Serious advice sought re: dog

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

The woman and I are very happy with our lone canine, the inimitable Sadie Mae Glutz. Rescued from certain death, Sadie Mae has become one of the family for the two years she's been with us. It is a hassle finding friendly neighbors to feed / look after her when we go on tour, visit relatives, etc. We go out of town a lot and impose on our neighbors too much as it is.

Today, a very beautiful black dog, similar in size and breed to our Sadie Mae Glutz, came into our lives. Jessica and I were watching the Arrested Development DVDs when we heard a fracas outside. It was this dog, and Sadie Mae Glutz, tied to a very long stake in the yard, getting to know one another. Not fucking YET, but heading in that direction.

Most sane, rational people would grab the nearby rake, break the two apart, and send the transient dog on his way. But we were quite taken by the new dog, as was Sadie. Sadie isn't fixed, and this new fella had quite a set of balls, so we couldn't let them be together unsupervised.

This new dog, obviously a puppy, had no ID tags. At first we thought he was a stray but when I set a bowl of food out for him, he didn't touch it. He was only interested in our Sadie. We brought Sadie inside and closed the glass door, and the two peered at each other and whined. It was a very touching, Disney type of moment. We thought, if we send this dog away, it may end up being killed by a car or something, so we let him borrow Sadie's collar, and tied him up outside. This was about 6 hours ago and no one has come looking for him. It's getting cold out there.

What should I do? Sadie Mae has an old kennel we used to use when we were training her - should I bring this in from the garage and continue to harbor this animal? He hasn't left the porch. It's heartbreaking.

Do we keep this dog, at least for now, and get both of the monsters fixed first thing tomorrow? Money is an issue - it's the reason we haven't had Sadie fixed yet. We don't NEED another dog. What do we do?

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I dunno, put an ad in the paper to see if anyone lost a dog?

― Jordan (Jordan), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:40 (twenty-one years ago)

...dude: did they make babies? I want a puppy. And, probably, should not have one due to the current living situation.

― giboyeux (skowly), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:42 (twenty-one years ago)

keep it.

its a sign.

― Hari Ashurst (Toaster), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I actually had a similar experience the other night, a kitten ran into the bar I was drinking in. I grabbed it and a girl asked me to take it outside. I did, it jumped down and ran back in the bar. I grabbed it again, and I really think it was someone's lost cat that didn't know how to get home rather than a stray (it was very sweet and under a year old). I was THIS CLOSE to taking it home, despite the fact that we already have three cats in a small apartment who would probably tear it apart, but I ended up leaving it with girl to take home on the condition that she put an ad in the paper and not take it to a shelter.

― Jordan (Jordan), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Have you called the local shelters or Animal Control to see if anyone has lost this young boy dog? Even if no, they might be able to take care of this dog.

― j.lu (j.lu), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Contact your local humane society, sometimes they'll do spaying/neutering free of charge (esp. if you're taking in a stray).

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Do you have any spaghetti?

― I'm serious ... Ti-i-i-i-im (deangulberry), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I was about to say, noting Hari's response, two friends of mine in similar situations have ended up with stray dogs that turned up randomly who were sweethearts. Still, I'd definitely put in an ad or something to be sure of things.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:45 (twenty-one years ago)

One thing to definitely not do is get the stray fixed before you're absolutely sure that no one is looking for it, which means you're going to have to wait for at least a few weeks. I've heard of people getting litigious when their dogs are sterilized without their consent, and even if they might not have a foot to stand on, it's best just to wait.
Of course, you can spay your own dog whenever you want.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:45 (twenty-one years ago)

its a big bad world out there for a dog.

― Hari Ashurst (Toaster), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I wouldn't worry about a lawsuit - a stray with no tags,the owners would have difficulty claiming it was their dog, much less that you should have assumed anything.

If you want to keep it, I wouldn't even put an ad in the paper. The owners left it in a situation to escape without tags or a collar, not a loy of sympathy from me.

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks, Dan, that's really good advice. I hadn't thought of the litigation angle at all.

But, I can't let this horny beast in the house with a ready and willing Sadie Mae walking around, just ASKING FOR IT! Plus, I doubt the fucker is house trained.

I agree with Hari - I think it's a sign. The dog is SO sweet, too. But I'm definitely conflicted.

