The importance of supervising our pets

[airplane]

I just wanted to share a little story of what happened to me this weekend.

On Saturday my mom was coming over to celebrate Bijou's birthday. Bijou is my Shih Tzu who has recently turned 16 years old. He's my senior and I'm just completely devoted to him. Because of him I have a huge passion for dogs. Anyways, she called me while on the way and told me to come meet her a few streets down the road cause there was a small dog who was out in the streets and nearly got run over by a car. It was pouring rain and the owner of the dog was no where to be found. She was very concerned for this dog. By the time I got there my mom had already grabbed the dog. The dog had a collar but no tags. We waited a bit hoping the owner would come by. That never happened. So my mom came over with the dog. I bathed and fed the dog. I figured this dog was a senior as she had cataracts in both eyes and couldn't run super fast. She was a Shih Tzu. We named her Daisy. We also chatted a bit about how humans are often so selfish and careless. My mom couldn't believe how people were just driving by and not stopping or even slowing down even though it was clear my mom was trying to save this dog from off the streets and getting killed. People just didn't seem to care.

Our plans for Bijou's birthday went out the window as we cared for and comforted this very timid and scared dog. Daisy was ok to be around my three dogs. However, she kept pacing all around my living room and kitchen area. She would bark non-stop if I put her in a crate or a pen. I figured she wasn't used to that or crate trained. I just wanted her to stop pacing. She was super hungry and ate a ton. Daisy is skinny but not emaciated. I figured she was just naturally quite thin. Bijou is like that and never gains weight despite eating lots. We quickly got on Facebook and found a lost and found pets page for our city. We posted on there. Daisy continued to pace for about 7 hours until she finally laid down and went to sleep. It was clear that Daisy was scared, also that she hasn't been neglected or anything like that. She was well-cared for.

The next day I spent tons of time around the area where Daisy was found looking for someone either walking around looking or driving by slowly. I was hoping to find the owner of Daisy as I imagined they'd be going crazy looking for her. Daisy is very beautiful and I would easily call her a desirable dog. I know lots of people who would love to have a dog that is her size and has her look. I never found anyone out looking. I checked lots of websites online for ads and posts for missing dogs in the area. There are none for Daisy. I tell my mom that when the vet clinic is open, we will check for a microchip. If that doesn't work, we'll post more ads online for found dog. Also maybe go speak to the groomers in town. I figured they might recognize her.

Fast forward to Monday, there is a lady, who is the owner, who sees the post for the lost and found pets. She calls my mom. We know that she is the owner even though we posted a picture of Daisy on Facebook cause she knew of the type and color of Daisy's collar and that Daisy was a female. And it was just very clear that this wasn't a person falsely claiming to be the owner. That was a concern for me. Sadly, some people do that.

We give her the address. She's lives close by, but she says she's out walking. About 2 hours later she shows up as a passenger in a vehicle with a guy. I'm suspecting that maybe she didn't have a vehicle and that is why it took her so long. She had to arrange a ride. It turns out Daisy's real name is Missy. And she's 15 years old. We never spoke of how Missy got out in the road all alone in the pouring rain. But I figured that she was probably out in a backyard without being supervised. Dogs can easily jump the fence or dig underneath it or somebody can come by and open your gate. I don't know why people open up other peoples gate to their backyard, but I know that that happens. So I just hope that this woman has learned that you need to supervise your dog cause things can happen. If it wasn't for my mom, Daisy probably would've been hit or run over by a car.

I wouldn't necessarily call the owner a bad pet owner, just that she had made a terrible error in judgement by not supervising her dog. I really hope that she learned a lesson about supervision. Also maybe put a tag on that collar. That would've made the whole situation a lot easier.

[Wylie's Mom]

Oh my gosh, this poor little 15 yr old - she must've been SO very scared! Even more so due to her age . I'm so glad you were able to catch her. I sure hope this owner watches her more closely bc she is so vulnerable.

[fauna]

Very interesting thread, all dog owner out there like me can learn many things with this thread hope their read it soon.

[matese]

Happy ending to what could have been very tragic. I have 3 gates in my back yard, all have locks on them and cannot be opened from the outside. My dogs were NEVER left unattended when outside, reason, they were always getting into some kind of mischief even at ages of 7 and 13 yo. My rescue boy Cody is a hunting demon, if he smells something by the fence is digging. I have two big sheds that block my view, when we are in the yard, if I can't see him I call him, if he doesn't come on first call I am up to fetch him. It only takes a few minutes and your dog can be gone. NEVER leave your dog, no matter what age they are unattended, ALWAYS have tags with your phone # on them at all times. Always better SAFE then SORRY.

[lovestiny]

we have estate fencing and had to add chicken wire to make it safe!

[Cherie6446]

I hope you received the gratitude you deserve from this woman. You and your mom did a wonderful job of reuniting Misty and her owner. Happy birthday to your little one.

[Silver Lace]

Originally Posted by Cherie6446

I hope you received the gratitude you deserve from this woman. You and your mom did a wonderful job of reuniting Misty and her owner. Happy birthday to your little one.

I agree with Cherie and hope the woman showed her gratitude that you both deserve with all that you did for Missy. I bet she was so excited and happy to see her owner! Thank you for all that you did for this little girl. Bless you both. And Happy Birthday to your little one. So glad it worked out right.

[Jkpal]

A wonderful and horrible story...happy and sad. But mainly thank you for relating the incident in it's entirety. Thanks to your mom for risking her own well-being for little Missy and to both of you for taking the time and trouble in caring for this little one and in tracking down her owner. You and your mom are very, very special people. Thank you, too, for reminding all of us to check and re-check our yards, etc.; it's not good enough to think our pets are probably safe---we need to get out there and be absolutely positive! Big hugs to you and your lovely mother!

[Russpilot]

I'm glad that there was a happy ending here. People who are careless with their pets really piss me off. This animal is at the end of a long life and should not have had to deal with such a traumatic event as a result of someones carelessness. My dogs never leave my sight when we are outside and would never be out alone to have a chance to get out.

[canana]

I am so happy to hear that Missy got reunited with her owner. And thank God for you and your mother for saving her from the road!

A couple months ago, we also saved a lost dog on the road as well (a bigger dog). Luckily the dog had a collar with ID tags and we managed to call the owner. I was a little surprised though that they didn't check their messages sooner. It took them the entire day before getting back to us. It turns out that they were on vacation and the person who was watching their dog didn't realize the dog escaped. Guess this can happen! But the thought really scares me!!

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by canana

I am so happy to hear that Missy got reunited with her owner. And thank God for you and your mother for saving her from the road!

A couple months ago, we also saved a lost dog on the road as well (a bigger dog). Luckily the dog had a collar with ID tags and we managed to call the owner. I was a little surprised though that they didn't check their messages sooner. It took them the entire day before getting back to us. It turns out that they were on vacation and the person who was watching their dog didn't realize the dog escaped. Guess this can happen! But the thought really scares me!!

I'm happy too that you saved Missy and were able to reunite her with her family.

Canana, oh my! The person who was supposed to be watching the dog owes you big time!

Things do happen. I consider myself overly cautious, yet we have had a couple incidents here. Luckily never lost sight of the pup, but still scary.