Regarding your two dogs that I found...

[Slippy]

To the Ke--- family,

I am glad that you were able to have a happy reunion this morning. You are very lucky to have your two babies back, safe and sound. Please carefully read this email, and realize that while I may come off as a bit "preachy" or perhaps even condescending, I mean no ill-will. From my perspective, I am only saying what I feel needs to be said for the safety and security of Su---- and M----.

You said two things that, frankly, angered me:
1) "The dogs were last seen Feb. 1 around noon." The dogs have been in my care since mid-day January 31. With all the wet snow on the ground and freezing weather, how could you possibly not know they were missing Sunday night?
2) "The last time they got out they showed up in Reverdy." They've gotten away from you before, and they STILL don't have any identification on them?

PLEASE grab a Sharpie this very minute, and write your phone number on the collars of both your dogs! Then, think about what other ways you might like to ID your pets, such as microchipping. Here is what went into reuniting you with your pets. Most of this could have been very easily avoided:
• we saw them in the neighborhood unattended, lured them with treats, and roped them to a tree
• immediately looked for ID on their collars, got them food and water. They devoured the food, and were given more
• I started checking for lost animal ads online (craigslist, petfinder)
• I placed ads on Craigslist under "pets" and "lost and found"
• I posted a FOUND sign on Hugh Forest Dr.
• I took one of them ("Pepper") to the 24-hour emergency vet, located 1500 feet from the entrance of your neighborhood, to be checked for a microchip. Obviously, they didn't find one, nor had they been notified of 2 missing golden retrievers.
• I drove all through Providence Plantation, Hembstead, Beverly Crest, St Georges Place, Huntington, and Reverdy looking for "lost dog" signs
• They had a nice night, relaxing in front of the fire, before piling in bed with the rest of us
• I called the Char. Meck Animal Care and Control (a/k/a "dog pound") and left a full description of the puppies
• I placed an ad on Petfinder
• I placed a lost and found ad with the Charlotte Observer (print and online)

• I bought sign-making supplies, and put up 17 day-glow poster board signs along Providence, 51, Sardis, Alexander, Monroe, Fullwood, and both entrances to Raintree in the morning, plus another several 11x17 signs at the entrances to Beverly Crest, Hembstead, the business park at the Arboretum

• I called the vets in the immediate area, including the one at Plantation Market, a stone's throw from where you live
• I posted a notice on Facebook that I had found them
• I diligently checked craigslist and the newspaper looking for a LOST ad, and my email, hoping to find you
• The puppies have another warm, fun night inside, playing with us and our Sheltie, but they are certainly missing you
• Today, WE ARE NOW ON DAY THREE, you place an ad on craigslist, but do not look to see if "found" ads are placed
• A little later, a nice lady sees the LOST ad on craigslist, and the FOUND ad on petfinder, which gets you in touch with me

I believe that the efforts that I and others put in to helping you get your pets back gives me clear right to "lecture" you on a couple of things, that I hope you take to heart:

First, know where your "babies" are. It is clearly unacceptable and irresponsible to have not known that they were not safe on Sunday afternoon, much less Saturday night, when the temperature was only 18° WITH SNOW ON THE GROUND AND MORE COMING DOWN.

Second, bring your dogs in when the weather is so bad! It seems clear that you did not intend to bring your dogs inside on such a cold night. If you were going to, you would have realized they were missing. Unless you have a heated or very well insulated dog house, this is irresponsible behavior.

Next, should they get out again, pull out all the stops to try to find them quickly. With a modicum of effort yesterday, you would have been reunited with your pets. Either calling the closest vet, driving a block outside of your neighborhood, checking the FOUND ads on craigslist or petfinder would have gotten you in touch with me a day earlier. There are a lot of cars on very big roads around here, and those were 24 perilous hours, for all you knew. You are damn lucky that these dogs are still alive and not coloring the snowy gutters a crimson hue.

Lastly, go get some identification on them. Have them microchipped or tattooed at Plantation Animal Clinic by the Harris Teeter. It is CHEAP, and will help them to get back to you in the terrible event that they get loose again.

On the positive side, it was nice to see that they had both been spayed. Had they not, you'd be having 2 litters of puppies soon.

If you disagree with anything I have said, please let me know. If you are for any reason currently unable to provide these precious puppies with the care they need, I will be glad to get them in the hands of a family who will. Do know that if I find these sweeties again, without identification on them, your children will be heartbroken, as they will not see them ever again.

Now that I have spoken my peace, I am going to drive along the aforementioned streets, taking down the signs I erected on your behalf.

With the best of intentions,

ST

 

[Tarheel Tink]

I hope that if anything ever causes my tagged and microchipped dogs to escape our fenced yard (the short time they choose to be in it compared to inside,lol) that a wonderful person like yourself will care for them as I am sobbing and hysterically searching for them. How could the person even sleep knowing that they were gone, much less in this weather?!

