Stray dog

AndyGwis

I think there was a thread started a while back about someone finding a stray dog.

I saw a Pit Bull wandering around my neighborhood last Thursday. Didn't think too much of it.

Then, today (5 days later), my girlfriend has found the same dog wandering around outside in our apartment complex's parking lot. . . albeit much skinnier. Our apartment complex doesn't allow them, so it's no one's from here. Also means I can't hold onto it for long.

I'll keep it for the evening, but have no idea what the best plan is for tomorrow. Do I contact the local shelter? Do I post pictures and try to find its owner? No collar or ID. Looks to be a pure-bred American Pit Bull, nice brown color, probably less than a year old.

Also, we lured it close with a hamburger (which was wolfed down in about 20 seconds) to get a leash on it. Have some dog food, but I don't want to overfeed it.

Open to any advice. I'd snap a picture of it and post, but a late night flash might not be a great idea for a dog that's already scared out of its mind.

wingnut4772

Call Animal Control or take him to a local vet to see if he has a chip.

AndyGwis

How about for the evening? I'm guessing he's survived four hot Dallas days, so staying on my first floor balcony for one evening probably won't be too bad.

He hasn't touched the water bowl I gave him, but he gobbled up a hamburger and half cup of dog food real quickly.

Is it okay to feed him another half cup? He looks famished, but I'm guessing overfeeding him wouldn't be the best thing to do.

Toxis

I'd wait on the food for a bit but leave the water for him there. Find a no kill shelter if you are going to call someone. Otherwise, hold on to him and put a ton of flyers out.

I found two dogs roaming a main street here last week and we pulled over, picked them up (after chasing them for 6 blocks lol) and put them in our back yard. One had a collar and a number so I kept trying to get a hold of the owner who didn't come till morning. It was fun having a couple puppies around though. Cute lil guys.

RuSsMaN

If he's a pit bull pup, 2 cups of dry per day isn't unreasonable. Just don't give it to him all at once.

Bill Ayotte

Toxis wrote: »

I'd wait on the food for a bit but leave the water for him there. Find a no kill shelter if you are going to call someone. Otherwise, hold on to him and put a ton of flyers out.

I agree with this....I wouldn't feed him too much, he may already leave a mess on your balcony because he is not used to eating anything, much less what you have given him at this point....I had the same problem with one of mine when I got her back from those abusive ****....Leave the water out there with him, I bet it will be gone in the morning...Get a hold of a local shelter or rescue, they will be able to get the dog to a place to get scanned for a chip..

fatchowmein

Andy,
Not sure where in DFW you are but if you can't find a No Kill shelter, take him to Cottonwood Animal Clinic, 14055 Waterfall Way, Dallas (just south of Richardson to the east of Coit & Spring Valley Rd), 469-330-0357. Dr. Helmet Block will take care of him.

AndyGwis

Cottonwood Animal Clinic

I may try this one. It's pretty close to me.

I fed him another half cup of dry food late last night, then woke up this morning, fed and walked (dragged) him. Hoped someone would say "I know that dog," or see a flier or something. No luck.

wingnut4772

That's a very nice thing you did. Someone may be looking for him. I hope he has a chip. Most newspapers will laet you post Found ads for free.

edbert

Andy, Operation Kindness 972-418-PAWS. They are probably the biggest no kill animal shelter in the area(at least they advertise the most).

steveinaz

Also look at the inside of his ears for tatoo marks, some folk's have their dog tatooed there for identification.

AndyGwis

Might do that. His ears have been eaten pretty raw on some parts from being outside the past 4+ days. So, I'm not sure how much I want to be playing around with his ears. Very mild dog, but Pit Bulls have a rep for a reason, and this one is probably pretty traumatized at this point.

I went ahead and bought a crate / kennel so he could be inside. Nothing deserves to be outside all day in the Texas heat.

Still trying to find a local No Kill shelter that will take him in. Have to fly out of town for a wedding this weekend, so need to do it in the next day or two.

Here's a pic. Good looking dog, despite everything. Scared as hell, tho.

jwhitakr

+1 to you for all your generousity and kindness to the lil' guy!! Hope that you are able to find the owners or find a local No Kill shelter to take him.

cindy100

I say +100 for what you are doing. I can only imagine what this poor dog has gone through. I know you said you can't keep him but please don't turn him over to animal control; I feel they would probably put him to sleep. I will be gone for a few hours this afternoon but if you want to email me, I'll be glad to help you find some phone numbers to places that can take him.

