I just nearly added another dog to the collection

[Patches]

On my way to school this morning a couple of parents stopped to ask if I had a dog lead in the car. They were restraining a border collie that had run across the road (busy road linking the local villages with the nearest big town) towards them.

I didn't have a dog lead, but did have a leather lead rein lead for showing in the car which buckled through his collar.

Lovely dog. Clearly only a young adult but VERY thin. I could easily see his ribs and feel them, which says something when he's a rough coat collie with longish hair (not the really thick long hair...just like our collie Bess).

Anyway...the woman who owns him suddenly appeared walking up the road with a tiny puppy lead and her daughter to take to school.

I joked that when I realised he was a young dog I nearly put him in my car to take him home to the farm to fetch the cows for milking. She quipped back that I could have him as she can't keep him in and doesn't have time for him anymore. Her hubby has left her and she has a disabled child in a wheelchair so can't take the dog for the walks she used to. She has another one as well, but that has less drive and is quite lazy in comparison.

I did give her the dog back of course, but told her that if she seriously considers re-homing to let me know. She said if I see him out again at least I now know where she lives and then joked to another parents "He's out again.....blooming houdini".

I've now come home feeling really worried for the dog as that's a busy road to be getting out on to. He was such a nice nature too and I have a nice big farm for him to run around on.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Poor dog!!

I hope she does the sensible thing and rehomes him rather than leaving him to escape/get run over. Sounds like my old neighbour - couldn't be bothered with his springer anymore so used to leave him to run loose in the hopes he would get picked up and dealt with by the dog warden - t*sser!!

 

[Patches]

I felt quite sorry for the woman really. She clearly adores her dogs and was super stressed at him for escaping yet again. She said they used to go for miles on walks but as she has the child in the wheelchair, and no hubby to help, she can no longer walk them like she used to do before they split up.

I can imagine that even if rehoming him is the right thing to do logically that it must pull on her heart strings.

Both of the dogs are apparently from a very good breeder in Scotland. She went on to tell me they were friends so she only paid £140 for him when they were advertised for £500. I got a feeling she would expect to sell him. I'd happily rehome him but I don't intend to buy another dog so certainly wouldn't hand over £140 for him....even though he was super scrummy.

 

[MurphysMinder]

The trouble is the majority of collies have far too much energy for the average owner. If she got him from a good breeder hopefully they will help if she does have to rehome, sad for all considered really.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Poor dog!!

I hope she does the sensible thing and rehomes him rather than leaving him to escape/get run over. Sounds like my old neighbour - couldn't be bothered with his springer anymore so used to leave him to run loose in the hopes he would get picked up and dealt with by the dog warden - t*sser!!

I don't know what happens in your local authority, but here, if they aren't claimed, rehomed or sold within seven days of being picked up by the warden, they go into the little room at the bottom of the yard and they don't come out again.

My OH's sister did this with a dog I had spent weeks training, because she couldn't be arsed with him, just kept letting him out, dog warden picked him up and a week later he was on a slab. I know this because the dog warden told me so. Not his fault, hers. So I rang around every kennel/rescue/rehoming facility I could and gave them a description of her so they could refuse to give her as much as a hamster.

Anyways Patches, you never know your luck, you might end up with another one!

 

[Patches]

We're a very long way from where she used to live in Scotland now, so the logistics of returning him to his breeder can't be that simple.

We'll see. I told her to let me know if she seriously considers rehoming him. The thought of him getting out on to that road continually is a worry though as the dog has absolutely no road sense at all (not that many dogs do of course).

He's a lovely little thing. I felt sorry for him as he is sooooo skinny too. He looks like he needs a damn good feed. If he's not getting much exercise then you'd not expect him to be so thin if he's on a good diet....unless he's stressing himself around the garden. She did say they've worn a track in the garden where they run around it constantly.

 

[jack9]

not Astra sheepdogs isit?

I almost rehomed a BC, but we had 3 dogs at the time and it wasnt practiacl in a small house lol.

Want another when i move out though - miss my BC's.... i have a springer atm.

 

[Patches]

No idea who the breeder is. We live on the Cheshire Border so Scottish breeding (as I'm not into showing at all) is out of my domain.

 

[jack9]

No idea who the breeder is. We live on the Cheshire Border so Scottish breeding (as I'm not into showing at all) is out of my domain.

Yeah im in cheshire too... i looked at Astra a few years ago for a BC only why i asked - i was ready to drive up then circumstances changed

If you cant take the dog for any reason if it needs rehominh - i know someone who runs a rescue (good!) centre...that applies to any breeds anyone has btw..

 

[Patches]

Thanks for that Jack9. I will remember that.

I did see the woman at the primary school tonight and she again quipped about having the dog, but you could tell she wasn't completely serious.

We'll see. I will tell her that we'd be happy to take him on and give him a lovely working home should she ever want to rehome him.

I won't pay for him though....well not that amount. As far as I see it I'd be doing her a favour to get her dog out of an unsuitable situation, given how her lifestyle has changed.