Doggy Dundee

5/9/10

G’day Mates!

In a previous post, Doggy Dundee moped about the three stray dogs that had eluded capture, and apparently each continued wandering into the lost dog zone; But last week was more successful, and Doggy Dundee actually found three (different) stray dogs! Seems the score was even’d up a bit.

A common theme emerged- again: Owner inattention!

The Pug and Yellow Lab-X were a friendly pair without ID. After locating the owner who’d been out searching for them for 2-1/2 hours, I learned that they get out alot “…if I forget to close the garage door soon enough because that’s the only route they can go where the shock collars can’t affect them.” So, first, fellow DO close the door, and second, get ID on these doggies! Stray dogs can become lost dogs real quick, especially when there’s no ID tags.

The very next day a small, long curly haired black Terrier-X named Neville came sniffing about (looked kinda like a cross between a Scotty and an Ewok). Thankfully there was ID, though the owner didn’t answer for a couple hours coz he was dining in Ashland and left his cell phone in the car (sigh). When the owner did pick up the message, he hustled to Talent to pick up his stray doggy, and he told me “Neville’s usually good about staying in the yard, but we don’t have a fence and if we get distracted with the kids and leave him out too long, he takes off.”  How long has this been going on? More than a year. Duh! That’s taking a big chance with your dogs life – plus that’s lots of other people taking care of your lost dog, fellow. So, first, pay attention to  your dog; Second, fence your yard or at least enclose a section of it for Neville to do his business; Third…thanks for having an ID tag (next time, add an address, too, so finders can bring Neville home quicker.

Lost Dog Found Again – “Shadows” Always Follow Us 

Regular readers of Doggy Dundee know about stray dog “Shadow,” a shephard-mix with the wandering spirit who has been a regular “find” of Doggy Dundee on the streets of Talent, Oregon, day and night, over the last several years; also, often “found” by other residents, too. Seems like the only ones not able to get a hold on this dog is the owner(s), who have earned the dishonorable title of “Doltish Doggy Owners.” They’re nice, mature people, and they seem to really love their dog, but “don’t have a clue,” apparently, when it comes to controlling Shadow.

So, Shadow was wandering along the dark Wagner Creek Road in downtown Talent about 11 p.m. the other night again, and this time, rather than just come over to me (as normal) he was intent on teasing us, coming within inches but then running in circles or up and down and across the street, etc. Cars had to stop. Chase (who I had tied to a fence post) and Shadow had a grand time with this bounding game, and I finally sat down on some grass and reconciled myself to letting Shadow “play it out” and he finally came over (20 long minutes later) and nudged my arm.  I leashed him (remember that all good doggy dundees carry an extra leash for saving stray dogs), and we walked him to our home.

After receiving my call, the wife owner of Shadow drove over to pick up her lost dog. “How’d this happen again,” I wondered? Seems she’d taken Shadow out after dinner, he looked up at her, she instantly sensed his “spirit” was up, but before she could do anything, Shadow had raced off. Now, three things are off-kilter about this excuse: First, Shadow obviously wasn’t leashed and when you have a dog with a wandering spirit, leash him before you open the door! Second, “after dinner” time was, what?, three, four, maybe five hours earlier? And were they out looking for Shadow? Obviously not – again. Third, this stray dog act has been going on for years – Get a clue.

Well, Shadow, you can count on us! Doggy Dundee is always grateful to be in the right place at the right time for finding stray dogs – especially our doggy pals who are momentarily lost dogs.

Separation Anxiety: Report Lost Dogs To County Animal Shelters!

The two gorgeous Husky-mix lost dogs pictured on this post were renamed “Silver” and “Juno” by the Jackson County Animal Shelter. They were found together and brought in together, both dogs were obviously “house-mates” and best friends with each other. However, no lost dog report was filed with the shelter, there was no ID on either dog, and no response to the usual “found” listing the animal shelter placed in the Mail Tribune newspaper for several days. Finally, the staff placed both very well-trained dogs in adoption.

Two Reasons This Dog Story Is So Sad

First, Juno was adopted, but, unfortunately, the people did not also adopt Silver. We know Silver (the lighter-colored of the two, who seems to be a Husky-x, and Doggy Dundee is guessing some American Eskimo, too) misses Juno, and also is not very happy about being in the animal shelter versus a home. Silver is a beautiful, joyful, and obedient dog who’d obviously been well-loved and cared for.

Second, several days after Juno’s adoption, someone spotted a Craigs List “lost dog” ad  with those two dogs pictured. “Why didn’t they call us?” the staff wondered, and the staff immediately pulled Silver out of the adoption area, and tried contacting the “lost dog seekers” using the contact information provided via the Craigs List ad. They tried several times. No owner response. For days. Finally, Silver was returned to the adoption area this week, where she is, as of this date, still awaiting a home.

