We recently discovered that a young couple moved out of the house they have been renting on our street, leaving two dogs behind. The house next to us is for sale, and the seller stopped by on Sunday. She told us these dogs have taken residence under her deck at the back of her vacant house. We have seen these dogs before, as they roam around the neighborhood like a lot of people let their dogs do here. We have 3 dogs ourselves, but have built a fence to keep them protected and on our property (we have about 2 acres, a lot of which is wooded and bordered by creek). Now that we are aware of this situation, we have been putting food and water out for them so they at least do not starve. Today we saw a car pull into that owner's driveway; we were also told they come to get their mail but still leave the dogs behind. So the dogs were sitting behind that house, waiting for their owners to return. This hurts our hearts, and we are unsure what to do about it. Our daughter has been researching online for possible no-kill shelters; she read of one in Benson. Does anyone know if this is a good place to look into? We really do not want to take these dogs to the pound, and adopting them would be difficult for us. Maybe we could try to get them to come here, keep them in the garage temporarily, try to assimilate them into the family, etc. I do not think the fence would really keep them on the property as it is designed for smaller dogs (we have min pin, poodle and sheltie who are all mainly indoor dogs). Does anyone have any advice for us? We want to do the right thing. I am worried that the seller neighbor will call the animal control and they will be taken away. They are not particularly that affectionate (do not come when you call them), mostly living their lives roaming around. Not being social dogs, we are afraid they would not be adopted out quickly and end up being euthanized. These dogs did nothing wrong...they don't deserve this.
You best bet would be to post them online. The classifieds here and craigslist are great. It would be great if you could post pictures as well. You are correct that if they are not very social, it cuts their chances of survival down at most shelters. There are just so many healthy, happy ones that would have better chances, that if space is tight, they would 'go' first. There are several rescue groups out there. My guess, at this time of year, is that most would be full. I would try to get a message to the owners (via the mailbox??) that animal control will be called (or something like that) to see if they plan on getting the dogs at some point? How long has it been?
hunt your old neighbors down and euthanize them. I hate people like!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRR (not a real murder threat, Mr. Magistrate - relax)
Contact the Jo. Co. Animal Shelter: 934-8474. They might be able to help or give you advice. Good luck! You are a good person to try to help those poor dogs!
I am so glad that you were able to get at least one of them to come up to you. The other one probably will come to you eventually. I wish you luck and hope that you are able to find them a loving home that they deserve.
I hate to put a damper on things, but I've gotta add my two cents: These poor dogs have obviously been neglected. There's a very good chance that one, or both are heartworm positive. With the number of ticks you've described, they are likely anemic as well. There's also the question on whether or not these dogs have had any shots. Personally speaking, I have 4 dogs - I would NOT bring a dog in this condition into my home, nor would I attempt to find them homes without first having them examined by a vet and determining their quality of health. It is entirely possible that vetting just one of these dogs could run into several hundred - to even a thousand dollars - if they are HW positive, need shots, require meds . .and still, they may not live through treatment..and they need to be altered to prevent more breeding. Calling Johnston County Animal Services IS the right thing to do in this situation. 934-8474 Call them before you get any more emotionally attached than you already are. I would also call the police and ask them about bringing up charges of animal abandonment on their owners. While it may not get anywhere, at least you have the satisfaction of knowing you tried. Those people should be shot. If they were my neighbors, you can be sure the next time they decided to swing by for their mail, they'd have to put up with a earful from me first. Sincerely - call JCAS.
I applaud you for taking responsibility for these dogs. Maybe if you can catch them, we can all donate money to you to take them to the vet? I know I would... Spunky
I was just thinking the same thing Spunky, but Zoo also makes a good point that if these poor animals have been neglected to the point of who knows what, they may be in more misery going through treatment, than the heartbreak of putting one or both down. I hate people that do this to their animals.:boxing::evil: I got a dog a few years ago from a person that worked in the building next to me, she was an Aussie Shepherd, and was so well behaved, but very skittish around people. They did not want her anymore so we took her in. Turns out these creeps had at one point kicked her as a puppy in the hips, she later healed before we got her, and she developed an infection in her bones and had to be put down, because the treatment would have been more painful and probably would not have worked anyway. It broke our hearts, we did not have her long, but you get attached really fast. Keep us updated
Wow... I'm glad to hear you've gotten some help from the animal officer, and hopefully there can be a happy outcome for the 2 dogs you're trying to look after.
