dogs being dumped - the credit crunch?? see UPDATE on pg. 5

LillyJ

pboae wrote: »

Some people use lightweight collars (sometimes called house collars) just for putting tags on, the dog can then wear it comfortable 24/7, even if they need something sturdier for walking on.

My dog used to pull a lot and broke several leads and collars. It was genearally the fittings that broke rather than the fabric. He wears a loose half check collar now, which only tightens the same as a normal flat collar, but is more comfy for him than a regular flat collar because his fur is so thick.

He is chipped as well, but I think a tag is far more useful, in terms of getting your dog back quickly. I know someone who got burgled and they either let the dog out, or she got out through the broken door. She wasn't chipped and didn't wear a collar in the house. There were sightings of her in the area for days afterwards, but they never got her back.

I also think that people will maybe make more effort to find the owners of a dog with a collar, because it shows that it has at least been owned by someone at some point.

Ah that's sad about the dog whose house got burgled. Think I may consider a loose collar for wearing all day. We now use a half check for walking too, I never used to realise that they were different from full check chains, but when I disovered them he finds it so much more comfortable and less distressing. He has more incentive not to pull as well, as he is not a dog who likes a lead. When we heels with the half check he feels like he doesn't have a lead on. With the half check we keep his normal collar on lower down with his tag on in case he escaped and the collar fell off.

LillyJ

MrsTine wrote: »

Well the stitching will get weaker with time and even metal gets fatigued - I'd just rather not risk it As for walking next to the road then good heel work will reduce any chance of breaking leads as there won't be any pull on it

Good heel work is a bit of an issue in our house! Many an hour has been spent in the gated alleyway behind our house just walking 2 paces, turning round etc, holding his toy in the air (separate toy just for this purpose) to try to distract him, holding bits of chicken in the air. The neighbours think I'm a loony. (and that the dog is equally as mad).
We have done this for the past year, and he just doesn't get it. Sometimes he never actually gets to the park. If we want to just take him for a quick walk, then we have to drive him there and then walk him on a very long line which he doesn't pull on at all (he stays fairly close to us).

But 10 stone of dog constantly pulling I imagine puts a fair old bit of stress on the lead! We have the thickest one they sell, which I checked was OK for large dogs, and I always check for wear and tear, but you never know!

foreign_correspondent

bloody hell - I dont believe it - just saw another lone dog on a main road - a little JRT panicking and running in and out of the road trying to dodge cars. :-(

I tried to follow him but he shot off across fields - hope he does not get run over before someone picks him up.

LillyJ

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

bloody hell - I dont believe it - just saw another lone dog on a main road - a little JRT panicking and running in and out of the road trying to dodge cars. :-(

I tried to follow him but he shot off across fields - hope he does not get run over before someone picks him up.

We had another one today in our road too - some sort of mogrel. He was frightened up the alleyway when some other dogs came along, so didn't get a chance to catch him. If I see him again I will put some ham down in the garden with the gate open so I can try to entice him in. He was very thin so I think he may have been a stray for a while.

pink_piggy17

foreign correspondent, just wondering, the dogs you find, is it the pound/dog warden that picks them up? haven't read the whole thread so sorry if I'm missing something but in the first post you said the shelter had taken in 120 dogs in the last month, unfortunatly if they are a pound then the majority if not all of those dogs were probably put down. If it is indeed a pound, then you should try and get the dogs you found on the road out of there before their 5 days are up or they will be put down as well.

foreign_correspondent

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

- I spoke to her yesterday to ask her to put the dogs together, and said I will ring her again at the end of the dogs seven days, whe I will mention the oldies club (thanks god they do not PTS after the seven days at these kennels, but look for homes - however, whether this can continue if the numbers keep increasing is a different question.)

I put cards up everywhere yesterday with a description of the dogs and my phone number, but no calls as yet - I am beginning to suspect these two were dumped too, rather than just lost.

Hi Pink Piggy - see post above!

Whilst I appreciate your post and I agree with the sentiment, even if these dogs were to be PTS the problem remains - more dogs than good homes - I am not sure I could take on these two oldies myself at the moment, and even if I did what about the next one I find?

Also, dogs cannot really be left to roam, even where the alternative is bleak - sooner or later they were vey likely to have caused a road accident, which may have involved human casualties as well as canine.

orlao

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

Whilst I appreciate your post and I agree with the sentiment, even if these dogs were to be PTS the problem remains - more dogs than good homes - I am not sure I could take on these two oldies myself at the moment, and even if I did what about the next one I find?

Also, dogs cannot really be left to roam, even where the alternative is bleak - sooner or later they were vey likely to have caused a road accident, which may have involved human casualties as well as canine.

