Sometimes I just don’t get it
This photo was in my Facebook news feed yesterday. Several folks shared it, wanting to help this exceptional dog:
As you can see, there is not much chance someone would not recognize this extra special dog. He was found a couple of days ago in the Read Mountain area. He is currently on a 10-day stray hold at the Regional Center for Animal Control and Protection. He’s not eligible for adoption yet. He was wearing a collar but no tags. He is not microchipped.
There were a lot of comments on Facebook about this dog, some were accurate but a few were mistaken. According to the pound, this dog has never been there before (another three-legger was there before — this is not the same dog) and his owners identity and whereabouts are still unknown.
Clearly, because he’s a handsome boy and a tripod, he has garnered a lot of attention, and that’s great. I hope if his owners claim him they take better care of him and if they do not claim him that he — and all the other strays — end up getting a great home out all the Facebook buzz.
(By the way, if you know who this dog belongs to, let them know he’s at the pound and send them to this blog to read the rest of this entry)
But here is the part of this sad story that I just DO NOT GET, and this is the part of the Facebook chatter that I think was spot-on.
My dogs have gotten out of the yard –accidents happen. I go looking for them immediately and don’t stop until I find them. If I could not find them, I would alert animal control for assistance. My dogs are all microchipped, so when anyone finds them and takes them to any vet or Regional Center for Animal Control and Protection, I will get a call to come get them. And I would come get them immediately.
Also, my dogs are fixed. This dog, and many of the other dogs at RCACP that are found as strays, are not fixed. An intact dog (or cat) will find a way out of the yard (or attract the boys to the yard) because nature compels them to look for love. A spayed or neutered dog is far less likely to go wandering.
When you own a pet, it is your responsibility to get that pet fixed (a few rare exceptions for health reasons, but the vast majority need to be snipped.) It’s the best thing for the pet’s health and safety and the best thing for our community.
When you own a pet, you need to keep his or her shots current, keep your dog license current, put a collar and tags with your phone number on your dog, and get your dog microchipped so he can always be identified.
When you lose your pet — contact the Regional Center for Animal Control and Protection. Call 344-4922 (save it as a contact in your phone) visit the website or go to 1510 Baldwin Avenue to look for your lost pet.
That’s what being a responsible pet parent means: taking proper care of your animal and being responsible for that pet’s, and society’s, protection and safety.
And how some people who have dogs and cats don’t know that, won’t do that, or just don’t care?
I just don’t get it.
January 26, 2012 - 11:43 AM
I don’t get it either – and I’m not likely to; I think that’s what separates responsible pet parents from irresponsible “owners.” But a couple of notes here: do NOT rely solely on a microchip to ensure your pet’s safety. They are not always scanned for and scanners do not always work. Also, while the RCACP is required by VA Code to tell you whether or not an animal missing your pet’s description is at their facility, this does not always happen either. Please, please go immediately to the pound and ask to do a walk-through. You may be balked at, but they are required to let you do it. So many lives are senselessly lost because people simply do not have the information that they need.
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/heavy_petting/2012/01/animal_rescue_want_to_adopt_a_dog_or_cat_prepare_for_an_inquisition_.single.html#pagebreak_anchor_2
I wonder what everyone else’s experience has been with rescues? My little dog I’m about to have surgery on “technically” doesn’t belong to me…it’s in my contract that the rescue can come get it if I’m not fulfilling my end of the deal (can you say witness protection?)
Anyway, this article describes exactly what I experienced last summer trying to get a rescue dog. I assumed my experience was unusual – there are STILL rescue places I contacted who didn’t bother responding! – but I guess it’s not.
I think it hurts the mission of a rescue and drives business to places like Puppy Love just out of frustration. Anyone have thoughts?
I do not understand pet owners that let their dog(s) run loose (I’m not talking about them escaping). I see this often, and on busy roads too. It breaks my heart, because I know that they can and sometimes do get hit by cars. I do not have dogs, but my two cats (from the RVSPCA) are both chipped, although they never have been outside. If one did get out, I would worry myself sick til I found my cat.
