LovinLife- Happy New Year's all!

[LovinLife]

This morning when I was opening up my scovies nesting box I saw some little fuzzies peeking out from under her. I don't know how many hatched out but at last count she was sitting on 13 eggs. We also caught that snapping turtle this morning! Just in time to protect the new ducklings. The turtle wasn't as big as I thought it would be. But I guess he was big enough to catch and kill ducklings because he got 3 of my mallard ducklings a few months ago. We pulled him out of the pond and took him to the "river" (more like a deep part of the swamp) down the road and let him go. After we caught and released the snapping turtle I took the strays to the vet.

I took my dad's old pick-up with a friends dog box on it. Both of the dogs seemed to travel well in it. They didn't have a micro-chip (not surprising). They got their rabies and distemper shots, they got dewormer, was negative for heartworms, got flea meds, and weighed. The tall dog, which we are calling "Bones" weighed 25 lbs! This dog should weigh 50lbs. The shorter dog, Paddy (since we thought he was a she) weighs 15 lbs and she could gain a few too. No freebies, no help with shelters, no help with the bill and paid over $300. Ouch! When we got home I gave both of them a scrub down with flea shampoo. I used my fingernails to get as many seed ticks off as possible . I also got some rawhide bones (thank SD). Now it's time to fatten them up, house train them, and get the re-homed. I will keep ya'll posted and post some pics in a few weeks. Thanks for all the support!

 

[savingdogs]

300? and no help at ALL? Gosh, that is Maybe the vets I know around here aren't so bad after all.

That is quite a hit to the pocketbook, I'm sorry that you had to invest that much.

What some people who rescue dogs independently do is ask the adopter to reimburse them for the costs. So, $150.00 per dog. That is not out of line with what rescues charge. The little dog will be easier, they always are popular. Don't try to keep them together, that will take longer to find homes for them.

I wish you had gotten more help! But Bones only weighs 25 pounds and should weigh 50? That is horrendous. Thank goodness you saved them.

Try this list:
http://www.pgaa.com/virginia.html

If nothing else, I think you can get the dogs on petfinder.com through that site, they seem to list dogs in the state of Virginia. But one of those independent groups might be near you.

You want to take some good pictures, showing the FACE and eyes especially and one shot that shows the whole dog. Taking a good picture is essential. I can help you write up a description as well, but you have to get to know them a little to write it. Try to find out if they are good with cats, strange dogs, children, if they come when called, and if they are housetrained. Those are the first questions any adopter will ask you, so if you don't know the answers they will be hesitant. If they are only allowed in the garage, consider that the "house", so for the time being they may NOT be housetrained, but I'd work on that issue especially to make them more adoptable. The way I would do that is give them very frequent access to going outside to do their business and praise like heck for appropriate behaviors. I never punish or yell at dogs who make potty mistakes unless I catch them in the ACT and then you just make a "AAAACK" sound to startle them into stopping so you can move them outside.

Let me know if you need help contacting any of those groups, the vet should have known who is the local group, so it may be that none of them are very close. That doesn't matter however if they accept your dogs onto petfinder under their umbrella, adopters actually come from all over to adopt, especially the little dog.

 

[LovinLife]

I got a little glimpse of their personalities while we were waitng for the vet. Bones was being loving and very curious. He would walk around and check things out then he would put his head under my hands. He will be a good dog once he learns some control. I was able to teach him sit while we were waiting too. And Paddy is warming up to me. He came to me and sniffed me a few times and let me pet him. He is no good on the leash though...well neither of them is but as least Bones pulls like crazy. Paddy puts the breaks on and doesn't move when on the leash but he lets me pick him up and carry him. :/

 

[LovinLife]

If nothing else, I think you can get the dogs on petfinder.com through that site, they seem to list dogs in the state of Virginia. But one of those independent groups might be near you.
.

That's the only thing my neighbor/vet could help me with. After I asked about a flyer on the door advertising t-shirts for a local rescue group she said that they are at full capacity but might let me use their petfinder.com account to post the dogs.

 

[savingdogs]

Well that is the main thing you need. I can help you with the rest, except funding and you already paid for the major things. I checked out those pictures again, can't tell the breed from those photos. Did the vet give you a guess? There is no head on Bones in that photo but from the body I'd be thinking shep mix and I can see maybe part beagle with Paddy, maybe beagle-chihuahua if it is real small. It looks too dainty to be pure beagle and it sounds too small. I've seen a beagle/doxie that looked something like that as well, they called it a "Chi-weiner" But I could help you write a bio and screen potentials from here, you could just give them my e-mail.

How SAD for the dogs of your area that there is no local rescue. Since you didn't get any free food , I'd just pick up some grocery store dog food for them, if you get expensive food they will find it too rich most likely so I'd get something like plain old Pedigree (inexpensive and common) so that they get adjusted to a normal diet.

I'm really bummed you didn't get any more help than that. Bless you for taking care of them.

 

[LovinLife]

I got some cheap-o dog food on the way home from the vet today. I'm glad I won't be feeding belly worms anymore I will get better "before" pictures once it clears up outside. I'm sure you would call Bones a "hound/mix". I will also get a better pic of Paddy but I would guess beagle/jack russell mix. I don't think the weather will clear up today but will get pics tomorrow!

 

[savingdogs]

They may have a LOT of worms, might be part of why they are so thin. Parasites disgust me!

You will be surprised how quickly they gain weight without worms. Bones may be a beautiful dog when you get those bones covered (can't see his face) and I know that little dog Paddy will be handsome, he already is.

Are you thinking you might want to keep either of them? Or are you set on finding them homes?

 

[valmom]

That's rotten about the vet bill Glad they are getting socialized and no worms and food! Good luck getting them adopted out.

 

[LovinLife]

We might keep Paddy....have to wait to see how he is with the kids and other animals but so far he's been good...just shy. Good news on the vet bill. I posted the pic on FB and have some friends from all over the country wanting to send donations! We will see if it materializes but sounds promising! First thing I will do with the donations is get them neutered! (of course once they are a little healthier too).

 

[savingdogs]

The rescues in your state might be able to help with that. There are lots of state grants groups can apply for and they usually WANT their numbers to be big, so they don't mind doing spay-neuter for dogs out of their direct area. I'm so surprised your vet did not know anything about that, all the vets I worked for knew local pet groups and whom could help. The place that had the T-shirt that doesn't have room, do they do spay-neuter in your area? That should be the easiest part to get funded. Were any of those places on that link I sent you nearby at all? I'd give them a call and say you found strays and spent 300 already, trying to get them neutered as soon as they weigh enough.

We are getting a new foster, I just heard about it tonight!