The Great Canine Rescue

Lost Pup

So my evening started off with an adventure yesterday. As I drove into my apartment complex’s driveway on the way home from work, there I saw this adorable, chubby li’l Chihuahua havin a heyday rollin around in the grass by the parking lot. I immediately noticed she had no tags, and that she had no human-type companion anywhere in the near vicinity. She was the friendliest li’l thing… curly tail just a waggin, and she came right to me when I parked, got out of the car, and headed towards her. She was well groomed and, when I picked her up, I noticed the tattoo on her belly that indicates she’s been spayed. She was obviously not a stray.

Finding Home

By this time, she’d also garnered the interest of three other of my neighbors… all of whom have animals as well. So we consolidated our efforts… the guy with the only dog in the building donated a harness and leash, and I set out with my immediate neighbor and the chubby li’l pooch to see if we could find her home. We canvassed several of the other apartment buildings on our street, then tried a couple of cross streets that had houses with fenced back yards.

We weren’t havin much luck, and it was beginning to rain. So we agreed to take her home and my neighbor would try to convince her roommate to keep the dog until we could take some pics, print up some fliers and post em around the neighborhood. I would have loved to have taken her, myself, but I seriously doubt that idea would have gone over well with Ms. Pukesalot. I figured my neighbor would probly have better luck with her roommate.

Taco Maria

But then, as we neared our own building, a car that was driving slowly by completely stopped, the passenger door opened, and an elderly couple started callin “Taco Maria!”. The diminutive runaway happily toddled straight into the car. My neighbor got a kick out of it cuz she’d named the the dog “Taco”, herself, when we first started out. I was merely extremely relieved our li’l charge had found her parents.

The Flea Mystery Solved

I don’t really interact with my neighbors much… I mean, I can recognize them, and we nod to each other as we pass in the hall or parking lot. But during our walk, we kind of got to know each other a li’l bit. Plus, I discovered that she suddenly started having flea problems with HER cats right around the same time I did… which was pretty much when the dog guy moved in across the way. We figured li’l Parker probly brought the fleas into the hall as she went in and out every day. Oh well.

Animal Lovers

We also discovered that we’re both pretty big animal lovers… had lots of em around when we were growing up. I’ve always felt an affinity to them. Ever since I was a toddler, when (as I’ve been told) the adults around me had a heart attack cuz I was sticking my hand through the fence to make friends with a supposedly vicious dog. I dunno what their problem was… we evidently got along just fine.

I have also discovered, while working a short while as a Veterinary Assistant, that my empathy extends to animals as well. Unfortunately, I didn’t seem to be able to control it very well, and all of the misery emanating from the various creatures staying there for treatment or boarding rendered me just about useless. I couldn’t focus on anything. After 3 weeks, I tendered my resignation.

Not the First Time

This actually isn’t the first time I’ve had the opportunity to help a pooch in need. Several years ago, I was headin down the highway towards IHOP Buddy’s place, and there was a rather large dog (I believe a lab, if memory serves me correctly) running back and forth on the grassy median between the different highway directions. I managed to catch a glimpse of his tags as I passed him, but didn’t stop immediately… I mean, he wasn’t in the road and surely somebody would stop. But then I realized that I was as good a somebody as any, and who knows when the dog would decide to try to cross the highway.

So I took the next exit and turned myself around. As I slowed down near the place I thought I’d seen him, I just about had a heart attack as I watched him dart across the highway and a car brake hard to miss hitting him. Fortunately, he’d been darting back TOWARDS the median (I guess he’d already crossed the highway at least once since I’d seen him) so I was on the same patch of grass with him, though at a bit of a distance. He seemed friendly enough, but nervous, and when I tried to approach him, he’d skitter back towards the road.

So I plopped myself in the grass (which was wet, by the way) and just called to him, letting him come to me. Once he got close enough to get a good whiff of me, I guess he deemed me trustworthy, cuz he proceeded to wag his considerable tail, lick my nose and follow my lead to the car.

The only contact information on his tags was for his veterinarian… who was not in his/her office over the weekend. I couldn’t very well take him with me to IHOP Buddy’s place… she happened to have a very large rottie at the time, who was very friendly with people, but I didn’t want to take any chances. I finally ended up getting a hold of animal control, who came to pick up the pooch to keep until they could call the vet.

When I called the next day to follow up, he wasn’t at their facility, so I could only assume his owners picked him up.

Rescue Organizations

I’ve considered joining a rescue organization… the Office Manager at work helps head a Pit-Bull Rescue. But they also need their members to be able to take in animals… which, again, I’m rather limited in my ability to do so because of my neurotic li’l darling. However, not to sound morbid, but she won’t be around forever, plus I may not still be in a tiny li’l apartment by that time, so mebbe I can more thoroughly look into the option at that point.

Amway, I think it’s about time to wrap up for the night. Lots to do tomorrow, so I’d best get some good sleep. :)

Until tomorrow!