We have recently moved into this area and noticed several dogs running around loose. We have dogs, one of them is an outside dog. It seems that every loose dog in the neighborhood came to our yard to visit. We counted at least 4 on a regular basis. One was a big brown pit bull with a radio collar on. Another looked like a very skinny Chesapeake Bay retriever mix. Then 2 other smaller ones. However, I have not seen them in the last few days so maybe animal control has found them. Or the batteries were replaced in the collar!
Yeah - people lie - ever watch "House"? Since they were contacted, they are aware someone is on to them and they may think twice about doing the same thing in the future - or not. . .they are low-lifes. . .the world is full of them. Well, if the people complaining won't lift a finger to attempt to trap these dogs, what's Animal Control supposed to do? They can't camp out there, nor go running through the woods to hunt them down in any humane way. STOP feeding the dogs! If they aren't being fed, they will either move on to a neighborhood where someone will step up to the plate and trap them, or they will be hungry enough to let down their guard to come up to you in hopes of a meal and you can leash them up. Continue to feed them and something will change - you will see more puppies and they will be sickly and weak because their mother will be sickly and weak and then you'll really have a tough time calling Animal Control to come pick up and put down a bunch of sickly animals. Have you looked into the possibility of borrowing a dog trap? Between Animal Control, The Dept of Wildlife and the Vet School, I'm sure someone could point you to the right direction of obtaining a trap. Traps aren't that costly, so borrowing one shouldn't be a problem. If it's set up where the dog can smell the bait and they're hungry enough, they'll step into it. Without cooperation of people in the neighborhood to cease feeding the dogs, or assist in trapping the dogs, what can anyone expect? Sarcasm, a pity-party, and indifference - WTG :roll: And yes - I did get up on the wrong freaking side of the crate today!
Animal Control provides traps for dogs. Just call them. I know this to be fact, my own neighbor set one up trying to lure my dog (who had a radio collar!!) off my property after they got tired of picking their cats up from Animal Control. AC might even provide a big juicy can of dog food for you to bait the trap with - I know they provide cat food - or go pick a can up. Just call them and take care of it.
Cleo - Couldn't your neighbors be charged with attempting to steal your dog? How horrible! Also, I think advising the original poster not to feed the dogs is very cruel. Can we put our heads and wallets together and try to board these dogs or something? Spunk
OK - continue to do as you have done and you will continue to reap the same reward. These dogs won't starve! What do you not understand about nature? They will go in search of food - they will either move on to where there is food outside (and those neighbors may end up trapping the dogs and have Animal Control take them) OR the dogs will be hungry enough to let down their guard and approach a human ----as in the original poster --- who can then put a leash on them -----or put bait (FOOD) in a trap and trap the dogs and turn them over to Animal Control, or contact you to help with a vet bill. Do you not understand that these dogs are sort of feral????? That they MAY NEVER trust humans and become a pet???? Do you not understand that it is possible that these two dogs could cost in the neighborhood of a couple thousand dollars to get healthy and STILL not be able to go live with a family. . .and then what???? What happens if a couple of grand fixes them physically, but they freak out when humans approach them? What do you do with them then? I'm not saying starve them - I'm saying quit free feeding them and find a way to contain them instead of whining that nobody will help. If you can't catch the dogs, you can't do anything to help them. Feeding them is only extending the time they may be walking around diseased or suffering. It is no picnic living in the woods. If they are weak, they are prey to anything larger. There's no need to put our heads together - what needs to happen os for people to get their heads out of the sand. Face the facts and step up to the plate and trap those dogs. As far as wallets - lol --- too funny - too many people on this board freak out at the prospect of paying 125.00 to adopt a dog that is microchipped, spayed or neutered, has all of it's shots, has a clean bill of health and is mentally sound - to bring home as their family PET. . .nevermind donate a portion of what will likely run a minimum of $1K on a couple of dogs they've never seen who are running loose in a neighborhood. I love animals - truly I do - BUT there are some situations that some food and money are not likely going to cure and all that might come of it is a lot of mental anguish and heartache.
