Rescued a dog today

[Montana]

Well, this is the 2nd dog I have saved off the highway (70mph rural highway). First one was a big boi and jumped right in the lifted Tacoma I was driving. Had a collar, no ID tags or anything. Owner responded to my families FB post with "Just let it go, it will find it's way home"... I was obviously reluctant to hand the dog over, but I did make them pick her up. We exchanged some choice words and they are lucky to be breathing - or have their dog back.

Second dog - same highway. Small little Jack Russel build, female, very dirty, one tick on it's neck, no collar or ID. Family made another Facebook post. This time - I wanted proof of ownership in paper form, or I will maintain control until tomorrow and take them to get tested for a chip unless other proof of ownership could be presented.

Someone responds with "I am watching that dog for an elderly lady that is out of town, where are you located I'll come pick her up". Dog did respond to it's name, "Sassy" - or I guess it did - seemed to me like it was just responding to my tone and is a female. No proof in ownership, nothing. The lady threatened to call police, I said go ahead, they know literally nothing including location, so by all means call them.

I am taking it to get tested for a chip tomorrow. This dog is dirty! I mean like someone either NEVER gave them a bath or just pure neglect. Gunk around the eyes, tick on it's neck, no collar and my guess - no chip either.

I'm just fed up.
Irresponsible pet owners - this is a message for you: I don't care how attached you think that animal is to you, if they are disgustingly neglected and roaming around free on highways with no tags - YOU DON'T DESERVE THEM.

If this dog does not have a chip, I'll be holding onto it. We are waiting for a response from the ACTUAL owner the lady claims to be watching it for. If they have actual paperwork, then legally the dog is theirs. But if they can't provide anything - this dog just got a serious upgrade in ownership.

The issue is that my other dog is NOT friendly to other dogs - or people. We know this, we don't take him out in public, he is fenced behind a VERY secure fence, and he will only respond to our commands. We have gone through training with him, but he retains his unfriendliness. Some dogs just are that way. He's always been aggressive and we will keep him over any other dog that wanders in, but I just hate the thought of giving anything to a shelter especially knowing shithead owners would likely just scoop them back up.

Thoughts? Not that I care if you think I'm wrong, but since this is the 2nd dog this year, the next one I'm not even going to bother posting a lost and found ad about. No ID and no chip? Your loss. Hopefully there is not a next one... I also don't have social media (this is as close as I'm willing to get) so I am relying on my family to relay msg's to me. They also have no sense of security and likely have things anyone in the public can see on there - which I've warned them about more time than I can count. But it seemed like the right things to do and having this dog downstairs currently, my dog knows it's there and is not happy about it lol. Lastly, that dog drank about a gallon of water and even ate a small amount of food immediately as it was given it. The first dog wasn't interested in any of that and was clearly just looking for a way home.

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[MM Mav]

I liked your post for the fact that you're trying to do right by the dog, but what a sad, neglectful situation.

 

[Gpp]

If you aren’t going to properly take care of a pet just don’t get one.and tying a pet up or putting it in a cage 24 7 isnt taking care of a pet

 

[Montana]

If you aren’t going to properly take care of a pet just don’t get one.and tying a pet up or putting it in a cage 24 7 isnt taking care of a pet

This. I had a room mate long ago that crated his dog while he was at work. Just awful.

Unfortunately, the dog downstairs in the basement (it's a clean, carpeted basement) has already pooped down there lol.

I think we can setup a barrier around part of the basement that isn't carpeted (still plenty of room for it to roam and such) just in case it decides to go potty again tonight. We'll line it all with newspaper. That was kind of an afterthought lol. Not used to having to do that - we've always had very disciplined dogs for the most part.

