Happy Ending For Rescued German Shepherd
Yesterday I spotted a dog on the higway, looking very confused. Two trucks had to swerve to avoid her. She was frozen in fear, not able to move from the spot. The weather was miserable, rain with ice on the highway. I ran out of my house in my stocking feet, hoping she would come to me. She saw me. I had to walk on to the highway.That really had traffic stopping! I gave the dog the command, “Come.” She instantly came to my side where I was able to grab her collar. Some goon rolled his window down in his car shouting at me, “Can’t you keep your damn dog off the highway?” My priority was getting the dog to my home. I just smiled as brightly as I could, and thanked him for stopping. It was his turn to look a bit confused.
She was wearing a 2008 dog tag. The pet store sells the tags, marks down the owner, and I can usually find the owner that way. Or people can purchase their dog tags at the Town Office. First the offer of food and water. Then a huge plush blanket in a corner. Plus a handful of cookies. She offered her paw in thanks. I shook her paw and I could see how distressed she was. She whimpered, did some soft chuffing, trying so hard to tell me something.
The first thing I did was take her to the vet’s office. No one there knew the dog. She was scanned for a microchip, nothing. Back outside I walked her on a leash beside the highway. Her owner could be driving around looking for her. What happened next was really stupid of me. I usually have plastic bags in my pocket, to clean up after a duty call. She picked the nicest lawn, squatted, leaving a pile that looked like a huge bear had been there. I had no way to clean it up, other than scuffing some snow over it. I could see the homeowner glaring at me through his window. I felt like a five year old caught doing something naughty.
On to the Town Office. Here is where it gets good. I had just stepped up to the door, when a small car came flying around the corner. A lady got out of it, in a complete dither, saying that was “her” dog, what was I doing with “her” dog! I never hand over an animal until I’m sure the dog hasn’t been abused, or they can prove the animal is theirs. The dog was happy to see his mistress, and as I was talking to her, the animal control officer drove in. He was on his way to see her about a complaint levied against her about her dog barking. Meanwhile she put her dog into the warm car.
What a super feeling, to have found her owner. It turns out the dog quite often jumps the low fence around her yard. She usually stays near home. This time she wandered. She’s left alone in the yard all day, so she barks. I talk to myself if I don’t get out enough. Same thing. Boredom.
As I walked home I thought about how easy this round was. So much of what we all do, who work with lost dogs has to do with the public, not just the dog. I stopped at the house where the dog had left her mound, it had been cleaned up. I knocked on the door, was able to talk to the home owner, he was just glad the dog was okay. I was forgiven, this time. Next stop, the vet clinic to let them know the dog was at home. While I was there, a man told us of a kitten who was crying outside his house. He opened his truck door to get in, the baby tried to follow. He didn’t feel he could take on a cat, the baby was left. He remarked how bad he felt. I told him, if she was still there to bring the baby to me. How any person can leave a crying kitten, or lost puppy out in the cold, is just beyond me.
This rescue ended very well. When I got home, I stuffed my pockets full of ‘duty bags’, next time, and there is always a (next time) I will be better prepared.