 

[dakcp2001]

If my kitties ever get lost, I hope someone like you finds them!

 

[SC Minnie]

I know exactly the area you are talking about. It has a lot of traffic. These people are lucky their dogs are home safe and someone like you went above and beyond to help them get home.

 

[dis-happy]

You are a wonderful person! We live not too far away from you and honestly, our yard seems to be the neighborhood mecca for lost dogs. I can't even tell you how many times I've had to try and find an owner. Thankfully my neighbor is a pet sitter and is pretty good at giving me clues. I wish people would do a better job keeping their dogs in their yards!!!

Hope you at least rec'd a lot of heart felt thank you's from them.

 

[nuke]

Did you actually say any of this to the owners when they picked up the dogs?

How do you know they didn't do any of the things you are preaching to them about?

And what exactly do you mean by this?

Do know that if I find these sweeties again, without identification on them, your children will be heartbroken, as they will not see them ever again.

That's just creepy.

 

[phorsenuf]

A little over the top if you ask me. Comes off pretty self righteous. You don't know what they may have done to find the dogs.
Maybe they had to work, or go out of town and couldn't do something right away. I'm sure they were upset over losing their dogs. No need to rub salt into the wounds.

 

[Slippy]

That's just creepy.

You put it that way, and, yes, it does sound a little creepy. I actually edited that line to make it LESS harsh... something about better to never see them again than to see them strewn across the highway. What I mean by that is if I see the dogs again, they will go into "protective custody" either with me, or someone who I can trust to be a good family. It clearly doesn't mean that I would send them to Puppy Heaven, if that is what you were thinking!

To answer your questions, though...

• yes, I politely said what I could think of regarding identification on them. I gave the husband a pretty good tongue-lashing, though I was so taken aback by their lack of excitement/joy in being reunited, and his comment that this had happened before.
• They clearly hadn't tattooed, micro-chipped, or tagged the dogs.
• They HAD left the dogs out in the cold, since they didn't even know they were gone.

I sent them this email, and hopefully they will learn from this experience and take better care of their babies.

 

[Minnie_me]

Wow, you must have a lot of time on your hands!

I would have called the Dog Warden and bid the puppies farewell. In fact, I have done that on many occasions, never knowing if the dogs in question ever find their way home.

Not my problem.

Yes, preachy. Yes, self-righteous. Yes, a little creepy at the end.

 

[Slippy]

A little over the top if you ask me. Comes off pretty self righteous. You don't know what they may have done to find the dogs.
Maybe they had to work, or go out of town and couldn't do something right away. I'm sure they were upset over losing their dogs. No need to rub salt into the wounds.

I asked what they had done to call the dogs. They claimed to have called the local shelter. They hadn't, since I had already left a report with them, and called a second time to verify that it was "active." They DID place an ad on Craigslist today... a full 2 days after I had the dogs in a safe place.

They clearly were not upset enough the LAST time they lost their dogs, since they did not put any identification on them.

Over the top? Maybe. Did I make my point to them, and give them something they'll never forget? Definitely.

 

[Slippy]

I would have called the Dog Warden and bid the puppies farewell. In fact, I have done that on many occasions, never knowing if the dogs in question ever find their way home.

Wow. I hope you are in a very small minority.

 

[phorsenuf]

I asked what they had done to call the dogs. They claimed to have called the local shelter. They hadn't, since I had already left a report with them, and called a second time to verify that it was "active." They DID place an ad on Craigslist today... a full 2 days after I had the dogs in a safe place.

They clearly were not upset enough the LAST time they lost their dogs, since they did not put any identification on them.

Over the top? Maybe. Did I make my point to them, and give them something they'll never forget? Definitely.

My guess is as soon as you started giving them their "tongue lashing" they would say anything so they could just get their dogs and get the heck out of there.

 

[disykat]

My dog is my baby and I also hope someone as caring as the OP finds her if she ever gets out. Hopefully I've made it easier because she wears ID and is microchipped, but she can still lecture me. I'd gladly listen because I already would have been telling myself worse and praying that someone would help her!

I have also rescued dogs only to find out the owners didn't have any problem with them wandering loose far from home. Very disturbing.

 

[Jockaroo]

To Slippy:

I'm not sure what you wish to accomplish with your rather lengthy post (which I did read). A vent about poor pet-owners? A pat on the back for your perceived over-and-aboard kindness? Some other reason?

However, this is just a friendly post from a fellow animal lover--YOU ARE REVEALING WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND LOCATION ON A VERY PUBLIC FORUM. Just as there are very bad pet owners, there are very bad people. People stalk various forums. I strongly encourage you to remove some of the street names, store names and subdivisions you have superfluously added to this post--it isn't needed to get your point across. This is said in kindness and not a slam against you. Protect your privacy and identity.

And I am glad you were able to reunite these dogs with their family. You did basically what any animal lover would have done.

