I failed to help a dog

[theporkieyorkie]

There was this little black pit bull running the streets of Detroit It was probably 3-4 months old and was very emaciated and obviously abandoned. It was eating garbage off the ground. People just passed it by as if it was nonexistent or just another piece of trash on the ground.

I tried to save him. I approached him slowly but he was skiddish. He kept darting underneath the cars, staying right out of my reach. I couldn't stay for too long...I was in a dicey neighborhood at night....by myself. I had stopped for gas at one of those places where you don't even want to get out of the car and I spotted the dog wandering around a mostly empty parking lot, scrounging for food. Why do I see so many abandoned pets at gas stations??? That's how I acquired my cat...picked her up at the pump when she was a kitten. Tonight, I didn't have a stupid leash....I had a stroller....a dog purse...even a sweater in my car...but no leash to catch the pup.

There are feral dogs, mostly pit bulls, running all over the streets of Detroit and nobody pays attention. I hated having to drive away and leave that poor little puppy to it's fate on the cold streets of Detroit. I wish I could have rescued it. I just don't see how people can discard their dogs like a piece of trash.

[lillymae]

Did you call Animal Control ?

[capt_noonie]

I feel for you. I see that all too often even in the suburbs of Orange County. So sad. That is why I preach all the time, spay and neuter your dogs!

[Maximo]

I am sorry you had to experience this. It is heartbreaking to see photos and read about it online, but it is awful actually seeing these poor dogs on the streets. Our country is becoming like others in that the number of abandoned dogs and cats is epidemic.

[Wylie's Mom]

Sorry this happened, it's SO sad when you can't catch them. I know how you feel bc this happens to me all the time here too. There are so many mistreated strays, so they're scared of you and won't come. I tried to catch a Chi the other day...FAIL .

[yorkietalkjilly]

Try not to feel so very guilty - it usually takes a catch pole, helpers, a plan and practice to catch a fearful dog who has a little experience living on his own wiles. And the wildest ones who have been on their own for very long often require several tries at a humane animal trap before they can be helped. They are so much faster, so fearful of humans and much more wily and cunning at escaping nearness sessions with us, even with raw meat in one hand to lure them, chances are you couldn't have gotten a leash around over his head before he was gone. It's the most frustrating exercise in the world to try to bring them in from the wild alone like that.

Some dogs will allow you to walk right up to them and just put your hands on them and guide them to the car but those of us who have tried it much know those are 1 in 100 or more and usually new runaways, trusting of humans and with a very good past with us or too weak to care. Runaways/castaways who were fearful of most humans in their former life will not let a stranger, even one who spends an hour working on slowly moving closer, get anywhere close to getting a looped leash over their head, even if the dog is quite ill or hurt, unless they are just too weak.

I completely understand how bad it hurt to leave that dog as I have been there and still remember one in particular to this very day. He haunts me. It's one of the worst things in the world to see how close you got to helping them and but for this or that think you could have. The truth is, unless you have a helper or two or three experienced at how to close them off ahead of time, a plan in place and pre-blocked escape paths with plywood sheets/secured chicken wire across them or nets and have a catch-poles, heavy netting apparatus to throw over them once they are backed into a corner, etc., you don't stand much of a real chance getting that loop over their head one-on-one. Once your arm even starts to go up above their eye level, they are gone, even if they leave meat in your other hand or hanging on a string from your belt.

The only way to help those that just won't be caught is to frequently take them food and fresh water, blankets or towels for bedding near where they shelter at night, if you can locate it. If you are very determined to try to lure one alone, feed/water them frequently and sit for long periods ignoring them, never making eye contact and in time, some will approach and eventually sit 10 feet away and sniff the aroma of the food but never approach. Eventually some even approach you but still, you will only get the loop over the head of the occasional dog whose gained some trust in you or getting very weak but most are too mistrustful at the moment your hand goes above their eye level with that leash in it, even if you've practiced doing it with them before.

Still, it's a good idea to keep treats or kibble and water supply and a leash in the car for just that one dog who will take the chance though mostly it takes a long time to get even one dog this way and/or a team of helpers. A city park is usually a good place to find human-friendly runaways/castoffs as they often seek out open places where mostly friendly people come with food and usually will let you approach them and start meaningful interaction. Not all of them are human-friendly so be prepared for those also.

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Sorry this happened, it's SO sad when you can't catch them. I know how you feel bc this happens to me all the time here too. There are so many mistreated strays, so they're scared of you and won't come. I tried to catch a Chi the other day...FAIL .

