I have to get this off my chest - please help me decide what to do

[CatWoman]

My next door neighbor has moved out of his house, and I strongly suspect he has left his dog to fend for herself.

My neighbor moved out this past Saturday, I didn't find out until Monday (yesterday). Another neighbor told me as he had helped him move, and he told me that they weren't done yet because there was a lot of garbage left inside the house for them to throw away. A "for sale" sign is already up in front of the house.

Saturday morning I saw the dog out but didn't think anything about it. He normally kept her in an enclosure on his back porch, and I just figured she got out accidentally.

I saw him on Monday and mentioned that the dog was loose Saturday morning. He had come to get his mail. He responded as if it were an accident and that he was going to have to take her to the vet, or something like that.

I got home kinda late this evening, and she was out again. The neighbor that helped him move let me know the bastard's real intent was to just let the dog fend for herself.

I am heart broken. She is a very sweet dog. Her name is Oreo (I guess because she is black and white. It was his daughter's dog).

He told me to give it a couple of days to see what the guy is going to do. In the meantime, I'm going to check in the morning to see if she has any food and water. I'll stop on my way home to get her something to eat tomorrow evening.

[qnr]

1. I'd take action. Certainly feed it, but call the local animal services people and let

them know about the situation, or find some other route. I've known people to be away through no fault of their own, but if he is moving, the dog should have gone with him.

As to what you should do, it's hard for me to say. Two of the locations I've lived in recently seemed to take pleasure in euthanizing animals, so I would have hesitated calling them, and would have taken care of the dog myself, at least temporarily.

[idgiehkt]

2. that is really nice of you to make sure that she has food and water

It would be great if you could adopt her or find a home for her. Maybe there is a rescue that can take her? I wouldn't go through animal services if I could help it because they probably won't be able to do anything about the neighbor unless he's still in their jurisdiction (like he just moved to anothe house in town), plus animals shelters are extremely stressful and disease ridden places (airborne diseases like upper respiratory stuff). If an animal gets in there their immune system gets depressed and they catch stuff, if they get sick they get put to sleep. So sorry that some jerkoff burdened you with their problems. It's so wrong. Maybe someone else in the neighborhood can take her.

[CatWoman]

3. I'm going to research some animal rescue places tomorrow

good idea. thanks.

[idgiehkt]

21. can you post a pic?

If she is specific breed (black and white sounds like a possible border collie) you could go with breed rescue, and it would probably be easier to place her than just going through a general rescue. You could probably look up on the internet at a list of breeds with pics and then look up, for instance, 'border collie breed rescue' on google and see if there is one in your area. They also will sometimes travel hundreds of miles to get dogs to rescues. There is are dog 'underground railroads' running across the country all the time where people will drive the animal for say, two hours, to the next town, and then someone there will drive it for another two hours, etc... maybe the rescue could arrange something like that from their end.

[ThomCat]

4. I'm very glad you are paying attention.

I hope the dog is okay. It's criminal how often people just abandon pets that they don't want anymore.

I hope that neighbor at least left out plenty of food and water so the dog can eat and drink until you get some help out there. If not, I hope you can get over there with some.

:hug:

[davsand]

5. Sounds like you now have a dog.

That is what they told me yesterday at the office when I went in and told them about the stray that showed up at my house Sunday afternoon...

She stayed overnight with us and her people came for her Monday afternoon. They heard she was at our house when the Postmaster told them we'd found her. (Yeah, it is a REALLY SMALL town. If you tell the Postmistress the entire town will know by close of business that day. That is exactly why Kevsand went in there and asked her to spread the word.)

Anyhow, I have the reputation of being a sucker for critters. The general opinion was that unless owners turned up, that dog was probably gonna end up in my family. In truth, I'd already bought 8 lbs of dog food and a chew bone by the time the owners came for her. I also pretty much figured she'd end up staying if she was here for any length of time.

I will NEVER be able to understand how anybody can throw an animal away like your neighbor did. It just breaks my heart. Good on you for taking care of that poor dog!

I always knew you for a softie, and I'll just bet you now own a dog named Oreo!


Laura

[CatWoman]

6. Laura

I have four cats.

Four uppity, jealous, demanding cats. Male and Streak "punish" me for feeding the neighborhood strays by peeing on the carpet.