 

[Minnie_me]

Wow. I hope you are in a very small minority.

WHY? It's the dog warden's job, not mine! He will do the necessary footwork to find the dogs' owners, and get paid for it. He doesn't kill them, for God's sake.

 

[solotraveler]

My guess is as soon as you started giving them their "tongue lashing" they would say anything so they could just get their dogs and get the heck out of there.

To the OP: Do you really intend on lecturing complete strangers whose situation you don't know?? In that tone??

Unless you are expecting a cash reward or a nomination for an award recognizing your civic valour, save yourself the stamp.

These people just almost lost their dogs... the last thing they need is someone being preachy and condescending to them...

 

[kathie859]

WHY? It's the dog warden's job, not mine! He will do the necessary footwork to find the dogs' owners, and get paid for it. He doesn't kill them, for God's sake.

Minnie_me, I'm with you. The warden has the tools necessary to quickly locate missing owners They can easily check for a chip or tatoo or ID on the collar AND provide a safe environment until the missing owners pick up the phone and call the pound.

I'm a dog lover but would never bring a stray (even an obviously well groomed, well behaved stray) into my home. ESPECIALLY with no ID visible. The dog may not have up to date shots or some oddball behavior issue that may not be obvious on the first blush.

 

[overlyspoiled4sure]

I understood, OP, your intention by saying the original owners would never see their dogs again because YOU'd keep them or else find another home if by some chance you'd find them running loose. I fully expect that to happen & hopefully YOU will be the person who finds them. Hopefully your message got through to them & they'll be more responsible.

Geeze, I don't understand the mentality of some pet owners. Former neighbors of ours had a lovely German shepard pup; poor thing was kept outside 24/7 no matter what the temp or weather (I'm in WI). No shelter whatsoever unless he got tied to something in an open garage. Usually he was chained to a tree outside which did offer some shade in the summer I suppose. In the winter he had to walk around on ice/snow or frozen dirt. Geeze! Then the poor thing barked constantly because he was lonely. He didn't bark at us because he knew we belonged next door but let anyone else come near, look out! He barked & barked & barked! Barking was hard to hear in the summer, because he'd hear his "owners" inside talking & laughing & having a good time. I was sooo glad when they moved.

Cats also shouldn't be running free. They can be hit by cars too. Then in the winter there's the chance they could get poisoned by anti-freeze puddles. Not a good way to die IMO.

I guess we'll stay pet-free. I'd love to have cats again but with retirement coming I'm not sure we could afford the proper care.

 

[bballmom56]

This happened at the farm I work on just a few weeks ago. 2 beautiful, well fed, friendly lab mix dogs showed up and seemed to like us just fine - enough to make themselves at home laying in the aisle while we worked around them. No license, no tag, no identification except each had a different color bandana around their neck (you can put THAT on their neck, but not a collar with a tag?)

We called all the local vets, the local townships, and the animal control officer. We drove through a local neighborhood to see if anyone was out looking for them. We did not want animal control to take them and not know what happened to them. They were obviously well cared for (except for the lack of ID thing).

Finally, the animal control guy called me back and we had a match. He also said he was going to cite her for allowing the dogs to run loose and being unlicensed. I spoke with the owner on the phone and she was VERY grateful and worried to death. She was at work and her son just let them out and didn't bother bringing them in. I told her several times to PLEASE go out tomorrow and get the license at least. We could have reached her much earlier if we had that info. It was as frustrating for us as it was for her. These were wonderful dogs and we knew someone had to be looking for them.

 

[Slippy]

WHY? It's the dog warden's job, not mine! He will do the necessary footwork to find the dogs' owners, and get paid for it. He doesn't kill them, for God's sake.

Oh, Minnie_me... Either you live in a very "Magical" place, or you have been sheltered from the way things work.

In Charlotte, NC, there is a government group called Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control. It is a divison of the police department. They are also generally called the "dog catcher," though their areas of responsibility go well beyond dogs. Once they collect a stray animal, they will only hold it for 72 hours. After that, they are killed. Sad, but true, and necessary (unfortunately so).

During that 72 hours, very little CAN or WILL be done to locate the owners. From their website: "If an animal comes to the shelter with identification such as a rabies tag, microchip or tattoo, we will make every effort to locate the owner." If the animal doesn't have this information, Animal Control can't do anything else.

I am sorry to inform you of this terrible news; it must come as a bit of a shock to you. Here is a statistic from the Humane Society of the United States: "The HSUS estimates that animal shelters care for 6-8 million dogs and cats every year in the United States, of whom approximately 3-4 million are euthanized."

So, Minnie, for every two animals that the "Dog Warden" is called in on, one will be killed.

Folks, spay or neuter your pets, and please consider adopting instead of buying an animal from a pet store or a breeder.

(Sorry to be preachy, but you are free to go read some other thread about a silly reality show or pointless celebrity antics).