This tragedy of separation could have been avoided and resulted in a happy ending for both dogs if the owners had:

• Reported their lost dogs to the county animal shelter
• Licensed, or ID tagged, and/or a Microchipped on each dog
• Placed “lost dog” ads in the local newspapers (shelter staff will often check those).
• Not assumed that everyone would check a specific (or any) internet site to locate owners of a dog they’d found.

It’s the responsibility of owners to “get the word out” – not the responsibility of stray dog finders to scour the earth for the owner of stray dogs! Your dog will love you for it! Meanwhile, if you’re interested in possibly adopting Silver, contact the Jackson County Animal Shelter on Hwy. 99 in Phoenix, Oregon (Case #K0487). Phone number is 541-774-6654.

Boyfriend “Forgets” Dog

That Heads Down Highway

The tiny, vanilla-colored stray dog was a chihuahua, happily following his nose along Hwy. 99 in Talent, Oregon, sniffing delightful grass scents along the curb. Fifteen inches or more to the left and he’d be smushed mustard. Finding stray dogs is par for Doggy Dundee so we sacked plans, and pulled our car into a driveway, mindful that if this stray dog spooked and ran into traffic it wouldn’t be pretty. Thankfully, this chihuahua hadn’t been a lost dog long, coz he was curious and friendly rather than fearful or defensive, and ran into my arms and gave Chase a “licking.”

Oscar was his name (thank you ID tag), and since the Anjou Apartments were right there, we headed into their office and the manager called the number on the tag – Yikes! The woman owner was pretty “pissed” that her “pea”-brained boyfriend had let the dog out and “forgot him” (apparently again). Grrrrr…Guys, what’s with you?

Assured the woman would immediately call the doltish boyfriend to pick up Oscar, the manager suggested I let Oscar down to play with her dog in the office. Nice — until Oscar peed all over their carpet. Hmmm…Seems “p” runs in the family.

Expired Dog Tag Luckily Gets Stray Dog Home

G’day Mates! Next to not having any identification tag or dog license on your dog, having outdated tags is another aggravating factor that helps prohibit prompt reunion of dog with owners. Even if the average person ends up finding stray dogs and is curious and checks for tags, a dog without contact info is easily overlooked (“Sorry, pal. Don’t know where you live.”).

Not Doggy Dundee, though. I was getting out of my car at the local market when I noticed a large, furry beast of a stray dog wandering towards the outdoor grill area, his snout sniffing the air happily (“Yum…I smell chicken and ribs!”). Store employees didn’t know who the owner of the lost dog might be (though said it had been a rare visitor – meaning stray on prior occasion). The ID was useless – meaning NO ID tag and the county dog license had expired two years before. So much for my shopping! I easily enticed the stray sweetheart into my car and headed off to the Jackson County Animal Shelter in Phoenix, Oregon, arriving five minutes after closing time.

However, staff passed along the expired contact info that was still stored in their database (Dog named “Mako”), and I crossed my fingers that the expired contact address was still good; Meaning, I hauled the stray dog and myself back to Talent and began driving around town, asking passersby if they’d heard of the street. We arrived at the house just the owner arrived from work and was pulling into her driveway . I opened the car, the no-longer stray dog leaped out, and the owner tossed me that all too familiar sheepish grin and line Doggy Dundee has come to get-and not believe-from dog owners far too often: “Gee, he’s never gotten out before. It must have been the kids.”) Yeah, right, mate!

Stray Dog and Doggy Dundee Meet on the Road Less Traveled

Let me preface this by explaining that, adventurous as we are, the human half of Doggy Dundee loathes driving long distances. I plan a trip, map it, know the timing, get there, and I’m done. Same in reverse – No ‘in and out,’ and ‘in and out,’ and ‘in and out’ of the car for me! No wandering down confusing, tiring rabbit trails. Now, doggy Chase on the other hand…

Doggy likes driving

So, Doggy Dundee spends a three day weekend in the coastal town of Brookings, Oregon. Chase and I have great fun romping with lotsa dogs on the beach and in the frigid waves. Finally, pack the car to return home. Doggy Chase paws me, “Let’s cruise through Crescent City, California,”  she urges.

“What? No way,” I bluster.

Naturally, doggy Chase gets her way and south we head. Along the way there’s tempting signs highlighting roads to camping sites (our favorite summer activity), but rather than explore them, I pass ‘em by. “No more diversions,” I’m mumbling to myself. Then, suddenly yet another camp site sign erupts in front of us, I’m fixated by it, and Chase barks.