Kristen: A colleague sent me this link just about the same minute I was approving your comment. Very compelling and yeah, I recognize a few behaviors described brilliantly in this article. Shame you had problems adopting since you are clearly devoted to your pet.
Nona, I couldn’t be happier with the dog I ended up with. It’s just a learning curve. You go into a “rescue” experience assuming you’re giving a home to a dog that needs one, and you learn pretty quick that you have to sell yourself, hard. Because even if your house is good enough for you and your kids, it’s probably not good enough for the dog.
I work with a friend who adopted one bulldog from a rescue and has been trying for a year to get another one. No luck yet. We laugh and I told her to promise to put the dog in private school and send it to Europe every summer….MAYBE she’ll get a second look.
Thanks for your help, Nona. My neighbor was the one who found him. Some people might have looked the other way but she immediately stepped in to help and then called me. We spent most of Wednesday afternoon and into the evening walking our neighborhood and asking the UPS driver and everyone we could find if they knew this sweet boy, phoning vets, putting information on Facebook, contacting rescue groups, etc. I drove him to the vet to see if he was chipped. The workers there they fell in love with him. He’s sweet and will get a forever home (hopefully soon) if his owners don’t come through for him.
“Sometimes I just don’t get it” either. Thanks to the author. Well written with common sense advice. Here’s to educating people to becoming more responsible pet parents. (BTW, my friend in New York notified me about your blog.) Keep up the great work!
Also – thanks to Good Neighbors willing to pitch in and help a lost dog in need. I’ll continue to check on my 3-legged friend. As of 3pm Friday, January 27th — no one had claimed the dog. He is a wonderful dog! Very sweet, affectionate, and he has no problem getting around (obviously). This dog deserves to be with a family who will provide responsible care and a lot of love. Neutering is a must.
I get it. Why is it so difficult to get it? Has anyone considered that this dog may have been deliberately abandoned? Not far fetched considering that many people consider animals as disposable as a used tissue. They do not neuter/spay, they allow the dog to wander because they’re too lazy to walk the dog, they put out Free Puppies sign and do not care one whit to whom they give the puppies, ad nauseam.
As silly as this suggestion may sound, if your dog or cat is microchipped then get a tag normally used to identify the dog, to read “Dog (cat) is microchipped” so that the shelter/pound will be aware of it.
Rita: The “I don’t get it” part is rhetorical. Sort of. It’s beyond me that people would get a dog or cat and then not behave responsibly to keep the pet safe. I assume most people get a pet for companionship. I cannot understand how a person could let a companion go missing and not at least look in the most logical places to find him or her. But I am an old soul and being responsible and compassionate are life skills I’ve always tried to practice and, speaking for myself and the regualr readers of this blog, I just don’t get how some folks seem to not apply those skills to pets.
Terrific suggestion about the tag. Next time I “re-do” my dogs’ tags, I will add that to the information.
Rita, my neighbor and I thought of the possibility of someone dumping him, since it had been raining for a couple of days but our friend was dry and looked well fed. So he either jumped a fence, jumped out of a vehicle, or was dumped just before she found him.
Update – The 3-legged dog has been REUNITED with his family. The owners claimed him from Roanoke Regional Animal Control on Saturday, January 28th. I am told that they it was a happy reunion and the dog seems to be very much loved by his entire family. The good people at RCACP were great to provide me daily updates (they were rooting for this dog along with the rest of us). The staff educated the family on the importance and benefits of neutering, microchipping, collars, ID tags and routine veterinary care. I am told the owners seemed receptive to the advice.
Thanks to The Happy Wag for publishing responsible pet parenting tips (let’s hope the owners of this 3-legged dog read your blog and schedule appointments for their pet right away). Special thanks to the regional caretakers, Angels of Assisi, and the many individuals who have followed this story.
For those folks who expressed interest in making a contribution to help the 3-legged dog, please consider supporting other “tails of success” by making a tax deductible gift to Angels of Assisi or your favorite animal rescue organization. Happy tail wishes to all!
How do I get a contribution to the “tails of success”? No cause seems more worthy than this to me. I have given to Angels of Assisi through the United Way.
Deborah Penley Goodview Virginia
Deborah: I would contact Angels of Assisi directly to make a contribution.