Stray Dog

UKTigerlily

My Dog was a Stray & took about a week to catch but luckily a girl from the Rescue she was taken to saw her & got the DW & Rescue involved, it's a shame they can't be more helpful for this little Dog! If she runs into the road & god forbid causes an accident & someone is killed I wonder what the Police will say then when it's made known that they knew all along!

How's she going? I wondered if she has Basset in her! I hope someone can catch her soon, sedatives sound the best way to me, it wouldn't take long to knock her out surely & if she's supervised then she could be moved quickly into the Vet's care?

foreign_correspondent

UKTigerlily wrote: »

I hope someone can catch her soon, sedatives sound the best way to me, it wouldn't take long to knock her out surely & if she's supervised then she could be moved quickly into the Vet's care?

Although it sounds logical, apparently its not a good idea - the local doglost co-ordinator, (obvoiously they have a lot of experience in catching dogs in simailar stuations) reckons it is too high risk to try - she says 'definitely not a good idea and can be potentially very dangerous as the effects of the sedative cannot be supervised on a dog on the run. Most vets would not prescribe them anyway in this sort of situation.'

Hopefully the food and building up trust approach will work! If not, a dog trap is probably worth a try.

medders2604

We are steering away from sedatives because of the problems FC mentions, she is now staying on the driveway apart from when she gets spooked but of progress is that she let my friend stroke her earlier so going to keep at that for a few more days till she stays for a while then pop a slip lead on and hey presto!
Think my friend is hoping to keep her but obviously vet is first port of call to see if she is chipped and to get her some treatment for her sore feet and then a lot of rehab in the long term to get her used to contact. Don't think she will ever be a house dog but my frined is thinking of a heated kennel in the garden although until she is checked at vets for chip she cant do anything.

UKTigerlily

Hmm does your friend happen to have a secure back garden? I'm wondering if the Dog would follow your friend while she drops a treats trail into a garden? At least then she'd be safe & could be given some sort've shelter?

medders2604

The garden is not completely secure though it is surrounded by privet the dog could escape if it felt cornered so daren't risk it don't want to freak her out and undo all the good work so far.
I still keep laughing when she tells me she is taking the dog for a walk, its more a follow than walk the dog as the dog just trundles along behind wagging her tail she loves the company (as long as not touched) so just follows her everywhere ,she is now up to walking her 4 times a day!

foreign_correspondent

medders2604 wrote: »

Think my friend is hoping to keep her but obviously vet is first port of call to see if she is chipped and to get her some treatment for her sore feet and then a lot of rehab in the long term to get her used to contact. Don't think she will ever be a house dog but my frined is thinking of a heated kennel in the garden although until she is checked at vets for chip she cant do anything.

she may be surprised - I rescued a dog that had been abandoned in a garden (long story) she was a little terrier and had been worked and always lived in a cage in the garden with a lurcher. I intended to take her straight to a dog shelter and hand her in, but I had to drop her off at my house and leave her for a couple of hours...

I fully expected to get back to piles of dog mess and destruction - I got home to find this little ginger dog waiting in the hall for me, tail wagging and everywhere clean and intact - and I couldnt take her anywhere, cos she was soo pleased to see me! She wheezed a bit for the first couple of weeks as she wasnt used to the central heating, but she quickly became accustomed to a life of luxury and a warm bed, and had a very comfortable old age with us!

If this little dog is wagging her tail when she sees your friend, I think she may well be able to get used to living with people, although she may need to be ignored for a little while so she doen not feel too intimidated, and she will probably need to be housetrained! It strikes me that she is very hand shy, perhaps she has learnt that to the only time people reach out for her is to hit or punish her... however, dogs are innately sociable animals and she obviously is pleased to see your friend!

Hope she catches her!

screamer

I've got my fingers crossed for Lady.

She is adorable and I wish I could help more. I think Lady has found a few friends on this site and we look forward to an update!

Good luck, and your friend is a star!!!

aliasojo

screamer wrote: »

Good luck, and your friend is a star!!!

I agree. :T

You hear so much about people being cruel to animals that sometimes you forget that there are kind hearts out there too.

Tell her we think she's a diamond. Althought the dog is scared, it must sense genuine kindness otherwise it would've been off again. They do say animals are a good judge of people.

trudij

Shes gorgeous - hope your friend catches her soon, and that they have many happy years together

medders2604

Bit of a funny update for you. The dog is now loving being walked but will only go right with my mate and left with her neighbour if either goes the other way the dog just stays at home.
Dog has also now taken to chasing my mate when she tries to go out in the car.

Think we need to get a lead on her as soon as possible or she will be running for miles behind a Nissan!