A Doggie story (long venting here!) About This Page:

[rescuesk]

Today as I was wokring on the computer, my 2 dogs started barking. I looked up to see 2 pit bulls in my yard! I went to find my shoes, and by the time I got back, they were heading down my driveway, away from my house, toward my SIL's house where her dogs stay outside during the day (don't worry, this is not a sad story, just angry). I was really worried, so I jumped in my car, grabbed my cell phone and took off. Sure enough, they were there, but they were playing with her dogs!

I got out of my car, and the little one came right over to me and started to give me kisses. Then the bigger one did the same. I should have put them in my car then but I didn't. They had licenses on, and rabies tags, and they were obviously well taken care of and family-friendly dogs. I got the phone number from the license and called it. Well, guess what? It's a county holiday here, NO ANSWER! NO MESSAGE! NO NUMBER TO CALL IN CASE THIS HAPPENS!!! I called the rabies clininc number and left my number on that machine. The 2 of them must have gotten a little spooked, they took off into the woods and I didn't have anything to write their license numbers down on. They wouldn't come back to me when I called.
I went home and called the SPCA, and she told me to try the dog warden. (She didn't have an after hours number, either) She also checked to see if anyone had reported them missing, but no one had. My nephew got home from school, and he checked the woods on his bike while I drove up and down the road. No sign of them. They haven't been back yet, I hope they are OK.
I am so ANGRY at the system. We have to license our dogs, but they can only get lost between 8-4 Monday to Friday, and then only if it's not a holiday. I later learned (from the rabies clinic lady who did call me back) that I could call our communications center, but the dogs were long gone by the time I found that out. I also could kick myself for not putting the two of them right in my car, but I was a little nervous to put strays in a confined space.
I would think that the Treasurer's office (the number on the tag) should at least put the phone number to contact or information on their message if they are not going to answer the phone.
Thanks for letting me vent. I hope the owner and his puppies are reunited by now.

[chezp]

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I am so ANGRY at the system. We have to license our dogs, but they can only get lost between 8-4 Monday to Friday, and then only if it's not a holiday.

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Sue, I hear you - that's a crazy system. I hope they got reunited with their owner as well.

[loobyoxlip]

Oh, no. This is a good reason why pets should also have personal information tags on them - then you could have called their owners. I'm glad they were friendly doggies though

[mac]

I hope they found their way home!

[OffKilter_Lynn]

So glad they were friendly pit bulls!!

That in it's self would be enough to concern me.

[joyjoy]

This story makes me crazy. I lost my beloved dog a little over a year ago - she went to my ex's house to stay for the weekend and he had recently moved and she got out of his yard - and we searched and searched for her for weeks upon weeks. I still cry over her. I miss her so much and I never found out whatever happened to her. She had a collar and tags on, but not with my personal info, just the vet's and her city license. She WAS lost on a weekend. So maybe someone found her and reported her and couldn't get any cooperation?? I'm heartsick all over again.

[DrDolphin]

Another thing I recommend all pet owners to do is MICROCHIP your pet - it is a painles procedure - costs about 30 dollars - a microchip the size of a grain of rice is placed under the skin of the pet - so even if the tagged collar gets lost, and if your pet is picked up - you (or your vet if you don't change the registration paperwork) will be notified that your pet is found. SO worth it. 95% of all shelters have the scanners now - even alot of vets do. Both my cats and my dog are chipped.

[graygables]

If doggie loses her collar, how do they know she's chipped? She has so many "jewels" with tons of information (mine included), but I've worried she might lose her collar. I've been wondering about this since we are heading to the vet for our annual exam in a few weeks.

Thanks!

[GreenAppleSea]

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If doggie loses her collar, how do they know she's chipped?

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if the animal is brought into a shelter, they are automatically scanned for a chip. most vets have the scanners nowadays too. the chip is always placed in the same area, right b/w the shoulder blades.