I'll place an ad in the paper, but around here, people send dogs off to ther cold deaths all the time. There are strays EVERYWHERE. I doubt anyone will respond.

I don't trust shelters or pounds. I've had bad experiences, even with no-kill shelters. This dog is cute, but not THAT cute. Not adopt-able, I wouldn't think, in the context of many other lonely dogs.

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Take him in. It's like an unexpected pregnancy that the parents are happy about.

I like "it's a sign"

― supercub, Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm bringing him in. It's too cold out there. Unless he's a contortionist or an escape artist, I doubt he'll be able to get to Sadie Mae through the cage. But again, I'm conflicted. This dog has been outside, running around, perhaps impregnating neighborhood dogs all day. And I'm going to go 'save' him now by locking him in a cage until Jessica and I can figure out what to do??

Not excited about the prospect of cleaning up piss and shit, though.

Do dogs copy behavior? As in, will the very trained Sadie Mae revert back to doing her business in the house if she sees this new dog doing it?

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I've not read the question but just drop a brick on it if it's getting too expensive.

― Bernard the Butler (Lynskey), Sunday, 28 November 2004 23:58 (twenty-one years ago)

get him to post on ILX and we'll let him know whats what as per the 'peeing inside' issue.

― Hari Ashurst (Toaster), Monday, 29 November 2004 00:01 (twenty-one years ago)

i just visited with him, and he's a humper. Big time. This is a dog we'll need to have fixed immediately.

Who should I call, should we decide to keep the dog, to fix both dogs, maybe for free?

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Monday, 29 November 2004 00:05 (twenty-one years ago)

the ASPCA recommends:

* The Friends of Animals
(800) 321-PETS (7387)
www.friendsofanimals.org
* SPAY USA
(800) 248-SPAY (7729)
www.spayusa.org
* Hearts United For Animals
(402) 274-3679
www.hua.org
* United Animal Nations (UAN)
(916) 429-2457
www.uan.org

― Remy Snush (x Jeremy), Monday, 29 November 2004 00:10 (twenty-one years ago)

thanks man

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Monday, 29 November 2004 00:13 (twenty-one years ago)

keep the dog

― ke[hm, Monday, 29 November 2004 02:05 (twenty-one years ago)

make puppies!!

― jill schoelen is the queen of my dreams! (Homosexual II), Monday, 29 November 2004 02:21 (twenty-one years ago)

we're keeping the dog (Ralph "Balls" Callahan) and had him snipped last night. he's been a bit docile but that's to be expected. we LOVE him!!

hey roxy you wanna dogsit or maybe come by and feed them for us next time we tour? free fridge + booze privelages if you do!

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Friday, 3 December 2004 01:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Ralph "Balls" Callahan

...this is actually the name? Isn't 'No Balls' more accurate?

That said, rah for dog!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 3 December 2004 01:06 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, i'm happy with him. we were calling him "Balls" before the 'procedure,' so it'll always be a cute middle name. But yeah, he's just 'Ralph' around here.

I just gave him a shower - presumably the first of his life - and though it was a horrible mess, he's learning to trust me.

He's not getting along with Sadie Mae though - a complete turnaround from the doe eyes and love whines detailed above. Sadie has, naturally, become territorial, and has been bullying Ralph a bit. But when she got into his personal space a few minutes ago, all hell broke loose. Ralph defended his food bowl and sleep blanket with an 'enough already!'-type vengeance, biting and barking at Sadie, but both dogs stopped as soon as I bellowed my most authoritarian 'NO!' at them both.

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Friday, 3 December 2004 01:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Good for you!!! You've helped both Ralph, and any other dogs-in-heat around the neighborhood who don't need to get knocked up.

Ralph MAY just smell weird to Sadie because he was at the vet - I know that happens with cats a lot, and they soon get back to being friends. Give them both lots of attention & love, separate from each other, so Sadie doesn't think he's going to take her place as the center of the universe. ;-)

Is she still in heat? Maybe having a dog around who's not going to hump her is annoying her! Clearly, she needs to get fixed too ASAP since I'm sure Ralph isn't the only unfixed boy in town.

Again - GOOD FOR YOU!!!

― Layna Andersen (Layna Andersen), Friday, 3 December 2004 02:42 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.