Moral dilemma on lost yorkie

[Opium88]

My friend Jo found a yorkie wandering around in the middle of nowhere. She came right up to her. She's grimy and matted. Looks like she hasn't been groomed in a while. She's all bones and skinny with what looks to her like a tumor on her side. She was hungry and extremely thirsty. No tags. When you find a dog in that condition, knowing how fast a yorkie gets picked up it leads me to believe she wasn't wandering lost for very long, which in that reasoning leads me to believe she didn't get in that state overnight. What should she do? Try and return it to somewhere where she's obviously neglected enough to end up in that state or continue to keep her in her possession and make her better? I know I'd be horrified at her condition. Help me out with this one folks... she's asking me for guidance . I know I'd want my dog back, but then I take care of my dogs and even at their worst they don't end up in that state. I take care of mine first and foremost. So...a little insight would be nice on this one.

[Shicks]

Keep her. Give her a wonderful life.

[Lovetodream88]

It takes very little time for a yorkie to look rough. Heck mine need to be groomed and look a little rough right now. You really can't judge a book by the cover. It is the finders responsibility to try in find the owner. What if one of yours got lost and someone thought they looked uncarred for and kept them? Me and my mom a couple years ago came across a tiny little mixed breed on a busy road and picked her up she was in a ratted sweater. Took her to a few houses and knocked on the door went to leave a house where no one answered and they pulled in so we asked them and it was theirs, she ended up being 16, blind, and diabetic and slipped out the door. Nothing is ever black and white.

[TxVicki]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

It takes very little time for a yorkie to look rough. Heck mine need to be groomed and look a little rough right now. You really can't judge a book by the cover. It is the finders responsibility to try in find the owner. What if one of yours got lost and someone thought they looked uncarred for and kept them? Me and my mom a couple years ago came across a tiny little mixed breed on a busy road and picked her up she was in a ratted sweater. Took her to a few houses and knocked on the door went to leave a house where no one answered and they pulled in so we asked them and it was theirs, she ended up being 16, blind, and diabetic and slipped out the door. Nothing is ever black and white.

ALSO, your friend needs to to take her and have her scanned to see if she has micro chip. Also she needs to try and find the owners, by using social media for your area, most area's have lost and pages on Face Book to list dog's. It just burns my butt to no end when people ASSUME that a dog is mistreated, dirty and needs to be groomed. It doesn't take long. Hell, I can brush mine out and they go outside and run around in leaves and they look horrible. So never assume.
What if this was your dog???

[Opium88]

Yeah I told her to check for a microchip. Her boyfriend lives in that area so she's gonna start out with the neighbors and go from there. I convinced her to try and find the owners. Cause yeah, I would be losing my mind if that were me. And maybe the tumor has caused her to be so skinny. You never know.

[maxdog]

Originally Posted by Shicks

Keep her. Give her a wonderful life.

[matese]

First to the vet to scan for micro chip, then put up posters, go door to door if she has to. There is a possibility the owners may not want her, THEN your friend can keep her, but first try to find the owners, be fare to this baby. Please keep us posted.

[Wylie's Mom]

Always scan for chip - and at the very least try to contact the owner if applicable -- bc you just never know what's going on - this could be a very loved, but very sick, yorkie who got lost. Discuss her bad condition w/ the owners over the phone to assess properly.

If no chip, no ID -- then please just get this kiddo to a vet ASAP, or to a no-kill shelter.

[Maximo]

I agree, scan for a chip and post signs around the neighborhood. My boys would look like a disaster in short time if they got loose. Even in the house, my boys can look neglected after a good wrestle session.

The tumor is very sad, but never assume that a loose Yorkie with messy hair has been neglected.

[MauiGirl]

Definitely don't jump to conclusions.... try hard to find the owner and find the whole truth.

If my Tiki escaped today, it wouldn't take long for her to look a total mess, and yes her nails need a trim, and she has always been on the slim side, and she has a fatty benign tumor on her chest. BUT, she is my beloved pet, and has a wonderful life and I would do anything for her. She would be lost without me, and I would be devastate without her.

Find the owner, and give them a chance.

[caribear]

Originally Posted by TxVicki

ALSO, your friend needs to to take her and have her scanned to see if she has micro chip. Also she needs to try and find the owners, by using social media for your area, most area's have lost and pages on Face Book to list dog's. It just burns my butt to no end when people ASSUME that a dog is mistreated, dirty and needs to be groomed. It doesn't take long. Hell, I can brush mine out and they go outside and run around in leaves and they look horrible. So never assume.
What if this was your dog???

Yep, totally agree with them. MY dog can look scruffy quickly when his hair is long after a romp around, especially if he got lose running who knows where in brush and everything.

[Lilah Charm]

Originally Posted by MauiGirl

Definitely don't jump to conclusions.... try hard to find the owner and find the whole truth.

If my Tiki escaped today, it wouldn't take long for her to look a total mess, and yes her nails need a trim, and she has always been on the slim side, and she has a fatty benign tumor on her chest. BUT, she is my beloved pet, and has a wonderful life and I would do anything for her. She would be lost without me, and I would be devastate without her.

Find the owner, and give them a chance.

Oh my gosh, that is my Lilah- well, without a tumor but seriously- she has always been a 'trim' gal, boney and skinny and she is free fed in addition to twice a day wet food and treats with consistent and regular parasite management, blood work and fecals- the girl just runs a little skinny. /!; it blows my mind how quickly her coat is a disaster. Because she is so smooth and silky and we have grown her coat pretty long before I would never have realized she runs a tad bit cottony if it weren't for her buddy yoda who flaunts his perfect silken strands that never ever seem to tangle. Don't know how he does it. A medical condition that is being carefully managed by the owner can also end up with a very ragged looking dog after a short jaunt through the mud. I would be devastated if this happened to me, so so devestated. If that yorkie has a good owner to get home to I hope very much that she gets there.

[Lovetodream88]

Any update?

[Opium88]

The absolute coolest thing just happened and I made it happen. You will all be happy to know that that yorkie made it back to her rightful family. Jo called me and asked me if I could find a good home for her with someone who could afford her medical bills (because she took her to the vet and found out she has cancer, that's what the lumps were from) and so I got on the Internet and two hours later I was communicating with her owners. I made absolutely sure they really were her owners. Made them send me tons of pictures and everything. They were so happy to have her back. She was 11 yrs old. I just got back from jo's house now from them picking her up. The whole family came and when the little boy started crying we all ended up bawling. And jo explained what the doctors said, so they already made an appointment to have her at the vet to get everything taken care of. It was really really heart warming to make that happen. They were so happy. That made me feel good. So that got a perfect ending. Yay!

[Lilah Charm]

That is awesome! I am so glad the little yorkie was reunited with their family :heart: good job