Hi FC

You're so right.....Dogs on the road are NOT funny....some years ago 4 people died on the A13 because of a loose dog. A van swerved to try and avoid the dog which caused a pile up, 4 deaths and a lot of injuries all because of a greyhound that was possibly dumped (also killed) as no owner came forward but that may have been because they could have been held liable for the accident

Agree with you so much.......it's so tough to have to walk away in those circumstances because our natural reaction is to take these animals in/start looking after them not leave them in the pound but IMHO that's how so many people end up in trouble with multiple animals that they can't look after properly due to the numbers they end up with.......usually done with the best of intentions in fairness but that doesn't pay the vet bills, fed them properly, train them etc.....they can then become the stories you read in the papers of 30 dogs or cats in squalor in a surburban semi and the RSPCA moving in.

I really believe that when you take on a pet you should also consider the pets you already have so they don't get shortchanged IYSWIM *keep telling myself this* as at the moment I'm trying to help out a friend of a friend with their young dog that they are at their wits end with....their own fault if I'm honest as they haven't a bl**dy clue.....but he's a lovely if OTT untrained very large entire 18 month male cross breed and if he went into rescue I don't fancy his chances. It would be so easy to take him (he's been offered to me already:o ) but I have a elderly JRT and cat that really wouldn't like an 60+kg Tigger around all the time so I have to consider them. The younger JRT just growls at him and he backs off and the rottie would love a playmate but I honestly think that the best option is to try and rehome him privately to an experienced dog owner and as an only pet....his owners love him dearly :mad: but not enough to put any effort into house training, a routine or any training but in 10 minutes I had him starting to heel and I'm not a fantastic trainer, he's just so bright and trainable but also quite pushy so needs someone who will insist on manners.....bit of a dilemma but not something I personally can take on at the moment.....but I do have a few people in mind:D God help them:rotfl:

Usually I would be the first to say to use a proper rescue but they are so busy at the moment that I really feel that he wouldn't have much of a chance......but I will also try to get his owners to talk to some of the "no destroy" rescues....well we'll see but.......

LillyJ

orlao wrote: »

Hi FC

Dogs on the road are NOT funny....some years ago 4 people died on the A13 because of a loose dog. A van swerved to try and avoid the dog which caused a pile up, 4 deaths and a lot of injuries all because of a greyhound that was possibly dumped (also killed) as no owner came forward but that may have been because they could have been held liable for the accident

Agree with you so much.......it's so tough to have to walk away in those circumstances because our natural reaction is to take these animals in/start looking after them not leave them in the pound but IMHO that's how so many people end up in trouble with multiple animals that they can't look after properly due to the numbers they end up with.......usually done with the best of intentions in fairness but that doesn't pay the vet bills, fed them properly, train them etc.....they can then become the stories you read in the papers of 30 dogs or cats in squalor in a surburban semi and the RSPCA moving in.

I really believe that when you take on a pet you should also consider the pets you already have so they don't get shortchanged IYSWIM *keep telling myself this* as at the moment I'm trying to help out a friend of a friend with their young dog that they are at their wits end with....their own fault if I'm honest as they haven't a bl**dy clue.....but he's a lovely if OTT untrained very large entire 18 month male cross breed and if he went into rescue I don't fancy his chances. It would be so easy to take him (he's been offered to me already:o ) but I have a elderly JRT and cat that really wouldn't like an 60+kg Tigger around all the time so I have to consider them. The younger JRT just growls at him and he backs off and the rottie would love a playmate but I honestly think that the best option is to try and rehome him privately to an experienced dog owner and as an only pet....his owners love him dearly :mad: but not enough to put any effort into house training, a routine or any training but in 10 minutes I had him starting to heel and I'm not a fantastic trainer, he's just so bright and trainable but also quite pushy so needs someone who will insist on manners.....bit of a dilemma but not something I personally can take on at the moment.....but I do have a few people in mind:D God help them:rotfl:

Usually I would be the first to say to use a proper rescue but they are so busy at the moment that I really feel that he wouldn't have much of a chance......but I will also try to get his owners to talk to some of the "no destroy" rescues....well we'll see but.......

Gosh I am so glad I don't have these dilemas- at least I know all the ones going to the Birmingham Dogs Home won't be pts - otherwise I think I would have a house full of stray dogs!

pink_piggy17

So they are pts? Could you not find a local no-kill rescue?

loose dogs are a hazard I agree but it's an awful shame that they end up put down when they could have a second chance at life if they were adopted instead.

where I live there are quite a few loose dogs but they aren't strays, just owned by idiots who are too ignorant/lazy/mean to build a fence to keep them in their own land.

foreign_correspondent

pink_piggy17 wrote: »

So they are pts? No they are not - see my post above - #67! Could you not find a local no-kill rescue?

loose dogs are a hazard I agree but it's an awful shame that they end up put down when they could have a second chance at life if they were adopted instead.

I agree, but there are so many dogs in rescues long term already, and I fear this will only increase in the current financial climate.

Although the kennel these have gone to do not PTS there are plenty who do, and I am sure many dogs end their days this way, every day. Although thes dogs are safe for the time being, many are not so lucky.

I suggest that the most immediate way this can be addressed is if people start adopting from rescues instead of buying from breeders.