Dilemma about a stray puppy

[Dominus]

My better half and I drove through the countryside last night. We found a stray puppy walking on the side of the road. We stopped and called him and he came over to us. No collar or anything on him.

We called the county and they sent an officer out. We thought he was sent out to take the dog to a shelter. When the officer got there, he told us they do not have a shelter and he recommended us to either let the dog loose or take him with us.

We have been thinking of getting another lab because ours is getting really old.

Should we just keep him or somehow try to find the owner? We are only passing through this state so we will not be here much longer.

Obviously, I am conflicted. It will be hard to try to find the owner. The area is literally all fields and the hills have eyes kinda feel. And we are just passing through. On the other hand, if I lost a puppy I would want him back.

 

[Cormac135]

I think something very similar happened to one of our members called ZombieKiller, you should do a search for his thread and see what everyone advised him to do, i'm stumped.

 

[IowaGuy]

Do you think he might be micro-chipped? I would think any responsible owner would have a collar and tags but maybe the dog slipped out of it.

 

[Dominus]

Do you think he might be micro-chipped? I would think any responsible owner would have a collar and tags but maybe the dog slipped out of it.

The officer scanned him. No chip.

 

[Benvolio]

I suggest you place a classified add in the local newspaper, if you get no response, you can keep the dog in good conscience. Or, there is probably only one veterinarian in the town, perhaps two. He may know whose it is.

 

[rareboy]

You now have a puppy.

 

[FPNY]

I’d keep him...post a pic so we can all say awwwwwwwww....

 

[rareboy]

I think something very similar happened to one of our members called ZombieKiller, you should do a search for his thread and see what everyone advised him to do, i'm stumped.

Just don't lose him after like Zombie did. That was tragic.

 

[gsdx]

He came to you when you called. He didn't like where he was. He chose you. I would go with that.

 

[LeicsDom]

My better half and I drove through the countryside last night. We found a stray puppy walking on the side of the road. We stopped and called him and he came over to us. No collar or anything on him.

We called the county and they sent an officer out. We thought he was sent out to take the dog to a shelter. When the officer got there, he told us they do not have a shelter and he recommended us to either let the dog loose or take him with us.

We have been thinking of getting another lab because ours is getting really old.

Should we just keep him or somehow try to find the owner? We are only passing through this state so we will not be here much longer.

Obviously, I am conflicted. It will be hard to try to find the owner. The area is literally all fields and the hills have eyes kinda feel. And we are just passing through. On the other hand, if I lost a puppy I would want him back.

Do dogs not get micro chipped in the US?

 

[HoodedRat]

He came to you when you called. He didn't like where he was. He chose you. I would go with that.

I agree with this completely.

The dog chose you; keep him.

 

[FPNY]

Do dogs not get micro chipped in the US?

Our dog is a rescue and chipped, most dog do now I would think. This may be a little puppy....

 

[Benvolio]

Born on a farm he is less likely to be chipped.

 

[zoltanspawn]

Are there any animal services available to you in this apparently godforsaken backwater? Like, a humane society? Or a county Animal Control? Or maybe a thing like "Lost and Found" on Craigslist?

 

[sixthson]

Are there any animal services available to you in this apparently godforsaken backwater? Like, a humane society? Or a county Animal Control? Or maybe a thing like "Lost and Found" on Craigslist?

These are the questions I would ask, too. However, considering the cops attitude toward the poor little guy, I would just take him home with you....the puppy, not the cop, I mean. You want a puppy and he wants and needs your love. Sound like a match made in heaven.

 

[Rickrock]

After making every attempt to find its owner and not finding them, I would just keep it assuming that you want it.

 

[zoltanspawn]

^I mean, they called the county, and the officer said they could just let it loose, right?

 

[LeicsDom]

Our dog is a rescue and chipped, most dog do now I would think. This may be a little puppy....

I think in the UK there is now a law saying you HAVE to chip a dog

- - - Updated - - -

^I mean, they called the county, and the officer said they could just let it loose, right?

I think that is an awful idea
Cats can fend for themselves but dogs are very dependant on humans

 

[Dominus]

I’d keep him...post a pic so we can all say awwwwwwwww....

We called the county sheriff's office again and asked if anyone was looking for a dog of this description. Nothing yet. We might actually end up keeping him. Temperature has been dropping down to freezing at night here, which was why we weren't going to let him loose like the office recommended.



The paws are huge. He's still got a lot of growing to do.

On a positive note. He did numbers 1 and 2 when we walked him early this morning.

 

[Rickrock]

It is not unheard of for someone who doesn't want a dog (or cat) to take them to the country and let them loose thinking that some farmer will let them sleep in the barn and will feed them, or that they will fend for themselves.