Okay, long story ...
For some reason this dog reminded me of Buddy (Buddy's parents). He's black and white PB or PB mix. He was in the park in front of our house the first time we saw him. he played with Skye great, no owner in sight. When SO approached him he shyed off, same with me so good with female dogs, shy with people. Expensive looking collar on, not bad shape. It's not uncommon for dogs to wander near the houses with owners out of sight, so we were not too worried about him.
A week later and Bud is back. Thinner this time and his coat is no longer so glossy. SO is out early morning with Skye and a neighbour with a young male black retriever is out at the same time. Buddy gallops about with Skye but plays and tolerates the young male too. Now, it's more worrying. He's not looking well kept. SO slipped Skye's lead over the dog's head and brought him home but the dog was very scared of people, was shaking and literally had to be dragged inside the gate. . I seperated Skye from him while I put out some food and water for the dog. He drank but didn't eat.
The guy with the retriever had said to SO if we did not want to keep him he'd take him in or take him to the shelter. He was a sweet dog but with two little kids and two cats, plus Skye a bit achy with arthritis and I know nothing about him, I thought he's be better to go with the young guy. SO took the dog round to him.
To my great pissed-offedness there was Buddy in the park again this morning - still skinnier. SO had a hospital appointment, so left him on our patio and this time called the police. I gave Buddy food and water - again he drank but did not eat. My daughter was at her grans for the night so I didn't have to deal with her fussing over the dog which was a relief. Still he slipped the lead and came to sit at the house grill to commune with Skye. The cats, for once steered a wide berth.
The police called and asked me to take the dog into the park.
I took Sami and Buddy into the park. Out of the patio he was so much happier, pulled like almighty on the leash, but his tail was flapping like a flag, belly up rolling in the grass and I can see he had a wound on his tummy (cause of the eating problem?) not raw, but evident.
I sat on a wall to wait for the police and Buddy casually leaned against my leg. Polce were a no-show, so I returned to the house and on the way one of my cats wandered down the path. Buddy lunged at her but a sharp no and he came right back to my side. He cringed in fact which is obviously not a good sign. He was tense when Lili was hanging about but relaxed as soon as she perched out the way to watch him from on high.
Police called again and off I went into the park. Again a no-show. Returned to the house. By this time Buddy either thought I was off my rocker or had started to completely relax. He looked at me several times tongue out grinning.
Police called again and I said for god sake this is killing me, come to the front door. Which they did too soon afterwards. I had Bud on Skye's lead and the guy who came was a big overpowering looking guy. he rattled this great chain and Buddy cowered and rolled his eyes. he was scared all over again.
Long story short, the police will check if he is chipped. If not, he'll have a month's grace. I can't bear the thought of anything happening to him. I asked them to call me if they couldn't find the owner. But I am unsure whether I could trust this dogs with my children and cats.
If the police call and say his time is up, I know I would take him in even if only temporarily to find him a new home. But PB owners/experienced folks ... what are the chances of a (guessing at age) 1.5 to 2 year, people shy, possibly cat aggressive, though sweet when relaxed dog like this coping wth young boisterous kids?
I am heartbroken that I let Buddy go this morning ... though I know I won't let them put him to sleep unless he does indeed prove to be aggressive.
Very sad and not at all sure that I did the right thing.
If HE was already people shy another month in the police pound is going to make him worse. Wish I'd taken a photo to show you all.
Now, I think if I'd kept him here he'd be settled by now and snoring along wth Skye. Instead he's probably curled up shaking and scared in some grim cage.
For some reason this dog reminded me of Buddy (Buddy's parents). He's black and white PB or PB mix. He was in the park in front of our house the first time we saw him. he played with Skye great, no owner in sight. When SO approached him he shyed off, same with me so good with female dogs, shy with people. Expensive looking collar on, not bad shape. It's not uncommon for dogs to wander near the houses with owners out of sight, so we were not too worried about him.
A week later and Bud is back. Thinner this time and his coat is no longer so glossy. SO is out early morning with Skye and a neighbour with a young male black retriever is out at the same time. Buddy gallops about with Skye but plays and tolerates the young male too. Now, it's more worrying. He's not looking well kept. SO slipped Skye's lead over the dog's head and brought him home but the dog was very scared of people, was shaking and literally had to be dragged inside the gate. . I seperated Skye from him while I put out some food and water for the dog. He drank but didn't eat.
The guy with the retriever had said to SO if we did not want to keep him he'd take him in or take him to the shelter. He was a sweet dog but with two little kids and two cats, plus Skye a bit achy with arthritis and I know nothing about him, I thought he's be better to go with the young guy. SO took the dog round to him.
To my great pissed-offedness there was Buddy in the park again this morning - still skinnier. SO had a hospital appointment, so left him on our patio and this time called the police. I gave Buddy food and water - again he drank but did not eat. My daughter was at her grans for the night so I didn't have to deal with her fussing over the dog which was a relief. Still he slipped the lead and came to sit at the house grill to commune with Skye. The cats, for once steered a wide berth.
The police called and asked me to take the dog into the park.
I took Sami and Buddy into the park. Out of the patio he was so much happier, pulled like almighty on the leash, but his tail was flapping like a flag, belly up rolling in the grass and I can see he had a wound on his tummy (cause of the eating problem?) not raw, but evident.
I sat on a wall to wait for the police and Buddy casually leaned against my leg. Polce were a no-show, so I returned to the house and on the way one of my cats wandered down the path. Buddy lunged at her but a sharp no and he came right back to my side. He cringed in fact which is obviously not a good sign. He was tense when Lili was hanging about but relaxed as soon as she perched out the way to watch him from on high.
Police called again and off I went into the park. Again a no-show. Returned to the house. By this time Buddy either thought I was off my rocker or had started to completely relax. He looked at me several times tongue out grinning.
Police called again and I said for god sake this is killing me, come to the front door. Which they did too soon afterwards. I had Bud on Skye's lead and the guy who came was a big overpowering looking guy. he rattled this great chain and Buddy cowered and rolled his eyes. he was scared all over again.
Long story short, the police will check if he is chipped. If not, he'll have a month's grace. I can't bear the thought of anything happening to him. I asked them to call me if they couldn't find the owner. But I am unsure whether I could trust this dogs with my children and cats.
If the police call and say his time is up, I know I would take him in even if only temporarily to find him a new home. But PB owners/experienced folks ... what are the chances of a (guessing at age) 1.5 to 2 year, people shy, possibly cat aggressive, though sweet when relaxed dog like this coping wth young boisterous kids?
I am heartbroken that I let Buddy go this morning ... though I know I won't let them put him to sleep unless he does indeed prove to be aggressive.
Very sad and not at all sure that I did the right thing.
If HE was already people shy another month in the police pound is going to make him worse. Wish I'd taken a photo to show you all. Now, I think if I'd kept him here he'd be settled by now and snoring along wth Skye. Instead he's probably curled up shaking and scared in some grim cage.
