[RlUbQU3R]

Last night as I was stepping outside to go to work I saw a dog in a full sprint booking it down the street with no leash or anyone trying to chase him down. I tried whistling and calling out to him but he just kept running. When I got home at about 3am I let my dogs outside and my boy Rusty was pacing back and forth around a shadowy area in my back yard. I went in for a closer look and saw it was the same dog I saw running away earlier. He looked very frightened; he was shaking and whenever I went to pet him he would cower away. After a couple of minutes I finally got him to come out of the shadows so I could get a better look at him and see if he had any tags. He had a collar but nothing to identify him or anything like that. He appeared to be well fed but I took him into my patio and gave him some food and water for good measure. At first I thought he was just a dog that got out and that someone would be looking for him but since he is very skiddish and he cowers whenever I pet him I'm starting to think his owner was beating him. He also has a couple scars on his head. He was very shy and scared last night but now he's opened up and he's playing along with Rusty great; I have been keeping a close eye on them and I havn't left them alone, but neither one of them has even had the hair on their backs raised yet.

Last night I put up signs in front of my house saying I found a dog and listed my number but now I'm wondering if I should take them down. I'm starting to think that wherever he came from was not a good place for him to be. He's really sweet and mellow and all around healthy looking.
So here's my question, what do y'all think the best thing to do here is? I'd love him to be back with his owner, but not if he's beating the little guy. I have no problem taking a dog in also. I'm just on the fence with this decision...what's your opinion?

I don't know what kind of dog he is..I was thinking maybe AmStaff mixed with something else? Anyone have any input on that?

[viagsjicguara]

It's entirely possible he's just scared because he was lost. The scars could be from anything. A sweet, mellow, healthy looking dog with a collar on could just as likely be from a good home. Have you tried taking him to a vet to see if he's chipped?

[Ccddfergt]

Some dogs are just naturally shy, by putting up signs you are doing the right thing...do what you can to get him home!

[Sertvfdnhgjk]

Good on you for helping him out but you don't know what happened so you shouldn't be assuming anything. This time of year can be very stressful on dogs. He could have been outside and darted with the sound of fireworks. He could just be a fearful dog. He could have gotten loose and while he was loose, someone else tried to catch him or hurt him. He could have some issues that are not at all related to his environment.

Bottom line, you don't know what happened. You assuming things can hurt other people if you're wrong. You should still try to find the original owners and give him back because he's not yours if someone is looking for him.

Just so you know, there's a right way and a wrong way to pet a dog. If you try to pet him on the head, it can actually be intimidating for a shy dog so you should be low, not looming above.

Good luck, keep us updated.

[alecaf]

I'm thinking he's just scared... And besides, by law you have to do everything you can to reunite the dog with its owner. If you do that and you get a better chance of seeing how dog and owner interact, then you can be sure if the dog is just scared or if it IS abused. If it seems to fear it's owner, then investigate that a bit.

[RlUbQU3R]

Thanks for all the quick responses.
I haven't taken him to the vet yet(they're closed on Sunday's, I'm going to take him tomorrow). But y'all are right..I saw him on the loose so I assumed the worst. I'll keep my signs up and see if I can find his family! And I'll be sure to keep y'all updated as well.

[Sertvfdnhgjk]

I'm thinking he's just scared... And besides, by law you have to do everything you can to reunite the dog with its owner. If you do that and you get a better chance of seeing how dog and owner interact, then you can be sure if the dog is just scared or if it IS abused. If it seems to fear it's owner, then call AC.

No even then, you don't know how the dog acts under non stressful circumstances. Its not up to you to decide if the dog should be with its owner or not. It's not your decision. You need to give the dog back if the dog has a home.

Actually in IL, it's illegal to take in strays. You have to turn them over to AC.

[8IhGpvH0]

" Bottom line, you don't know what happened. You assuming things can hurt other people if you're wrong. You should still try to find the original owners and give him back because he's not yours if someone is looking for him. "

BOOM!! Hit tha nail on the head!!


