just rescued a shepherd

[crewchief_chick]

So, here's the story: Our neighbor called us today and asked if Kendra had gotten out of the house. Turns out a female shepherd has been roaming the neighborhood for a couple of days, the neighbor thought she was ours, and called us. Has collars, no tags, and I'm assuming no microchip, we will get her checked tomorrow.

As of right now, barring any major issues with our dogs, which there hasnt been, we are going to keep her. We've named her Aspen.

She looks to be between 6 and 7 months, as she's right about the same size as Kendra, but with wider ears, and she's a bicolor. She's had no formal training as she's not listening to sit and down, but she's already started to learn and is beginning to listen to us.

Soon as dinner shows up, I guess I'll eat, then run to petsmart and pick up a Kennel. Luckily enough we have "travel bowls" for our current two (different colored plastic ones like we already have).

Any tips on feeding her, as earlier she was starving and immediately scarfed down what we set down in front of her. She does not guard her food, except Kendra got too close to her bowl earlier. I think she'll fit in well. I'll post pics soon.

[ChancetheGSD]

You just found her today, someone might be missing their dog. :/ I'd try to find her home before I went about spending a bunch of $$$ on her.

Neither of my dogs are microchipped and collars are easy to get off. I'd be really upset if someone kept them just because they didn't have ID's on them without even trying to find a home through advertisement and things.

[crewchief_chick]

the neighbor who dropped her off to our next door neighbor had said she's been roaming the neighborhood for a couple of days now.

She has two collars, and no tags of any sort. Unfortunately, with this being a military base area, people dump dogs all the time in the neighborhoods.

[Lixx]

Ditto to Chance. You don't know how long she may have been out and there could be someone frantically looking. Please put a full effort into finding her owners before deciding to keep her. Thank you though, for giving her a safe place for the night!

[KZoppa]

She said they're going to take her tomorrow to have her checked for a chip! chill! Plus they can return the kennel if they do end up finding her owners. I'm sure they'll put in the effort to find her home. If not, at least she has one who has already stated she has a home with them. I'd rather spend the money on a stray and return the stuff or set it off to the side just in case, than have some random puppy or adult tear up my house. And they have to call her something. Aspen sounds a lot better than Hey dopey! or Hey you! or HERE PUPPY PUPPY!!! It was also mentioned she's been running for a couple days. If she's had no training, its likely she was turned out or ditched to someone backyard so they probably dont even know she's missing. You never know. Least she's got a roof over her head and was found and caught by people who care. And she's lucky she didnt get hit by a car too.

OP, good luck finding her home. if you're not able to after the required time, good luck in keeping her. Sounds like she's landed in a place that will care for her no matter what.

[BowWowMeow]

Thanks for giving this dog a temporary home. To be sure she's not someone's beloved dog I would give all of the local shelters in your area a call and give them her information. I would call the vets in the area too and also any animal supply stores. Ask them how long the stray hold is too because that is how long you have to hold onto her before you can officially keep her. If someone is looking for her they will be very happy that she is safe!

Just an FYI: plastic bowls are a bad idea. They hold bacteria and can cause skin allergies (on the lips and nose). Most people use stainless steel. If you want to save money just pick some up at a yard sale or thrift store.

[ChancetheGSD]

I don't see a reason to "chill" since I'm chilled in the first place, just pointing something out. Checking for a microchip isn't enough. Would you be ok with someone taking your dog if it got out because it didn't have a chip or tag just because they're a good home? You'd prefer they DIDN'T post or look around?

There are a couple of ads for lost GSD's in the OPs area on Craigslist, what if this dog is one of those ads?

MOST strays tend to NOT have on collars. Most people who are cruel enough to dump a dog don't leave a collar on too to give any sort of hint at a possible owner.

[KZoppa]

I'm just saying that people shouldnt assume all the OP is going to do is check for a chip and then keep the dog. Not everyone is like "Oh well i just found this dog and all i have to do is check for a chip then i can keep em!"

The OP did NOT have to take in this dog, especially with their own animals already in the house. The OP could have simply chosen to let this pup keep running the streets until she got either hit by a car or picked up by a shelter truck or even poisoned for simply running loose!

I'm sure the OP has been around long enough to know the ups and downs of searching for a missing owner. AND if there are lost ads posted in the OPs area, seems to me, you'd be more interested in posting them for the OP to see if the dog matches any descriptions in those ads instead of assuming things that may or may not be true. Give the OP the benefit of the doubt.

At least they'll bother to check for a chip. A lot of people wouldnt even bother. Not to mention you dont know the situation in the OPs area. She did say the dog had been out wandering for a couple days. She ALSO said its a military area and we've all heard enough stories about how animals constantly get dumped because come time to PCS, suddenly there's no room in the car for that so called beloved pet.

I can vouche for how true a statement that is given we had a couple neighbors at our last duty station who had no problems admitting that they would change stations, get a new dog, and then dump the dog before they moved only to get a new dog at the next station. It happens all the time. And animals are still being dumped regularly regardless of location. We dont know the situation. This pup could have been a backyard dog someone got to guard the property and she got loose because she wasnt getting attention she needed or training. She could have been dumped because someone was moving and didnt want to deal with her. She could have been dumped because she was too much to handle. She could have been dumped because owners felt she'd be better off on her own than left at a shelter. We just dont know.

The OP has assured me that they'll provide for "aspen" as long as it takes to find her owners, if they cant find them at least she has a home. She isnt just going to check for a chip, she's actually going to go that extra mile and put out ads and check locals shelters and such. Until the future unfolds, "aspen" is at least in a place where she'll be taken care of. How about instead of assuming and jumping all over someone so soon, you step back and give them the benefit of the doubt. Just saying.

They dont have to do this yet they are. they could have just left her out to get hit by a car or poisoned by someone.

[KZoppa]

Originally Posted by BowWowMeow

Thanks for giving this dog a temporary home. To be sure she's not someone's beloved dog I would give all of the local shelters in your area a call and give them her information. I would call the vets in the area too and also any animal supply stores. Ask them how long the stray hold is too because that is how long you have to hold onto her before you can officially keep her. If someone is looking for her they will be very happy that she is safe!

Just an FYI: plastic bowls are a bad idea. They hold bacteria and can cause skin allergies (on the lips and nose). Most people use stainless steel. If you want to save money just pick some up at a yard sale or thrift store.

[Wild Wolf]

If that was my dog and someone didn't try hard enough to return her, I would be devastated. I hope she finds her home soon!