No way can I keep a dog.

I'm broken hearted here.

If I could, I would.

[Beausoir]

8. Yep. Cats are vindictive as hell. But they can also be surprising.

Like I said below...I just added a kitten to my two old fat 12 year old bitch cats household.

My old darlings are not pleased...but with the proper and SLOW introduction, things are going pretty well.

I've added a puppy into their world as well. Just two years ago. Dogs learn VERY fast not to mess with a pissed off cat.

The pee on the carpet thing is REALLY bad, though. Cats are stinky, no matter how you look at it. I have one old queen who refuses to use her box, no matter what I try.

I just wish you well.

[davsand]

14. Um hm. And I have a 15 pound meatloaf who likes being dog free.

Chaucer was really pissed at me for smelling like a dog Sunday night. I'm sure he'd have tried to kill me in my sleep if I'd taken that dog in to stay, but we dodged that bullet.

The bigger issue is, as a cat person, are you able to deal with a dog and how different they are from a cat? I'm not terribly sure I could, but I'd have done it for Material Girl and for the dog. I figure she's old enough she needs to learn more than just cat behaviors or else I'll have closed a door for her later in life.

My Lab died about 16 years ago, and I have come to realize that I have become very content with cats and how they behave. Going back to "dog life" would be a major adjustment, and I really had to think hard about was I willing to do it. I figure if it comes to pass--then great. Otherwise we'll continue on with the cat ruling our lives.

Much as I joke about my 15 pound meatloaf, he's become a part of our lives. He does rule this house even If he's never made a mortgage payment or mowed the yard. (Hell, I'd be happy if he'd learn to clean his own litter box and THAT hasn't happened yet either!)

I was teasing you a bit.

Take care,


Laura

[Beausoir]

7. That's my answer as well. We don't go looking for them, they come to us.

I just added a stray kitten to my household.

Didn't go looking for her...she found me...

It is stressfull as hell...and it is expensive to boot.

But you haven't heard the dog's side of the story yet.

Maybe it wants to be with you. Sounds silly, I know.

Bless your heart for thinking about that dog.

Whatever you do, it will be done with care and deliberation.

Good luck.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. Bless your heart for caring...

What kind of dog is she? Smal, large, medium?

If I remember correctly, you're in the DC area, too. I may be able to help find a home...

[CatWoman]

15. she's medium sized

but alas, I live in Atlanta.

We just reelected our criminal idiot governor, plus a bunch of other idiot republicans, and I wish to hell I was in the DC area.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

23. I'm sorry to hear that...

I don't know many people in the Atlanta area. Hope you find a good home for her soon...

[Haole Girl]

10. Did everybody else breathe a collective sigh of relief when...

...realizing this was not about another DU spat?

:rofl: :popcorn:


OK...now I'll go back and read the OP.

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

12. oh, i did

:D

[CatWoman]

16. you know, I rarely, VERY rarely do that

but that jerk had me boiling mad.

I DETEST cowards.

[Haole Girl]

17. No...no....You are fine!!!

I was referring to all the people in the Lounge saying good-bye and all the threads about the good-byes...and the threads about those threads. Oh, never mind...

[CatWoman]

18. LMAO

:rofl:

I know just what you mean ;-)

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

11. Please don't wait to call animal services CatWomen.

Let them force your neighbor to comply. Thanks for taking care of the dog though :hug:

[Haole Girl]

13. Report the bastard to the your animal welfare agency in your...

...area. What a jerk. Stories like this make me so angry. :grr:

[driver8]

19. Please don't wait to check on her -- take her some food and water

now. Who knows how long it's been since the poor little girl has eaten?

Is there anyway you can "steal" the dog? You seem like a very caring person and that is what Oreo needs right now.

[radwriter0555]

20. Your local animal control services will post a 12 or 24 hour notice on the door

and the owner is required to contact them. If he doesn't, they'll take the dog into custody, check his health and demeanor, and if he's adoptable, they'll re-home him.

Dog owners are required to at the very least check in on their animals within those periods and to provide food, water and adequate shelter...

You of course have the option of doing the same thing and he apparently just won't care...

[Karenca]

22. PLEASE leave her some food and water NOW!.

She might starve to death.
This is so sad.