Stray Dog

foreign_correspondent

medders2604 wrote: »

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!

just a thought - has she tried stopping and opening the car door - if the dog has been used to travelling in a car she may just jump in.... its a longshot but may be worth trying, but be very careful of the traffic!

medders2604

Another progress update and good news, Lady is now letting my mate stroke her head regularly although she did freak out for a little while when she saw a collar (obviously knows what one is). The collar has not been put back away and will have another go in a couple of days and keep it in pocket until she is sure of suceeding.
Anyway Lady is now sleeping in the neighbours garage as long as the door is fully open so at least she is out of the majority or the rain and my mate even managed to get some flea drops on her so she should be a lot more comfortable and less itchy soon.
Couple more pics for you all as well.

Froglet

She looks lovely and healthy,for a stray dog.Great to hear she is getting so trusting.It can only be a matter of time.What a lovely person your friend is.

Spirit_2

Thank you fro the progress report. This is such good news - really uplifting. The piccies are lovely.

Spirit

zaksmum

Been following this thread in the fervent hope that this poor dog will be rescued soon. Can I just say, as others have, that your friend deserves a medal for the dedication she's shown towards the dog. And you too, medders. You're obviously very concerned about the dog and doing your utmost to help. The world would be a far better place if there were more people like you both.

The dog really is adorable. She does seem to have beagle in her as has been mentioned. I wonder if there's any chance she might've escaped from one of those places they use beagles for testing things? That could explain why she's so frightened. Are there any such places in your area?

You could send your photos to the local paper, ask them to run a story with the photos. Someone may recognise her from that.

She's a lovely little thing, looks really sad though but they all do that...gets them more treats! And she does seem quite chubby - could be pregnancy or just the fact that the whole neighbourhood's feeding her!

I do hope you have good news for us all soon. Please keep us updated.

medders2604

I think it is that the whole neighbourhood was feeding her they have now been asked to donate tins of dog food instead and no rawhide treats or pigs ears because she takes them and does a runner to hide them.
They are struggling to keep her on dog food as she much prefers the various treats she was getting but as she now can't get treats from any of the neighbours anymore she is now eating dog food.
She does look a little chubby on the pics but when she is stood up she is def not overweight as still has a good waistline but will keep an eye on it and as soon as can get her ontop a lead she will be straight to the vets for a full check up and to see if by any chance she is microchipped.
I don't know of any testing places nearby but I guess these place don't advertise what they are doing.
I'm thinking of contacting the paper myself once she is on a lead to give them a bit of a good news story am wary of doing anything before then as she is so adorable and the area is easily recognised that worry that people would turn up trying to catch her and undoing all the good work so far.

foreign_correspondent

that poor little dog - she has known some rough handling, my dogs always go mad with joy at the sight of a collar or lead, as they associate it with going on walks and happy things... clearly not what she associates it with.

She has come a long way though hasn't she...? her eyes look kindly and trustingly at your friend in the photos... hope all goes well and that she becomes more relaxed and tame soon... small steps and all that!

zaksmum

Of course, medders, that could be a problem if bus loads of well meaning people turn up and start pestering the poor dog in an attempt to rescue her. I hadn't thought of that...the dog would become more anxious and all your good work over the past couple of weeks in attempting to gain the dog's trust would be undone.

She looks quite a young dog, but somewhere along the line she's been treated badly, or maybe just frightened by something. One of my dogs is 6 and before she came to me she was hit by a car...no damage done, but even now 4 years later she's terrified of traffic. She cowers and shakes and NOTHING can calm her. If she ever got lost I shudder to think how she'd fare out on her own - wherever there's traffic you can't do a thing with her.

Probably the only thing you can do is what you're already doing, just try to keep her calm and safe till she feels trusting enough to come to you willingly. The RSPCA - in my opinion - have never been good at making much of an effort in these circumstances. I saw an old Alsatian last year, clearly ill, trying to huddle in the doorway of the local Chinese takeaway. The owners kept chasing it away as some customers were wary of entering the shop while the dog was there, and the road is a very busy dual carriageway. The poor dog kept staggering out into the road then trying again to get into the doorway out of the rain. It was scared too, moved away when I approached it, so I called the RSPCA. No chance, they said, we don't deal with matters like that. Told me to call the dog warden, but all I got was the answerphone. The police were equally disinterested. I returned to check on the dog but it had gone.

I wrote to the RSPCA to express my disgust but never got a reply.

So really you're doing all you can.

I do admire your persistence and I'm hoping you will have a happy ending for us soon.

Froglet

Far be it for me to suggest anything,as your friend is doing brilliantly.but i wondered if she carries a collar and lead with her each time they go for a walk,ie the dog following, she would associate it with something nice? What FC said gave me that idea.As do most dogs of course,and it might mean she wouldn't be so nervous of the collar or lead.

foreign_correspondent

Froglet wrote: »

Far be it for me to suggest anything,as your friend is doing brilliantly.but i wondered if she carries a collar and lead with her each time they go for a walk,ie the dog following, she would associate it with something nice? What FC said gave me that idea.As do most dogs of course,and it might mean she wouldn't be so nervous of the collar or lead.

that is a good idea - to try and build some positive associations with the collar and lead - she could maybe also hold the collar in her had as she gives the dog really high value treats and titbits, so that she has to approach the collar to get the treat - if she starts to associate the collar with walks, and slivers of cheese and ham, she may become less scared of it!