OK - continue to do as you have done and you will continue to reap the same reward. Huh? These dogs won't starve! What do you not understand about nature? They will go in search of food - they will either move on to where there is food outside (and those neighbors may end up trapping the dogs and have Animal Control take them) OR the dogs will be hungry enough to let down their guard and approach a human ----as in the original poster --- who can then put a leash on them -----or put bait (FOOD) in a trap and trap the dogs and turn them over to Animal Control, or contact you to help with a vet bill. I already said I was willing to help pay for a vet bill Do you not understand that these dogs are sort of feral????? That they MAY NEVER trust humans and become a pet???? Do you not understand that it is possible that these two dogs could cost in the neighborhood of a couple thousand dollars to get healthy and STILL not be able to go live with a family. . .and then what???? What happens if a couple of grand fixes them physically, but they freak out when humans approach them? What do you do with them then? No.. I don't understand. I never have claimed or will claim to be a dog expert, or any kind of animal expert. A feral dog? Do we have to worry that these two dogs that the original poster posted about will turn into dingo's like in the Meryl Streep movie? In all seriousness, isn't this board full of "rescue type" of people, yourself included? Am I missing something? Are these dogs dangerous breeds? Have you met or even seen these dogs? Why do you think that they are so anti-social to people? I keep reading alot of "what if's", what about thinking positive, and saying that the original poster can tell that these dogs are not wild, feral dogs. I'm not saying starve them - I'm saying quit free feeding them and find a way to contain them instead of whining that nobody will help. If you can't catch the dogs, you can't do anything to help them. No. No. No.. I'm not whining that nobody will help them. I have already offered O.P. money to help board them or vet them. With the assistance of the other's on here, I think/THOUGHT we could all pull together and raise enough money to make sure that they were safe. Feeding them is only extending the time they may be walking around diseased or suffering. It is no picnic living in the woods. If they are weak, they are prey to anything larger. These dogs are sounding like they need to get their tails on Survivor, or maybe a reality show? There's no need to put our heads together - what needs to happen os for people to get their heads out of the sand. Face the facts and step up to the plate and trap those dogs. I agree with you. But instead of putting a band aid on the problem, I just thought, we as 4042.ers could help out these dogs with vetting and boarding As far as wallets - lol --- too funny - too many people on this board freak out at the prospect of paying 125.00 to adopt a dog that is microchipped, spayed or neutered, has all of it's shots, has a clean bill of health and is mentally sound - to bring home as their family PET. . .nevermind donate a portion of what will likely run a minimum of $1K on a couple of dogs they've never seen who are running loose in a neighborhood. Well those are the people we wouldn't expect to help. But there are quite a few of the posters on here who feel different, and therefore, I believe would be willing to donate some money. But why argue? I don't think there has been an update from the O.P. regarding the dogs in a while anyway.
Since you had a problem with quotes yours are in blue, my previous comments are in bold and present are like this. OK - continue to do as you have done and you will continue to reap the same reward. Huh? Meaning keep leaving food for these dogs to come and eat and they will continue to come and eat it and roam back into the woods, or potty on neighbors lawns, disturb trash cans. . .whatever they've been doing. These dogs won't starve! What do you not understand about nature? They will go in search of food - they will either move on to where there is food outside (and those neighbors may end up trapping the dogs and have Animal Control take them) OR the dogs will be hungry enough to let down their guard and approach a human ----as in the original poster --- who can then put a leash on them -----or put bait (FOOD) in a trap and trap the dogs and turn them over to Animal Control, or contact you to help with a vet bill. I already said I was willing to help pay for a vet bill Good - start saving, it might be costly. Do you not understand that these dogs are sort of feral????? That they MAY NEVER trust humans and become a pet???? Do you not understand that it is possible that these two dogs could cost in the neighborhood of a couple thousand dollars to get healthy and STILL not be able to go live with a family. . .and then what???? What happens if a couple of grand fixes them physically, but they freak out when humans approach them? What do you do with them then? No.. I don't understand. I never have claimed or will claim to be a dog expert, or any kind of animal expert. A feral dog? Do we have to worry that these two dogs that the original poster posted about will turn into dingo's like in the Meryl Streep movie? A feral dog, feral cat - feral anything is a once domestic animal that has reverted back to the wild after being forced to fend for itself. Instincts drive the feral animal to fear human contact. Adjusting them back is not always possible. A Dingo is a specific breed of dog and in Australia there are a great many who are feral, though some have been raised by humans after finding them orphaned and then