There’s a stranger in our house!!
So…as I was getting home from running errands today I saw the saddest thing. There was this great big black dog wandering through my apartment’s parking lot. I called him (I’m just assuming it’s a him, I haven’t really “checked”) to me and he just kinda walked slowly towards me. I wanted to make sure he was nice, and boy is he!! He licked my hand, but very gently, not like a crazy puppy. It has been storming all last night and so far today. He is absolutely soaked to the bone and muddy like nothin’ else. I got him to come upstairs with me and I put a leash on him. (My little Doxie leash for a dog who is, no-doubt, over 100. Funny sight, let me tell you.) I was gonna leave him tied to the banister, but I couldn’t stand the thought of him out in the cold any longer. I laid an old couch cover on the office floor and brought him in. I gave him about a cup and 1/2 of Canidae and he gobbled it like he hasn’t eaten in a while. He also got a nice big bowl of CLEAN water. He has a flea collar and a regular collar, but no tags. I can visibly see a few ticks on his ears. Right now he is asleep at my feet. He looks so tired and stressed out. We absolutely can’t keep him (if my husband knew he was here right now he would probably throw a fit).
I called Animal Control. I hate sending him somewhere where he could possibly be put down, or go back to the owner that was so careless with him. I’m waiting for them right now, I have no idea how long they will be. The lady on the phone said they will hold him for the owner for 5 days and then he will go up for adoption. I hope someone sees how precious he is. I’ve only been with him for about 45 min and I already love him to pieces. But…I’m afraid that people aren’t going to see that. He is definitely NOT a puppy and he is sooooo huge. I hope he finds someone that is looking for a laid-back gentle giant. I’m going to call in 4 days and see if he has been claimed. If not, I plan on contacting a local rescue and seeing if they can get him. I really wish I had a nice big yard. If I did, he would stay.
I don’t want to let him roam the house or anything, because I want to make sure he doesn’t have anything that could hurt my three babies. Although he is a sweetie, the safety of my 3 comes first.
I cranked the heat up to keep him warm. I don’t want to try the blow-dryer. I don’t know his quirks and I definitely don’t feel like being bitten today.
Cross your paws that everything works out for this guy…definitely a guy…he laid on his back. 
(And, of course, NOT neutered.) I pray that the stupidity of his owner hasn’t hurt him too much.
March 18, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
You are an angel for trying to save this big guy. No telling where he came from. I’m sure he appreciates a full tummy and a warm place to sleep. I hate the idea of having him in the pound for anytime because he can pick up all kinds of infectious diseases there. But, you have no choice, so I sure understand.
I would be worried about any fleas and ticks he has on him. Yuck! Ticks are the worst! Keep him away from your babies.
Please let us know how things turn out.
Peggy
March 18, 2008 @ 5:54 pm
Thank goodness you saw him! What a lucky guy to have been picked up out of the rain and given a nice meal. I’m sure he is so thankful!!
Will Animal Control check to see if he is chipped? Maybe instead of a collar, they got him chipped. That might help find out where his home is. Just a thought.
Good luck!!
March 18, 2008 @ 6:29 pm
Animal Control came to get him about 30 minutes ago. He is such a good boy! He let her put a leash on him and just walked out with her. He doesn’t even pull on the leash!! They will check him for a chip, clean him up and hopefully get those ticks off!
After he left I shampooed the carpet in the rooms that he was in and disinfected surfaces and myself. Just in case he was carrying anything. I don’t want my “kids” to get sick.
I’m calling in a couple days to check on him. If he is still there and hasn’t been claimed I’ll figure out where to go from there. I’ll probably give him a chance to get adopted from there, but if it is getting close to his “final” day I will go get him and get him placed in a rescue. He is just too sweet to be put down.
Keep him (I started calling him Buford
) in your prayers!!
March 18, 2008 @ 6:41 pm
Don’t assume that the owner was careless with him. Many dogs have ‘escaped’ from home, especially during storms. One loud clap of thunder may have sent him against a gate that just wasn’t ready for all of his weight.
We have all read on here about dogs that just got away from a caring owner.
You said you shampooed the carpet, I would also suggest picking up some indoor flea and tick spray and give everything a quick spray just in case. I have fought the flea battle before and know it is better to start early and end it fast.
March 18, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
I assumed the owner was careless because of the condition he was in. He was very thin, his ears were covered in ticks, and he was shaking. He also had no tags on his collar. He was also a mixed-breed and in-tact. Let’s hope he didn’t encounter any females in heat while he was out. I also assume that most caring owners would put their dogs in a garage or something when the weather was as bad as it was. It was a severe thunderstorm with large hail and there were also tornado warnings. No dog should be out in that weather.
I already took care of the possibility of fleas. I have the carpet powder and all of my dogs are on preventative.
Sorry if it sounded like I was being harsh on a good owner, but I firmly believe that he wasn’t receiving the care he needed. I can usually tell a well-cared for pet from a neglected one. He was most definitely neglected.
March 19, 2008 @ 9:07 am
Good for you elizabeth!! I hope Buford is just a long way from home and has an equally caring mommy waiting for him. If my Dylan ran away from home, I would hope he would find someone like you to take him in while he was lost!!
March 19, 2008 @ 10:53 pm
You are an angel for that poor dog… God Bless You. Perhaps there is a lab rescue or big dog rescue group in your area. We’ll be praying!