Something told me not to read this message and I should have listened!

Cindy

Fireman32

Andy your doing a awsome job taking care of the pup. Hope you can find the owners or a nice home for him.

PolkThug

Flies have been nipping at his ears. My dog was like that when I first got her, chewed up and scared, everything healed up in time and she turned out to be an awsome dog after some TLC.

You can also pay a kennel to hold em for the weekend.

scottnbnj

you never know, he might be licensed and slipped the collar. you might try calling some local police departments, shelters maybe even vets to ask if anyone reported a missing dog or was looking for him. we found the owner of a beagle within a day this way years ago. good thing, that dog was a terror and wasn't going to stay with us for long.

for the water, some animals just don't like water from the tap. we had a cat that wouldn't drink from the stainless bowl unless he was desperate and it sat long enough to get some of that good uh, natural (?) birdbath flavor. good luck.

)

zombie boy 2000

Kudos to ya Andy! You're showing alot of heart by what you're doing. Darla is right about the newspaper suggestion.. I work at one and all ads for found or lost pets are free.

Skynut

Good for you, I hope he gets a good home.

Do the chip check because both my dogs have them. Chips are a great way to get a dog back to it's owner.

AndyGwis

Honestly, I don't think the owner is trying real hard to get the dog back. No posters / fliers up in the neighborhood, it's been roaming around for 5 days in the same area, and I think I've seen this dog walking with it's owner in the past.

It's not handling the food well at all. Even if I only give it a half cup, it makes it's way out in under an hour, and never in solid form. Might be a sick pup

Still doing what I can to find some accomodations for him.

edbert

If he is sick, upset stomach from lack of eating or otherwise, you can feed him cooked rice, boiled eggs, mild cheeses, or turkey. It helps their stomach settle down. Their crap smells worse, but at least it isn't everywhere if they go in the house on accident.

auto_pilot

This is how I found my former Pit Bull Rocky...he was a hungry puppy that was wandering for a few weeks.

And it looks like you are getting attached...

Despite what the media says...Pit Bulls can be very people friendly.

Skynut

I believe dogs are the victims of their enviroment.

People make bad dogs.

Bill Ayotte

AndyGwis wrote: »

Honestly, I don't think the owner is trying real hard to get the dog back. No posters / fliers up in the neighborhood, it's been roaming around for 5 days in the same area, and I think I've seen this dog walking with it's owner in the past.

It's not handling the food well at all. Even if I only give it a half cup, it makes it's way out in under an hour, and never in solid form. Might be a sick pup

Still doing what I can to find some accomodations for him.

He may not be sick, but food may be a shock to his system at this point....Like you said, he has been wondering for five days.....When I got one of the foster dogs back after she was abandoned, she had a problem dropping anything solid for about a week....All I could do was feed her and put her outside until she shot it out, so to say....Stay away from wet food too, this will really get the projectile dookie flowing...Chances are he was abused and not fed before you came across him wondering the first time, much less five days later, so who really knows the last time he had a normal meal...Also, feed him at the same time (or about) every day, it will help keep him regular...You may want to get a hold of a shelter though, they will give him a check-up....

dudeinaroom

good on you man.

AndyGwis

Quick update. Dog was taken to the vet yesterday for check up. He's in good overall shape given everything he's been through. We also found a home for him. So, ended up going pretty well. . . all things considered.

Now the bad side. . . the "bug bites" on his ears weren't bug bites, they were fleas and flea eggs. So, we had to clean, wash, and de-flea just about everything in our apartment. Also, I've gotten so little sleep the last few nights that I'm sick today. But, I guess it's all worth it in the long run. Nothing hurt too bad, and he's got a good home now.

auto_pilot

Glad to here the dog found a home...

Lavender spray is a good flear repellent...and word to the wise. Fleas don't just go away. We hired a professional with an organic solution...worked like charm. However, we suffered for 3 weeks before we called the professionals.

cfrizz

You just banked LOADS of good Karma Andy! Well done on a very good deed!