - and I'm sure that gentleman was the exception to the rule - so I would be very careful about allowing yourself and your children to become attached to this dog until you have exhausted every possible avenue in an attempt to locate the owners..

 

[DMRick]

In NY, whoever gave the rabies shot has to have a record of the number on it. Try calling whoever gave the rabies shot and give them the number. They should be able to tell you whot he dog belongs to. It's possible it's owners moved and the dog took a hike tryign ot come home..to the wrong house. I would be sick thinking my dog was out there somewhere and had no idea where. The owners may not even live in your area..they could have been visiting, camping or any other number of reasons why the dog was straying.

 

[hometech99]

careful.

my DW and DS got attached to this dog from the pound and I stupidly said yes to bring it home.

It did ok with my DW and DSs.

We had a half-walled courtyard outside and the dog was in it. My eldest DS and his friends were crawling on the top of the wall and the dog went haywire.
from then on, for weeks, ANY young boy that came to the house was growled at .

back it went.

some kids at sometime must have abused this dog.

 

[disdreams]

Have you put an ad in the paper's lost and found section? Some papers will put them in for free. Maybe put up a couple of signs around where he was found. I would hate for the true owners to find him some day and break your family's heart because they wanted him back.

I would post flyers in the area where the dog was found, some child might be heartbroken at the loss of their dog..

I agree with these posts. Good luck

 

[Rajah]

I agree -- in addition to checking the microchipping, I'd post fliers and an ad in the paper. If no one's claimed him in a week or two, he's yours.

 

[Pete's Mom]

I think you've done enough. If the dog has been wandering around for months and has been in the pound before, chances are that even if you do find the owner, the dog is just going to end up there again.

Just curious though - Has the dog been spayed or neutered?

 

[Keli]

I would take it fairly far for two reasons:
1. If the original owner showed up I know that I would give the dog back to them and if this happened six months down the road I and my family would be pretty torn up to have to give up the dog.
2. Because if it was my dog that was lost I would appreciate all efforts made to reunite us before someone adopted him for themselves...

All in all, I say make a concerted effort to find the original owners for two weeks, check for a microchip, put a lost and found ad in the paper, post a flyer at animal control if possible, and post some flyers around the area the pet was found. If you get no results then you've done your best and it's time to make the dog a part of your family IMHO.