Someone Just Left a Dog on My Doorstep... UPDATE

[Camilla and Darwin]

So I just got a knock on my door. I took a few minutes to open it and when I did, there was a dog tied to my front rail. It is a small terrier/chihuahua looking mix, maybe about 7lbs? I brought him in and tried to give him food and water, neither of which he is taking. No collar, no tattoo, nothing. I called the local humane society, the vet and animal control, nobody has heard anything and nobody can pick him up. Obviously I will keep the little guy overnight if I have to, but I haven't ever done this type of thing. Suggestions? I have class really early tomorrow morning, before the shelter opens and I'm not sure I should just leave him here in the apartment. Darwin's unbridled excitement is scaring the little guy to death so I have Darwin outside on the patio. Anyone have suggestions for the steps I need to be taking?

 

 

UPDATE: Well, I got in touch with a private rescue who advised me to take him to the local shelter. I wanted to take him to the humane society over a local animal control facility, but apparently they will not accept strays, only surrendered pets. If you go in and say it's a stray, they will immediately direct you to an animal control shelter. She advised me to not to try and claim he was my pet because they take that pretty seriously, so the humane society option was out

 

She said to take him to my local animal shelter, and tell the manager of the shelter to contact her. When I got there, they were looking at me a little bit suspiciously and meanly. I can't really blame them though, I don't think they believed my story. I don't know that I would have believed it either!

 

Anyways, I asked for the manager of the shelter, told her the name of the private rescuer and she immediately knew who I was talking about. Apparently they know each other well, and she frequently pulls dogs from their shelter. She informed me that he would be kept over the weekend, and the private rescue would come pick him up after that. After inspecting him and his teeth, she noticed that he still had baby teeth and might be around 5 months old. She said he was cute and would be very adoptable. The two workers thought he was adorable and assured me he would be well cared for until the private rescue picked him up. By the way, he wasn't neutered or microchipped, we found that out as well.

 

It's been kind of a crazy night/day, and I'm running on 4 hours of sleep so I may end up taking a nap. :-) I am SO relieved he is in good hands, and I think he's going to find a great home. Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions and encouragement. What an adventure!

 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Crate! Darwin's crate would be a huge play yard for the poor little guy.   Or your bath room perhaps.  Someone who knows you did this because they knew you would figure out what to do.  It is a terrible thing to have done to the poor dog. Thank you for taking the time and effort to do the best you can do.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Darwin's crate! I didn't even think of that. Should I just leave Darwin out of his crate while I'm at school then? I wonder if he would scare the dog too badly. Him locked in and Darwin excitedly trying to get in.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

such a cute little dog! Cant believe someone abandoned him, though at least they left him somewhere safe

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

It does sound like he is an abandoned dog and probably no one will be looking for him. Maybe you can put the crate in a back room where you can close the door between him and Darwin tomorrow?  Good luck, Camilla, this was a rotten thing to have done to the dog and to you!  He really is a cutie though!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I did walk around with him for a while, looking at neighboring buildings and everything. Nothing. :-(

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

He didn't tie himself to your railing; he's not lost.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Ohh he is sooo CUTE!!  He looks kinda doodley!!  I guess I would put him in a crate but try it first to see how he reacts.. You don't want to have him freaking out and upsetting Darwin while you are gone.. How long will you be gone??  Do you have a friend or neighbor that could come over and watch them?  Oh you could take Darwin to daycare and leave him in the crate??

 

Oh and check your local craigslist just in case he did get lost.

 

GOOD LUCK...this is hard but he is in the best of hands!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Camilla, This is your week for unexpected packages :) Wow. What a terrible thing to do to such a cute little pup. Can you crate him while you are in class and then go from there? I am sorry this happened to you and I am sure it is not easy with Darwin and now, this new guy. Good luck.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I thought when I opened this it was going to be a joke. Someone obviously knows you and knows that you will do the right thing. I agree with the crate. I don't know what to tell you to do. I have found lost dogs before but I have always found them when the vet was open to see if they were microchipped. Is there an emergency vet near by where you can go now to see if he is chipped or not?

 

Good luck, Thank you for taking care of that little guy

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Oh My Goodness, very very cute! I have no advice except Hang tough Camilla and unless you want to try not to fall in love.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Also, I think this dog has been debarked. He's a little afraid and he is making extreme raspy noises. :-( poor guy.

[shelly]

His 'debarking' noise doesn't sound like kennel cough does it?  Perhaps you should definitely separate them.  How sad would that be if he was actually 'de-barked'.. what kind of people are out there?  Well, I guess they can't be half bad if they left him with YOU!  I feel bad for you tho'  I know your heart is probably pulling you one way and your common sense another.  But think of DARWIN FIRST!!!