Can I offer a dog the right kind of life?

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moocow

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just wondering what peoples oppinions are. I found a dog at work on friday. Loads of people tried to catch her and they couldn't. I came out of the office and she just walked up to me and sat down. She then followed me to my car and when I opened the door she jumped in. I took her to the dog pound thats only about 500 mtrs from my work.

they have scanned her and she has a microship, she is spayed and she has stictches in her paw from an injury. She is obviously somebodies pet. I went up to the pound today and they said they cannot get any info from the micro chip - either the old owners didn't register it or its foreign chip. She gets PTS if not claimed by tomorrow.

i feel terrible but i am not sure I can offer her a suitable life. We are in rented accommodation, we have a garden but I would have to put one of those pens in but they are only 6 ft x 10ft. The life i could offer her would be a walk in the morning, into the pen with a kennel for the day (8 till 6) a walk in the evening - we live in the mountains so the walks would be nice ones. she would sleep in the utility room at night. Thats 10 hours on her own a day!

Is this a good enough life for a dog? Its not how i would normally keep a dog and didn't intend getting a dog until i was in a job where I could take them with me (about 16 months time). What do you think? I don't wnat to take her on if I don't have a good life to offer her but if i don't, tomorrow is her last day.

Oppinions would be great.
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Oh thats a really hard one. I hate the way they get pts so quickly, its the same here in NI. When you think about all the dogs that are kept chained up outside or in cages most of the time, I think what you are offering doesn't sound too bad. It does seem a long time to be on her own each day but it sounds like you might be changeing your situation in the future so it wouldn't be forever.
The other thing is it might give you a chance to trace her owner if you could keep her for a bit. Theres probably someone missing her like mad and it would give you time to phone local vets etc and get the word around instead of her getting pts.
I suppose the other option if you were to keep her permanently would be to get another dog for company - in at the deep end!
 
OMG not two of them! i didn't even plan to have one!Thing is i live in wicklow but work in dublin so there is no way i would be able to trace the owners really. i have two elderly cats as well and I have no idea what she would be like with them. Its such a bad idea to take her on but I really don't want her to be put down after she trusted me. I don't know what to do
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Are you allowed animals at your rented house? Some are funny about it. Occasionally some scanners wont read certain chips, it may be worth getting another surgery to have a try.
 
I know what I would do! I would have her, see if I could find somebody who would like to give her a walk and some company at lunchtime, it would buy her some time and you might find her the ideal home even if you did not feel you were that ideal home?

Poor girlie, some things are meant to be...
 
It is impossible to say really. Some dogs are perfectly happy being left for ages, or just sleep all day anyway; some go bonkers and need constant stimulation. What sort of dog is she? Would you have the time to walk her once or twice a day? In view of the fact she is scheduled to be pts, you both have little to lose by giving it a go.
 
My dog is left alone for between 8-9 hours a day, she is fine. I would take the dog and see is you could maybe get a walker like Pinkweasel said to come for an hour in the middle of the day. I'm sure she'll be fine with the cats, just introduce them nice and slowly. If it doesn't work out at least you tried and you can re-home her yourself.
 
Thanks. I work about 40 miles away from where I live so I can't get back to walk her at lunch. i live in a very rural area so I don't think I will be able to get a walker for her. Could try though!

Dont think the owners of the house would have much of a problem - we would just be liable for whatever damage is done. they accepted the cats OK. The scanner is reading the chip is just they can't link any info to the number that is coming up.

Someone just told me that another member of staff used to keep puppies here at work in one of the sheds. I am off to see if I can get permission to use one of the sheds for her. I doubt I will be allowed - insurance and all that but its worth a try. She could then have her walk in the morning, travel in with me, go into her shed, have a walk at 11 and an hour out at lunch and then again at 3.30 and then home at 5. she will be down the yard with me for the rest of the evening then.

I don't know what breed she is but i would say she is a lab x grey hound.

thanks for the advice!
 
Is there a person who would walk her for you in the day?? If not then I would say that you can't offer her the kind of companionship that would make her happy.

That is a long time to be alone throughout the day - I don't care what anyone says.

However, I can absolutely understand your angst given that the dog could be destroyed pretty quickly.