That's so true - they are scared of the world and you almost need 3 people to catch them....I saw one in the road in Houston one day and others stopped and helped me catch them - it was a mom and 2 babies and they were petrified

You tried, that's what counts - is there someone you can call if you see this again?

[theporkieyorkie]

Originally Posted by lillymae

Did you call Animal Control ?

It was a Saturday night, so I am sure they weren't even open...but even if they were open, they most likely wouldn't have come anyways just because feral dogs in the streets is such a common problem.


Getting the cops to show up in Detroit is nearly an impossible task unless you call 911. I waited for hours with my girlfriend when she was assaulted once and they ended up showing up 6 HOURS LATER!! Although I am sure if my blond haired, blue eyed little butt was outside in the middle of Detroit long enough on a Saturday night, they probably would have stopped by ....but not to help me catch the dog. They would have tried to arrest me for "loitering" in Detroit. They would have claimed I was there for prostitution or buying drugs and they would have seized my car and I would have had to pay $1000 to get it back....or they sell it at the police auction and stand to make more money. Detroit cops are about as crooked as they come. It's a real mess all together down there. Heck, even the Detroit Humane Society isn't all that it's cracked up to be. It's got one of the highest kill rates in the state.

I am going to try and buy a slip lead today to put in my car and I will leave a bag of treats in the car as well so in the future, I will be prepared. I know I could have got that dog with a slip lead last night because I was THAT close to him.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by theporkieyorkie

It was a Saturday night, so I am sure they weren't even open...but even if they were open, they most likely wouldn't have come anyways just because feral dogs in the streets is such a common problem.


Getting the cops to show up in Detroit is nearly an impossible task unless you call 911. I waited for hours with my girlfriend when she was assaulted once and they ended up showing up 6 HOURS LATER!! Although I am sure if my blond haired, blue eyed little butt was outside in the middle of Detroit long enough on a Saturday night, they probably would have stopped by ....but not to help me catch the dog. They would have tried to arrest me for "loitering" in Detroit. They would have claimed I was there for prostitution or buying drugs and they would have seized my car and I would have had to pay $1000 to get it back....or they sell it at the police auction and stand to make more money. Detroit cops are about as crooked as they come. It's a real mess all together down there. Heck, even the Detroit Humane Society isn't all that it's cracked up to be. It's got one of the highest kill rates in the state.

I am going to try and buy a slip lead today to put in my car and I will leave a bag of treats in the car as well so in the future, I will be prepared. I know I could have got that dog with a slip lead last night because I was THAT close to him.

Oh, bless you for your determination to get that dog! I was trying to make you feel better by telling you how hard it is to get the wild, frightened ones but you sound determined and like you mean to help. That's a doglover for you! They don't quit. Keep going back again and again, take food, sit a bit beside the container of food and see what happens. In time, the less frightened ones will get used to your scent and want that food. If that baby comes back, luring him with food up close and not really looking him in the eyes at first and let him get close and see if he's one of those that will allow himself to be leashed. If so, you will have saved his or her life! On the streets or in the wild, only the fittest survive and the suffering can be awful as you know and have seen.

I've seen on the news that the times are bad in Detroit and wondered if the people are having such an awful time, there have got to be dogs having it awful, too. I can't help but hope that with the adjustment plan to deal with the debt the city has in the works, things are going to get better there before too long for the people but likely only the dog-lovers will be there to help the stray dogs for a long while! People like you can help one dog at a time. Bless you for caring so much! I'm pulling for you and that dog!

[suda]

My thoughts and prayers are with you in this endeavor and always

[theporkieyorkie]

I did drive back down there this afternoon and tried to find the puppy...this time, armed with treats and a leash. Of course, Detroit itself is a totally different animal during the day~The parking lot that was mostly empty last night was filled with cars today. I drove through the parking lot and around the back of the store to see if I could see the pup. Good news is, I didn't see her laying dead in the road anywhere...bad news is, I didn't find her.

[DvlshAngel985]

My office is in the heart of Watts. There are stray animals EVERYWHERE! Half of them are real strays, half of them have a home yet they are allowed to just wander the streets. I always drive I fear of hiting a pup on my way to work.

There was this one pup that just made me so sad. He had an owner at one point, because he was wearing a collar (no tag) and a sweater. The sweater was so raggedy and dirty. It had come undone and his hind leg got caught in the sweater leaving him limping in the middle of a street. I pulled over not to catch him as I didn't have my crate with me, but to at least give him a fighting chance to get out of the street. The poor pup freaked out so much when I tried to get him and ran away.

[CouversMom]

I completely understand how you felt... We have strays around here and I try to catch them. It is often impossible and I feel like a failure. I just saw one ran over on Friday on my way to work Ruined my day...