Have you / Would you ever take in a stray animal?

Question

Would you apply certain conditions to keeping the animal?

Two years ago, we had a "big black dog" in our yard out in the country. On approach, she growled at my husband. I sat on the step and she came right to me. We put an ad in the paper for a week and she went unclaimed. She was strictly an outside dog, always came when called, did lots of tricks (loves catching a frisbee), good w/ the kids and never barked in the house.

Then she went missing. By the grace of God, she was found both times. Both times, someone picked her up. She became an inside dog.

Here she sits, officially our dog, our baby. She's been awesome! She scares people away (intimidating to see a black lab mix barking at you) but if they were to put their hand out, she just might lick you or nudge you for a scratch.

In February, she gave birth to 10 pups ~ 9 went to good homes and we kept one. Three months later, she was spayed. The male we kept is on docket for neutering.

We weren't too excited by the surprise litter either. Being an inside dog, she would go out to pee (natually). We didn't know she was in heat (no discharge or unusual behavior) and she was "had" the night of the kids' Christmas program when we let her outside afterwards. She was on a cable and a male cream lab was running loose. I found the owner out looking for her dog and let her know what her dog did. I also expressed huge disliking to it. I attending a city council meeting and spoke up about the dog laws in town. It's now unlawful for an owner to knowingly allow their dog to run loose.

Miracle Mom ~ First there are a few things that need clarification.

When our stray showed up, we lived in the country ~ 6 - 7 miles from any town. We didn't tie her up for obvious reasons of coons, coyotes, etc. After the first time she went missing and we got her back, she was inside at night. The second time she went missing, she became a full time inside dog.

Yes, she came to us (or was dropped off at our county road intersection) and was not on a leash, but there were also no leash laws. We let her run in the country because we could.

The first person that picked her up, saw her out in sleet ~ in reality, she had just went outside when I ran into town. Thirty mins later, I'm home and she's no where. The second person coaxed her from our yard and dropped her off in the city 6 mi away.

Just over a year ago, we moved 200 miles away to a small town of around 200 people and brought her with us. There were no leash laws on the books in the small town until I said something.

Answer 1

Yes I have taken in many strays and will continue to do so. I may not be able to keep them all. I always find a suitable home, but not without trying to find. the owners first. I'm just a softy when it comes to strays.

Answer 2

Don't you find it ironic that you don't want dogs running loose, yet that was how you came by and found "your baby" as you put it? That's quite a story! and if you think about it, if that law was in place back then, maybe your big black dog would've never crossed your path.

So just be grateful he did, and not be so hard on this other owner for letting his dog run loose, provided it's a friendly dog. Afterall, obviously good things(you're the example) can happen if a dog takes a trip alone....

But at the same time, I believe ALL dogs should be leashed or tied up. And where was your dog? Obviously not on a leash :) It's unfair for a person to pay the extra money for an invisible fence, or regular fence, etc. to always leash their dog, and be a responsible pet owner, then neighbors are completely irresponsible and lazy, and don't want to walk their dog. They'd rather just send it out on its own, to go to the bathroom in every other yard but their own, to threaten little kids, pets, etc. I don't get why these lazy people even HAVE pets.

And I have a puppy and 4 kids, I hate the black dog at the end of the road b/c he seems nasty, and he's loose all the time. I should be able to walk down my road without being worried about my kids or puppy being bitten. That in my mind deserves a call to animal control.

Answer 3

I personally feel that if you find an animal which is likely to be someone's pet, you are obligated to do everything to help them find their family again. This could be notifying the SPCA or animal control, vet offices, anywhere the owners may try to contact. Ads in the paper or posters are good as well. If no owner comes forward within a reasonable amount of time (I would say 6 months at most) then you have every right to keep the animal since by then it has integrated itself into your home and routine. In any case, someone who waits 6 months to claim their animal with all of your "advertising" out there is either too dumb to own it or doesn't care enough.

Answer 4

I took in a black lab that was about 4 months old. He was so emaciated, and was just in bad condition. We worked him up to health, and at 5 months old, we got him neutered, and by 6 months old, we found him a new home. In those two months that we had him, we house trained him, and also taught him some basic commands.

So I am all for taking in stray dogs, and rehabilitating them to get them ready for new homes. I have one dog, and she'll likely be the only permanent one we'll have =)

Answer 5

All three of our cats where strays that ended up in our front or back yard. We put adds in the paper, signs up in the neighborhood and none were claimed. Our male came to us fixed, so all we had to do was get him up to date on all of his shots and introduce him to our females. The two females both were unspayed, and one was a kitten and pregnant. We had her spayed right away and turned her into a pamperd house cat. The other little girl rules the house and is very spoiled. Our front yard also attracts birds and we are now the proud owners of two cockatiels that found their way to us. Again, we put ads in the paper and around the neighborhood but again nothing. Our house seems to attract stray cats and birds.

Answer 6

I have taken in many stray kittens who's moms have gone missing. I also took in 6 baby cotton tail bunnies this spring because I mowed over their nest and mama (I didn't see them just moved into a new house and the grass was really long). I nursed them for awhile then set them free in the country on the reccomendation of my vet. There aren't really any stray dogs that I have seen in my town but I am sure I would take one in if I saw one.

Answer 7

yeah. this is lucky
http://s195.photobucket.com/albums/z242/sjpavelka13/?action=view¤t=DSC01264.jpg
his owners tied him to a tree when they found he was sick. my sister's boyfriend's mom found him. he was on a dead end road. we took him in. then found out that the owners had tied him. we called the sheriff and they r still investigating. lucky was really sick. the vet thought he had parvo (when the previous owners had him) but she said he would have died by the time we found him. she decided to do exploratory surgery on him because the x rays looked like he had a blockage. if she was able to remove it she would and then wake him up. and if not she would put him to sleep while he was still under. thankfully he made a full recovery. we signed him over to the shelter and they paid for his surgery and veterinary care. then they let us pick his home. lucky had really bonded with one of my mom's co workers. and we decided to give the dog to them as a gift. they were looking for a dog anyways. so we told them that if they took him that we would pay the adoption fee. he now lives happily with them and their kitten and older cat. we dogsat for them this weekend and found that he is just as happy and healthy as the day that we gave them the dog.
i would never apply certain conditions to keeping or at least fostering an animal that i found. any dog can be trained and that is reason enough for me. there r so many good dogs out there on the streets. i found one of them. if people would just give them a chance then there would be some great pets in this world.

Answer 8

My father was a school Principal in an inner city. There was a puppy that would just wander around the school yard and the teachers took turns taking him home at night.

One Friday it was my Dad's turn and by Monday....he was ours. We put an ad in the paper and nobody claimed him. We had him for 18 years!! He was a great addition to our family.

Answer 9

I gotta say, getting the dog spayed WAY before would have been a great idea.

I have taken in MANY stray dogs and cats over the years and the vet is always the first trip we make!!! We never have spayed/neutered animals dumped on us and I am not a fan of accidental litter of any critter.

Answer 10

I've taken in strays before, the local no-kill shelter is always full. But usually I get them a new home asap. I can't afford more than what I have, so finding them another family is priority.