Really tough one.
 
Yeah amymay, my instinct is with you - I don't think its great leaving a dog for that amount of time. baring in mind, it could be even longer if there are problems with traffic etc. I know plenty of dogs are kept like that and are quite happy but as an adult dog, who has had a rough time (the accommodation in the pound isn't great) i don't know if its the best thing. Having said that, it must be better than the other option, again, other side of it, is it harsher/crueler to keep a dog alive and unhappy than have her PTS? I really don't know. I want to do the best for her.
 
I dont think she will be too unhappy. My friend has a greyhound who likes to sleep all through the day. I think the dog would be better with you than pts. If it didnt work out you have bought her some time.
 
I would take her in and see how she copes (and two dogs do better than one with long periods alone). If it doesn't work out you could either have a go at rehoming her yourself or have her PTS, at least you'll have givne her a chance?
 
What a dilemma. I can see your heart and your head locked in battle. All I can say is I once let my heart rule my head as far as a certain dog is concerned, and the outcome was wonderful for us both.

It's tough when there is a deadline involved. I think in your position I would take a leap of faith and save the dog with a view of finding it another home through advertising or a dog rescue centre. In that short time you may find that your own difficulties aren't as insurmountable as they seem, and a way may present itself for you to keep her.

You have nothing to lose, the dog is going to be pts anyway, and if you can do something for her, finding or offering her a home, I am sure that would be your reward. Please let us know.
 
Well the story at the moment is that we are going to take her - once we double check with our landlord but I think he will be fine. then if its not working out there are loads of people down my yard that might fall in love with her - am going to give her a bath and struce her up and hopefully they will fall for her and if not, there is a sanctuary down the road from us that is full to the brim but has a no kill policy and i am sure they would take her if I explained the story.

i just believe that she is meant to have a second chance. She isn't really my type of dog - I prefer the scruffy kind! But she chose me rather than the other way around!

the conditions in the pound are not good. She has a sore paw with an open wound. there are stitches in it but they have burst. i asked today if she had seen a vet and they said no, she wil be put to sleep in two days. well, I can't leave her there now can I!!!!!

I will keep you all posted on what happens. thanks a million for all yur advice. i think the general consences is that i should take her and give her a chance.

Heres hoping it works out ok!
 
That's brilliant, well done moocow, you really are a superstar. As you said, she chose you. She is a smart dog!

My dog had a split pad last year. I guess you will need to get it re-stitched, and it will stand a better chance if it is bandaged with the narrow version of vetwrap (gamgee underneath). I had to keep the bandage dry, and put an improvised boot over it when she went outside - it was something the vet gave me, a drip bag with an improvised drawstring round the top. You can get proper boots though which would have been easier.

If you really want to trace the owner, you could ask round the local vets near where she was found, as she has obviously been treated quite recently. You could put a notice on their notice boards.

I think she wants you though!
 
Well done for at least giving her a chance, you seem to have thought about it quite carefully. I agree that it would be a good idea to contact vets. If she has stitches in her paw it sounds as if she has recently had a caring owner, there may be someone out there who is really missing her.
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Thanks for all the response. I really appreciate them. the story moves on a bit today. Hubbie called the pound this morning and we were told yet another story. This time they said that they have traced the owners and they have until tomorrow to collect her. Hubbie said "oh thats brilliant news" and pound said "well not yet really, there is a large fine and its often more than people can afford so they often don't come to collect their dogs". I have no idea how much the fine is but anyway, they are calling me tomorrow if the owners dont come and pick her up and she is coming home with me. i have no idea where she will live but at least she will be alive!

Will keep you posted on the stray doggie saga!
 
What a bizarre policy, fining owners more than they can afford then putting the dog down or giving it to someone else!
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Maybe once they have signed her over to you, you can hand her back to the owners. Ridiculous.
 
Oh i have to pay to get her out as well sooty but I don't think its as much as the fine. its to "encourage" people to look after their dogs and not have them roaming around the place. the payment i have to make apparently covers her dog licence and her food for the five days.
 
Fair enough. But some dogs *cough Morgan cough* are very naughty and run off. Maybe they could be a bit more lenient for a first offence! I think the dog was very lucky to have found you.
 
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