run-away dog

[mojosmama]

Hi there,
I have a problem. Several weeks ago a lady in our neighborhood (6 blocks away) lost 2 labs....she saw me walking mine and asked me to catch her dogs if I found them. She gave me her address too.
2 weeks later I found one of the dogs while taking a stroll with my own. VERY sweet lab about 18 months old. I took him home and went to find her house and she followed me home to get him.
2 weeks LATER it was storming out and we had 2 tornadoes hit our neighborhood...I was pumping out my garage due to flooding and here he comes, roaring up scared to death, filthy, VERY thin and VERY happy to see me.
So, we left a note on their door, cleaned the dog up and fed him and let him stay in our washroom until they showed up. They came and picked him up around 11 pm that night. They said he jumps out even with an electronic collar, etc. I know they like him but didn't seem at all concerned that he was gone, etc. I suggested they keep him in the house, etc until they figure out a better way to keep him.
Today, he was at my door again. This time I took him to the house he actually lives in....a close neighborhood that was walking distance. You could tell he'd never been walked...moving on. I threw some dog treats in his yard and put him in it and locked it. The fence has a HOLE in it....duh. I tried to block it as best I could and I told a neighbor what I was doing so they wouldn't think anything suspicious was going on. He went on and on about how they don't take care of the dog and it tears everything up and barks all the time, etc.
Before I could even get back to my house, here comes the dog tearing down the sidwalk, darting in front of 2 cars . He actually BEAT me to my own house.
Okay....I've already gotten the lecture from my husband about this. What do I do though?
Is there anything I CAN do? I mean, can I call animal rescue or lab rescue since I know where the dog LIVES? I can't find him a home because he is owned by someone else. he doesn't seem to be being abushed, just neglected. But I know I'm going to see him squished on the road one day. (we live RIGHT off a major thru way 7 blocks to be exact.)
any suggestions? They never foudn the other lab and were like 'oh well, we didn't worry about her,' I asked about posters and they they didn't want to deal with that sort of thing........................I just keep hoping that a nice family took her in instead of an animal lab....

[bitterrootbullies]

Originally Posted by mojosmama

Hi there,
I have a problem. Several weeks ago a lady in our neighborhood (6 blocks away) lost 2 labs....she saw me walking mine and asked me to catch her dogs if I found them. She gave me her address too.
2 weeks later I found one of the dogs while taking a stroll with my own. VERY sweet lab about 18 months old. I took him home.
2 weeks LATER it was storming out and we had 2 tornadoes hit our neighborhood...I was pumping out my garage due to fooding and here he comes, roaring up scared to death, filthy, VERY thin and VERY happy to see me.
So, we left a note on the door, cleaned the dog up and fed him and let him stay in our washroom. They came and picked him up around 11 pm that night. They said he jumps out even with an electronic collar, etc. I know they like him but didn't seem at all concerned that he was gone, etc. I suggested they keep him in the house, etc until they figure out a better way to keep him.
Today, he was at my door again. This time I took him to the house he actually lives in....a close neighborhood that was walking distance. You could tell he'd never been walked...moving on. I threw some dog treats in his yard and put him in it and locked it. I told a neighbor what I was doing so they wouldn't think anything suspicious was going on. He went on and on about how they don't take care of the dog and it tears everything up and barks all the time, etc.
Before I could even get back to my house, here comes the dog tearing down the sidwalk, darting in front of 2 cars to get to me. He actually BEAT me to my own house.
Okay....I've already gotten the lecture from my husband about this. What do I do though? ....the dog is not street-wise, etc.
Is there anything I CAN do? I mean, I can't call animal rescue or lab rescue since I know where the dog LIVES. I can't find him a home because he is owned by someone else. But I know I'm going to see him squished on the road one day. (we live RIGHT off a major thru way 7 blocks to be exact.)
any suggestions?

Call your local animal control and have them come and pick him up. IF the owners decide they want him back they will have to pay a fine to get him and perhaps a couple hefty fines will make them work a little harder to keep him confined. They either need to keep him in the house (crate train if he's destructive) or if they are adament about keeping him outdoors, they need to get a dog run that has a top and a bottom to keep him in.

If you don't have an animal control officer, your local sheriffs department should be the one responsible for stray dogs.
amanda

[mojosmama]

yeah...I'd thought of that but it scares me that he might be put down if they don't pick him up.............today he came back AGAIN and I ignored him (my dogs were fussing so I looked out the window and there he was.)
He went away......gosh, I hate that. I feel GUILTY and he isn't even my dog.

[Tucker'sMom]

I would start with animal control. That is probably your best option at this point in time. I know exactly how you feel...this is the reason I have 4 cats, and I'm a dog person!!! People dump them off (I live in the country) and I can't stand to see an animal not being cared for. Unfortunately, it has been my experience that unless you live in an urban area, animal control isn't much of a help. I feel for you...good luck.

[cichlidfreak]

You do always have the choice of being a human being... after you have reported the issue to animal control of course. But maybe walk down there, (or the next time this happens) say something to her and don't be too harsh just say that the dog deserves better than that and that you would take him...that is of course if you want him or can even take him.

THIS IS NOT A PROFESIONAL OPINION!!!
It's just my opinion and what I would do I can't stand it when people treat any animal like that (happens with fish lots!)
chris

[latergatorj]

I agree, in that calling animal control is a method to deal with this.

I have a next door neighbor that loves dogs. When a neighbor's dog kept getting loose, she asked them if they would mind letting her have their dog during the day because hers need more socialization. The next door neighbor said okay, and she got the dog during the day, they got it at night (and paid for its food). And the dog didn't run away anymore.

There are a few ways of dealing with this. i hope you find the best one that works for you. Please tell us what ends up happening and what you decide to do. :-) Good luck.

[mojosmama]

Well, I've already offered tips on working with the dog and stuff like that. I think they are keeping him in the house b/c I haven't seen him in a while. Their in-laws house is now empty with a for sale sign in the yard and I've been told they are all moving. The dog used to live with the in-laws and I am hoping they took him in until they could sort things out.

[bitterrootbullies]

Originally Posted by mojosmama

yeah...I'd thought of that but it scares me that he might be put down if they don't pick him up.............today he came back AGAIN and I ignored him (my dogs were fussing so I looked out the window and there he was.)
He went away......gosh, I hate that. I feel GUILTY and he isn't even my dog.

At the shelter, even if they don't pick him up, he has a chance of being adopted. Even if he is not adopted, a humane death by euthanasia is much better than being hit by a car, poisoned, shot, tormented by evil people, getting attacked by another animal or the multitude of other fates that are likely to befall him running loose.

Dogs (and cats) running loose have very little chance of living very long and their deaths are often very long and very painful.
amanda samantha sydney murphy and foster