I did get it on a leash but I didn't have a small enough harness, so it had to go around it's neck, and it peed outside a couple times. I don't trust leaving it outside all night. There are small areas in the fence where it may slip under that our dog would never consider doing, but walking this one around it was eyeballing those areas lol. I can't let it roam free around the yard for that reason. So she'll stay inside tonight. Got a bed made and everything. It's been quiet for the most part, but initially it was yelping a bit. I don't doubt it's got an owner, but from the sound of what my parents received on FB, it's an elderly person and they clearly do not maintain it.

If you can't physically provide your pet basic needs stuff, like baths, nail clippings, tick medicine etc etc... the you need to be prepared to pay a vet and groomer for that stuff. I'd be shocked if this dog even had any vaccines. Part of being a pet owner IMO. Be financially responsible for it's well being if you cannot physically do it yourself. If you can't afford that stuff - you can't afford a pet. It's that simple.

 

[Montana]

I almost forgot to update this.

We still have not received any proof of ownership. We reached out to the police and informed them of the situation after the dog came back negative for an identification chip. We still have her. If the owner decides to contact us we will go from there - but I stand firm with my decision to retain ownership until legal proof is provided and the sheriff agreed nothing can be done without paperwork. They can have all the pictures and proof of being WITH the dog in the world - no proof of ownership? Then it's not yours. Montana also does not address dog theft in it's criminal code, so in order to prove that animal is you property - you need paperwork. Even then, I will most likely comply with any litigation a possible owner brings forth due to the condition of this animal when I found it. By all means, I can afford it, can you? I mean, you can't even afford basic healthcare for it...

Considering the condition we found this dog in (we removed 3 ticks and the tub was COVERED in dirt while bathing), I feel this is the best thing for this dog. It breaks my heart though.

My family has removed the post and blocked the person that said she was watching it (mainly due to threats). If the owner wants to reach out, she can figure out a way through prior messages with that "dog sitter" and contact my family. Otherwise, she can go screw herself.

Take care of your pets. They deserve to be treated with respect. They love you and you are their entire world. Don't screw it up.

 

[BradnChristine]

We just had a really sad situation here in town a couple of days ago:.

"A 23-year-old woman is suspected of leaving behind two dogs found dead inside of a kennel in a mobile home that had been vacated three months ago.
Three women arrived at the trailer to clean it out Wednesday and reported finding a puppy and another dog dead inside of a kennel, said Police Cpl. Ryan Mahylis.
The women all identified a 23-year-old woman as the owner of the dogs but did not know where to find her."

Hell has a special place for her, and I hope they find her and prosecute her.

 

[BradnChristine]

We just had a really sad situation here in town a couple of days ago:.

"A 23-year-old woman is suspected of leaving behind two dogs found dead inside of a kennel in a mobile home that had been vacated three months ago.
Three women arrived at the trailer to clean it out Wednesday and reported finding a puppy and another dog dead inside of a kennel, said Police Cpl. Ryan Mahylis.
The women all identified a 23-year-old woman as the owner of the dogs but did not know where to find her."

Hell has a special place for her, and I hope they find her and prosecute her.

The really sad part is that there is only a $10 fee to surrender a dog to the shelter. And I'm sure anyone at the shelter would have paid the fee to avoid this outcome.

 

[Montana]

We just had a really sad situation here in town a couple of days ago:.

"A 23-year-old woman is suspected of leaving behind two dogs found dead inside of a kennel in a mobile home that had been vacated three months ago.
Three women arrived at the trailer to clean it out Wednesday and reported finding a puppy and another dog dead inside of a kennel, said Police Cpl. Ryan Mahylis.
The women all identified a 23-year-old woman as the owner of the dogs but did not know where to find her."

Hell has a special place for her, and I hope they find her and prosecute her.

The really sad part is that there is only a $10 fee to surrender a dog to the shelter. And I'm sure anyone at the shelter would have paid the fee to avoid this outcome.

Yea, disgusting. People like that don't deserve to share this world with others. I don't care how you feel about pets of any variety - people that abuse animals are scum. You can hate dogs, cats, lizards, dragons, unicorns etc etc all you want - You do not have the right to abuse them.

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