I turn off, screeching brakes. A deserted, single lane, forest-shaded road (more…)

Diligent Owners Pick Up Their Lost Dog

Most of the time, Doggy Dundee is just there allowing things to unfold…

"G'day," from Chase

It was just another late afternoon on a weekend when Chase and I happened upon a dog we’ll call Toddy for the purpose of this tale. She was a bitzer (that’s Aussie for a bit of this and bit of that…), shaggy, brown/black/gray with a great face but tired eyes and legs about to give out.  Nice lass, but no tag on her. Grrrrrr….

Well, we had a nice bit of a greeting on the grass with lots of petting and playing.  Then, the three of us started off again on our way back to my home, but I decided to stop and ask a coffee shop owner for a bowl of water for the gal – Natch, Chase, too.  (That stop was ordained, me thinks, coz the timing allowed a confluence of entities to meet up.)

A bit later, we started off again and turned a corner only to be shocked “s—less” by the screeching brakes of an SUV that was now halted in the middle of the street. “There you are!,” came the cry as the driver’s door swung open, a large fellow jumped out of one door, a woman out the passenger side, the bitzer danced a jig, they grabbed the leash, unlatched the clasp, the dog jumped in the cab, followed by the two humans and off they drove without even a “G’day” or “Thanks heaps.”

At least I had my leash still in hand.  Ah well, that’s what we’re here for.

Lost Llapsa Apso Attacked by Greek Dog Pack

There’s no worse feeling than knowing you have to do something to save a living being and be totally unable to do anything!

Greek Strays

It was May 2008. I was bound for the island of Patmos, standing on the rear exterior deck on the third level of a ship due to set sail from the Port of Piraeus on an approximate 10 hour journey that wouldn’t dock until midnight.  The last of the commercial trucks had been squeezed into the ship’s hold, and arguments were breaking out between officials and the truck drivers whom they were turning away due to max’d capacity.  My eyes were drawn away from the human drama of discord, though, by movement rushing down along the shoreline’s dock road.

Down the all but deserted seaside drive ran a lost dog, a Llapso Apso,  fast, furry, and frantic, every movement – rushing from here to there to over there and back – demonstrating panic and confusion. A pink ribbon dancing around its neck signalled this was probably a female newly lost dog, not one of the tens of thousands of stray dogs for which Athens and Greece is infamous ( but she probably would be now). I imagined this cute Llapso Apso somehow getting separated from her owner travelling on any of the numerous international ships or ferries anywhere in the monstrous port. No ships were docked anywhere in sight of ours, so she’d run quite a ways.

Stray Dog Pack Attack

Then far across the way, strutting from behind a building I spotted three large Greek (more…)

Good Dog Gone…Uh, Gone — Repeatedly!

Let’s call this stray dog Rufus. Huge Black Lab X. Looks like some of those dudes at Gold’s Gym – big, burly, dopey but fun loving (in a “nice talkin’ to ya, but I don’t wanna hang out with ya so stay away” kinda way)

It's Spring?

It’s 6:00 a.m., wintry storm dark, cold and icy. Chase and I are on our early morning “Chase you have got to poop pretty fast now” walk and just crossing over from the Talent, Oregon skateboard park toward the Whistle Stop Coffee House and City Hall. I’m desperately efforting to stay vertical and concentrating on trying to keep Chase calm and close to me.  The last thing I wanna see and have to manage is a lost dog, but (ta da) here comes Rufus. 

He’s nose down and meandering along Main Street by the railroad tracks – till he spots us then it’s free-for-all time. You haven’t experienced “fun” till you’ve been plowed into by a leaping 120  lb Lab while clinging with one hand to the leash of an exuberant Chase  and to a lamp post with the other while slipping on ice. 

Down we go, up we go, down we go…etc. Finally I snap my spare leash on Rufus. Command “sit.” Both dogs do, but Rufus can’t contain himself, and I’m slathered in tongue kisses. Equally happy, Chase starts competing for ‘who can kiss me faster.’

Long story short I’m now a “drover”, somehow managing to get Chase to poop (more…)

Doggy Dundee took a break from building this site to go play at the Ashland Oregon Dog Park this morning. We met Chase’s neighbor, Millie there.

That was quite a surprise because Millie’s been Chase’s buddy for several years, but Millie has never before been to the dog park till now. Wasn’t she a happy doggy – Today was Millie’s second visit, and she was enjoying herding the doggies, and WOW was Millie ecstatic when Chase ran in!

It was nice for Doggy Dundee to be out of the house and away from the computer, too. Great being in the wind and racing across the 2 acres of grassy (enclosed) field. Chase even got a chance to go swimming in the creek, too.

It’s a lot harder to build a website than it is to track down a lost dog – sad to say…