bred them - thus creating a domesticated strain of the breed. In all seriousness, isn't this board full of "rescue type" of people, yourself included? Am I missing something? Are these dogs dangerous breeds? Have you met or even seen these dogs? Yes - but honestly, "rescue types" through experience have learned the hard way that there are some you just can not save. Loosing one, or having to make a difficult choice for one, that you try to help become adoptable is heartbreaking. Most of us who have rescued for some time try to focus on the ones that stand the best chance of turning around. When you rescue - all of that money for vet care, training, supplies, and food comes out of our individual pockets. The time to have these animals vetted, trained etc. is also our own. Some work with organizations to help pick up the bill, but these organizations are non-profit - all funds must be raised through donations and we are just fresh out of puppy and kitten season - funding is nil. At my peek of rescuing, I could easily spend a couple hundred dollars a week on dogs that were not mine. . .those expenses sometimes exceeded my mortgage payment! I have no idea what breed or breed mix these dogs are. Why do you think that they are so anti-social to people? I keep reading alot of "what if's", what about thinking positive, and saying that the original poster can tell that these dogs are not wild, feral dogs. She can't catch them and they won't come up to her - and she HAS been feeding them - thus - they are at the very least semi-feral. I'm not saying starve them - I'm saying quit free feeding them and find a way to contain them instead of whining that nobody will help. If you can't catch the dogs, you can't do anything to help them. No. No. No.. I'm not whining that nobody will help them. I have already offered O.P. money to help board them or vet them. With the assistance of the other's on here, I think/THOUGHT we could all pull together and raise enough money to make sure that they were safe. The OP was whining - she removed her post - see what's left in the fragmented quotes on my previous post. She was whining - I wasn't talking to you. As I said before - what IF you vet these dogs that will not come to anybody even after being fed and they still don't respond to humans? A fearful dog can be THE most dangerous dog to encounter. A fearful dog will do either one of three things when forced into human contact: 1) Wig out, go stark raving crazy, urinate, deficate and be exhaused. 2) Go submissive, roll over and show it's belly - sometimes after urinating. 3) BITE Feeding them is only extending the time they may be walking around diseased or suffering. It is no picnic living in the woods. If they are weak, they are prey to anything larger. These dogs are sounding like they need to get their tails on Survivor, or maybe a reality show? OK guess that's a joke There's no need to put our heads together - what needs to happen os for people to get their heads out of the sand. Face the facts and step up to the plate and trap those dogs. I agree with you. But instead of putting a band aid on the problem, I just thought, we as 4042.ers could help out these dogs with vetting and boarding There is no band-aid for this problem - unless you keep leaving food out for the dogs, I guess that's a band-aid to some, but it really isn't helping these dogs. Do you know what it costs to board a dog? There's two of them - board would probably be at least 30.00 a day. A week and a half - 300.00! Board them for what? For how long? Boarding a semi-feral dog could make it crazy! Take something that has been roaming free and stick them in a small cage. . .not a good prospect for these dogs. . .assuming they aren't heartworm positive or have any other costly disease. Do you just board them forever? Who is going to work with them to socialize them? How can they be adopted out? As far as wallets - lol --- too funny - too many people on this board freak out at the prospect of paying 125.00 to adopt a dog that is microchipped, spayed or neutered, has all of it's shots, has a clean bill of health and is mentally sound - to bring home as their family PET. . .nevermind donate a portion of what will likely run a minimum of $1K on a couple of dogs they've never seen who are running loose in a neighborhood. Well those are the people we wouldn't expect to help. But there are quite a few of the posters on here who feel different, and therefore, I believe would be willing to donate some money. I gladly donate money to local humane organizations - I also donate money on behalf of dogs in the form of sponsorship as a result of posts on these boards. . .I love animals, especially dogs, and I'm sorry, you can call this ugly, but the only thing I would do for the dogs in this situation is what I have done - telling the OP Stop free feeding these dogs, obtain a trap, bait the trap, when the dogs are in it, call Animal Control to come pick them up and there may be a chance for them. . .and maybe not. . .but at least they won't die from an injury, or disease alone in the woods. But why argue? I don't think there has been an update from the O.P. regarding the dogs in a while anyway. Maybe she got that trap.
I dunno if they could be charged with attempting to steal the dog, if not for being complete idiots. It was actually kind of cruel. The dog would go sit as close to the wire as he could get while he salivated over the huge slab of meat they had hanging from the back of the trap THREE feet from the property line. But, it was never enough of a temptation for him to leave the yard, and eventually the meat rotted so.... it gave me something to laugh about.