DOnt ASSume things. PLEASE!! O, Sure he could have been abused, but, prob not. The dog doesnt know you. Post up signs everywhere. I'd say IMO* do NOT post any photos of him. IF someone lost their dog, they will call you, and tell ya what they look like. This way, you dont have some random ass gettin a dog that isnt theirs!!

Do keep us UTD!!

[viagsjicguara]

Good luck! I hope you find his home! And I hope it's a happy reunion!

[alecaf]

Yes, I shouldn't have said call AC. That's why I changed it. But if the owner seems angry or anything but happy that they've got their dog back, something's up.

[RlUbQU3R]

I didn't post photos for exactly that reason. I just wrote "found dog" and listed my number. I'm one of the first houses on a road along the shore that leads to a whole bunch of neighborhoods so I'm thinking there's a very good chance that whoever owns him will drive by.

[oranowdenda]

We had a cat that "claimed" us, LOL!
He stayed around, outside our home for about a couple weeks.
He then started wandering into our garage when we weren't paying attention. I told the kids not to get attached to him, bc I didn't know his circumstances.
Finally, I took him to the vet to see if he was chipped. He was not. He had been neutered. He also had an ear tip cut off.
My vet said that more than likely he was a stray, was picked up by a cat "rescue" or "cat population patrol group" (I do not recall their proper name )
anyway, they cut the tip of the ear to let other group's know the cat has been fixed.

I had posted signs, and called local vet offices, and animal shelters to report I found him.
No one claimed him, so he became our pet.

Did you call shelters, and local vet offices?

[Sertvfdnhgjk]

Yes, I shouldn't have said call AC. That's why I changed it. But if the owner seems angry or anything but happy that they've got their dog back, something's up.

I just mean a dog acting timid around its owner can have less to do with the owner and more to do with the dog. For example, my dog will sometimes act shy when I pick him up from getting a bath at the vet. It's not because he's beat at home, it's just one of his quirky behaviors. I think it's related to him hating baths. I mean if you see him when *I* give him a bath, you might think I'm trying to kill him because that's how he acts. Am I really trying to hurt him? Of course not.

[viagsjicguara]

You could also try posting a generic ad on Craigslist. Scared, lost dogs an travel a pretty good distance. Maybe check Craigslist too for any Lost Dog ads and see if you can find a match.

[RlUbQU3R]

You could also try posting a generic ad on Craigslist. Scared, lost dogs an travel a pretty good distance. Maybe check Craigslist too for any Lost Dog ads and see if you can find a match.

Thats a great idea, I'll do that now

[Sertvfdnhgjk]

I would at least put black and white dog. The owner can identify the markings.

[viagsjicguara]

Not that long ago, my son's house was broken into. Door kicked in, tv, PS3, games, jewelry, etc...taken. Two of his dogs were missing as well. We split up and drove around for hours looking for them. I got home, checked Craigslist and the first ad I see is "found, two extremely friendly neutered male dogs. One is wearing unique collar. Call to identify". Well, I just knew it was our boys, and thank you Team Peanut for the unique collar.

No idea how they got where they ended up, but they were MILES from home. So, yeah, Craigslist was our friend that day!!

[grofvuri]

I agree with what everyone has said, Wendy would be terrified if some stranger had her in their care.
Izzy would cower too but she would probably lash out and bite if some stranger had her, she is also full of scars.
I'd would be mega pissed, no beyond pissed if someone tried to deem my dogs abused because of those actions.

Defiantly get someone to give a good description, I know personally on all my dogs I have things that could identify them from any other dog.

[comprar-espana]

Soft dogs can act scared. Under socialized dogs can act scared. My dog has head scars from chasing varmints
Thanks for helping the dog!

[QysnZWB4]

My dogs have plenty of scars. It doesn't mean they are abused. I have a couple that would be real shy and hard to catch if they ever got loose too. The right thing to do would be to try and find the owner. Good luck with your search.