what you do with this stray dog?

Question

i was out in the yard a few days ago and seen a dog wandering around. one i have never seen around before. i live out in the country so am used to all the local peoples pets. it was very friendly and walked right up to me just wanting attention. it wandered off but showed up later whining out in the driveway. it was very cold and raining so i let it in. the next morning i called all the neighbors around and they said they had also seen it wandering around the past few days but no one in this area owns it and they think it was just dumped off out in the country. it obviously hadnt been fed in a few days but otherwise is a very clean well kept dog. very odd as its easy to tell it is a purebred basset hound and not what would just be dumped off. and it was surely someones house dog as it is trained to go potty outside and is very used to people and getting on furniture and sleeping in the same bed. it also gets along well with my house dog. it had no collar or tags.

i was told basset hounds like to chew alot and will destroy furniture but i have left her in the house when i go to work and she hasnt destroyed anything. im sure it isnt a puppy but i dont want to spend the money taking her to a vet yet until i am sure no one is going to claim her. i am also thinking she was dumped away from her previous home as she seems to not want to go very far away from the house when i let her out. she has walked up to the road so i am just thinking maybe thats where she remembers getting dumped off. but i whistle and she runs right back to the house. would you keep her or just take it to the pound. i would feel bad if they just killed her if she didnt get claimed. but i also think someone must be missing her. i have asked everyone i know and they said it is not a local dog.

Answer 1

Joey youve got to keep this dog he or she was obviosly misstreated if he or shes will come to you so easily..one other thing could be ( that since its a purebreed) this happened to our purebred last summer she was stoled out of our yard and about a week later we got her back apperatntly she got mad at the dog theifs and wanted to go home and someone witnessed our dog growling at them they threw her out of the car and the couple that witnessed it had her microchip checked and had her returned to us.. if no-one claims her after a week please keep her or him and give lots of love joey!b

Answer 2

I understand your dilemma- what I would do is to ring your shelter or whatever to see if anyone has reported a basset hound missing- but I wouldn't say that the dog is with me- rather I would say that I saw a dog wandering around and just wanted to know if anyone is missing a dog so I can give them some info on it and if no one claims it then keep the dog.

I don't think you should give the dog to the shelter coz they can kill the dog for many reasons, i.e. if the shelter thinks that the dog's temperament is not good- even if you say it is a great dog they have stringent and non-passable tests so if the dog doesn't meet the requirements, they could kill it then.

So I think you have to be a bit tricky about it all- in my view, nothing wrong with lies when it involves saving a dog.

I think it was dumped too- seriously if you are in the country, as if the dog got chased from the city to the country. Also if the owners were visiting the country, surely they would have looked around and put ads up if they care. From the sounds of things, I think she was dumped but do what I said to get the best of both worlds.

Good luck and let us know what happens!

Answer 3

We were in a similar situation with a stray last fall that the school my sister's kids go to had found. My sister brought the dog to me and we immediately put ads up all over the place... phone poles, vet offices, pet supply places, craigs list. We also called the humane society and animal shelter to give a description of the dog in case any one came looking. I took the dog to my vet to have her scanned for a microchip as well and no luck there either.

After 3 straight weeks of searching for the owners, we finally rehomed this sweet little stray. I can't take a good dog to a shelter and wanted to find her a home myself.

I would say that you should do all that you can to locate the possible owners of this dog. Call the local shelter and go in to see if there happens to be a microchip. If after 3-4 weeks, no one is coming forward for the dog, then you need to decide what to do from there. If you like this dog and it fits in nicely with your family and no owner can be found, then I would keep it if that's what you want to do. Just make sure you have exhausted every effort to find the original owner first.

If you don't wish to keep this dog for any reason, you might consider contacting a basset rescue in your area to see if they can help you place the dog in a new home.

Answer 4

I would keep her if I couldn't find where she belongs but I have a majour soft spot for Bassets.

If they're trained not to, they aren't generaly problematic chewers. Just the same as any other dog.. Teach them what not to chew and provide plenty of the correct things to chew. THey can be problematic about howling sometimes though.

Don't assume that this dog was just dumped. I know it's easy to do that because of how she acts but even the best trained Basset will wander off. They'll get a scent, put their nose to the ground and follow it until they're good and lost. Never trust that she won't wander off just because she seems to always stay close to the house. That is how a lot of Bassets (and other scent hounds) are lost.

Answer 5

This is what I do when I find a stray (just to play it safe and cover all bases).

1. Take it to a vet office and have it scanned for a microchip.
2. Call all local vet offices and see if someone has reported it missing. Also leave your contact information in case someone does report it after you called.
3. Take it to PetSmart (and other places where dogs are allowed) to see if anyone there recognizes it.
4. Hang "found dog" flyers and/or place an ad in the local newspaper.
5. If anyone does come to claim the dog insist that they show photographic proof that the dog is theirs. It doesn't hurt that they should know the dogs name and it will respond to it.

If none of the above pans out - keep her. She sounds like a good find.

Answer 6

Have you brought it to your vets to be scanned for a micro chip? I would definitely do that. Then just put up poster's around your town asking if anyone has lost a Basset hound. Like in your local grocery, feed,barber shops. Also call some vets around your area to see if they have a Basset hound owner who has perhaps lost their dog too. If no one claims this dog then you can find and call a Basset Hound rescue and ask them to come and get the dog or keep it yourself. You have to make up you own mind about that.
It never ceases to amaze me when people just dump their dogs out in the country hoping someone will take it in. I hope this is not the case and his owns are really looking for him.

ADD: here is the home page for Basset Hounds of America. Here you can read and learn about Basset's.
http://www.basset-bhca.org/

Answer 7

Call the local shelter and see if anyone has reported the dog missing might want to take him or her to your vet so they can scan it for a micro chip and if it doest have one maybe place a found dog ad around town or in the paper and if nothing comes up then fine you have a new fer baby and sounds like he or she loves you already . Just DONT turn the dog over to someone claiming to be the owner unless they can tell you all about the dog, you dont want her or him falling into the wrong hands if you know what i mean....

You sound like you will make the dog a great new loving home lucky for that little fer baby.

Answer 8

I would just keep her. I know that sounds bad...but think about it. If you had to let her in b/c she was wondering about in the cold rain, and if the neighbors all agree they have seen her wondering about for some time, as well as it being noticeable that she hasn't eaten then maybe she wasn't loved enough to be returned to her previous owner (if one even exists) maybe she'll just get a better home with you...fille with the love she needs. Just maybe she found you more than you found her and she needs you?
I would just take her to the vet, get her healthy and keep her if i were you....it seems like she deserves you (and you deserve her)
: )
good luck!

Answer 9

If you want to keep it in your house, then that's fine. put up an ad in the paper or hang fliers around your neighbourhood. but u could also take it to an animal shelter and have them try to find it's owners. maybe it's micro chipped. u might want to get that checked out as well. i think u should wait a while though before u give it to any shelter if ur planning to. hope this helps =)

Answer 10

You may try calling your local veterinarian offices. running an ad in your paper or posting signs.
I sincerely hope if no one claims this dog, you will be able to keep it. Sounds like you can offer it a good home. I believe sometimes animals end up at our homes for reasons we aren't aware of at the time. Good luck....