Advice Please..Not Yorkie Related

[GaMom06]

I did not know where to put this so I apologize if it is the wrong place. This is the forum I figured most people would read!

My neighbors house caught on fire Tuesday sometime during the day. When I got home from work their house was completely destroyed. I felt so horrible for them and just kept saying oh my god over and over. Well I went inside my house and my little Rusty got out of the front door around me and went running over to their yard. i am assuming he saw the comotion during the day and went over to investigate!

I of course followed behind him to get him back in the house and he ran right for where their dog usually stays in the back yard. Both of their dogs where still in the yard and the people were no where to be found!!! I made sure they had food and water and figured they would be coming back to get them the next day. Well last night both dogs are still there...one keeps getting loose and roaming in and out of the burned out house.

My question is do I wait for the owners to come back and keep feeding the dogs or do I call someone? Our shelter here is not a no kill shelter so I really don't want to call animal control. I also don't want to have this families dogs taken away if they are coming over during the day to visit them( I am at work during the day so I dont know). It has been above 100 here with the heat index and I worry about them outside. I also worry about the dog who keeps getting loose and going in the house that he may get hurt.

I do not have their phone number to call to see what their intentions are with the dogs. I do believe they could be the kind of people who just would not come back for the dogs at all. I would never leave my home without my animals if something like this happened! They are probably traumatized too!!

what would you do?

[Rhetts_mama]

Call someone NOW! I'm sure the shelter can help you find someone to foster the dogs for now. Leave a note for the owners, telling them what you have done.

It's not OK for the owners to have left them there. They have put the dogs in harms way between the debris and the heat.

[Princes mom]

Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama

Call someone NOW! I'm sure the shelter can help you find someone to foster the dogs for now. Leave a note for the owners, telling them what you have done.

It's not OK for the owners to have left them there. They have put the dogs in harms way between the debris and the heat.

Great advice!
It's obvious that the owners of the dogs don't care about them. What a shame!

[Princes mom]

GaMom06, welcome to yorkie talk!!
I have a couple of friends in Locust Grove!!

[susan lynn]

This is a horrible tragedy for this family , I would think if they owned the home they would have to come back for the insurance company, but if they were renting they may never come for the dogs. You could maybe call the county and find out who owns the home. It is wonderful that you are caring enough to take care of the dogs. I can understand why you don't want to call animal control because here in Cobb County I think they only allow 7 days for the owners to claim the pets. Is there a rescue group you could call? Praying that you can find someone to help you with this situation.

[GaMom06]

I am hoping to find a rescue group. I am going to get them tonight and put them in the kennel we have outside. At least they will be safe. I am 100% sure they own the home...and I fully suspect that they will take the insurance money and run. I don't expect them to rebuild the home or do anything other than just leave it like it is...I know that sounds terrible to say that of people, it is just what my husband and I believe.
I doubt they come back for the dogs either IMHO. I think they are just figuring someone will deal with them...they know we have taken in strays before until a foster home could be found.

I refuse to call animal control because I could not live with myself knowing these dogs might be put down if no one adopts them or they are not claimed by the owners. They have suffered enough trauma of watching their house burn and then their owners leaving them....

[Patti]

That's terrible. Maybe you could put a note in their mail box or taped to the door and ask what they plan on doing with the dogs. Leave your cell phone number. If they are coming back and forth then you can see what they say.

[CouversMom]

I'm glad to hear that you are not going to send them to animal control Maybe you could post them on Craigslist and interview for new homes? I guess if this doesn't work, hopefully a rescue group will help you out.

Good luck! I'm glad they are safe

[GaMom06]

Thanks for the support and advice everyone. I seriously would take in every stray I could if I had plenty of room and money

My husband comes home from summer camp with my son on Saturday and I honestly can't wait for him to get home so he can help me out with this. I get all caught up in my emotions sometimes and can't think straight!

[Rhetts_mama]

Here is the website for the Cobb County Humane society. They are a no kill shelter. Call them and explain the situation. I'm sure they can find a way to help.

Welcome!

They offer crisis help.

[GaMom06]

Thanks Rhetts Mama but I am at least an hr away from Cobb, If not more...i am in Henry County.

[susan lynn]

What kind of dogs are they and how much do they weigh, we have family in Henry County.

[Rhetts_mama]

Oops- don't know where I saw Cobb. Ok, here is Henry Co's Humane Soc. Info

Email us at: info@henryhumane.com
Information/Resource Line: (770) 914-1272
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 941, McDonough GA 30253
Shelter Location: 46 Work Camp Road, McDonough GA 30253

Henry County Humane Society

[GaMom06]

Originally Posted by susan lynn

What kind of dogs are they and how much do they weigh, we have family in Henry County.

One is a solid White Akita (well he is orange from the clay but he should be white) he is a male. Not sure how much he weighs I would guess around 75lbs? He is really sweet...

The other one looks like some kind of Pit mix but I really don't know what he is. He is solid brown...probably around 50 to 75lbs. John (my husband) said he wandered in to our yard one day when he was walking Rusty on the leash and he was scared of Rusty when he started barking at him.

[GaMom06]

Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama

Oops- don't know where I saw Cobb. Ok, here is Henry Co's Humane Soc. Info

Email us at: info@henryhumane.com
Information/Resource Line: (770) 914-1272
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 941, McDonough GA 30253
Shelter Location: 46 Work Camp Road, McDonough GA 30253

Henry County Humane Society

Thanks...unfortunately they told me I had to contact animal control first. They handle owner surrenders but not abandoned pets. And right on Animal Controls website it says they only hold them for 4 days before adoption or humane (yeah right) euthenazia.