So I found a puppy...

Zinja

I went hiking with Eevee at our nature park on Thursday and I heard whimpering in the bushes. Eevee slowly pulled me over to the site of the whimpering and found a shivering puppy.

I gave him some water and some treats, which he accepted furtively from my hands. I ended up using my belt as a leash and took him home. Where I bathed him, got rid of most of the fleas, gave him some food/water, and let him sleep in the spare crate.

I've put up a few flyers around the neighborhood and the nature park but have yet to receive a response. He is neutered so I'm guessing he came from an animal shelter but had no microchip and my vet claims he is about 3 months old. I called the local rescues but no luck.

My girlfriend is getting attached to him and we may keep him... Is there proper etiquette on looking for dogs' owners? How long before we stop looking?

Here are photos... can you guess the breed or mix?

Zinja

Also, when posting flyers, should you include the pet’s photo?

Hinata23

I don't blame your girlfriend! He's very cute and soft looking!! Good luck with the whole process!

Calia

What a cutie!!

I personally wouldn't post a picture of the dog in the flyers as someone may come up to you and claim that he's theirs when really he's not. I would include the age and the fact that he is neutered, as those would be telling details to a searching owner. Then should you get a call you can ask them to describe the pup.

okiron

Legally I believe it's a month or two before you're allowed to make him yours.

I wouldn't post a picture and I wouldn't put down all the info either. Let the owners have something to tell you to prove it's their dog. Most people who lost a dog will respond to every found ad anyway.

Hinata23

He kind of looks like a Border Collie mix or an Australian Shepherd... not really sure.

CarabooA

I don't know but he's SUPER cute!! Love the fluff on the ears!

lindsayt

I see Border Collie!

Heidi

Very cute! I see border collie as well.

There are usually by-laws for when it's okay to keep a found dog. One way to make sure that the previous owner has no rights is to take the dog to the animal shelter and tell them that you will adopt it when the holding period is up. I don't think that's necessary, or very nice to the dog to have to stay in a shelter. Maybe just inform all the animal shelters and ask what their waiting period is.

tjbart17

I see border collie too. Not sure what exactly the mix is but I bet he will love to play ball.

You could also post him on petharbor.com and Craigslist.

shibamistress

With the GSD that my friend had for awhile, the people who found him called the local animal shelters with a description and their phone number, in case someone came looking for him. They also called vets in the area and said they'd found him (same deal). So that might be something to do in addition to the fliers.

Poor pup! Glad you found him!

Koyuki

Is there any way you could put an ad in your local newspaper or on your local radio station? I work at the RSPCA and have such a huge amount of people that have lost their pets that we can assume have been taken in by a new family. You did a great thing by taking him in and keeping him safe :-)

cezieg

Aww it was probly really scared too. @hondru's recommendation of the shelter is a good idea. It doesn't seem like a dog someone would just dump outside, especially fixed... ethically the shelter is the best thing to do and then making sure they know you're going to keep it if no one claims him. There might be a little girl or boy out there hoping their puppy gets found.

Trzcina

He is very cute! I definitely also see Border Collie, though I'm not sure what (if anything) else.

I would be careful of the shelter suggestion depending on how the shelters in your area are... I know in some areas they're not too bad, would actually let you adopt him when the holding period is up, etc., but then I've heard of others that have really wretched records on diseases, not following instructions on adoptions, etc. So I guess that's a matter of you need to use your judgement on that.

I think I would be more likely to just call the shelters, vets, etc. and tell them you have him and describe him, etc. Then again, the only foundling animals I've known anybody who kept were either dogs in rural Arkansas, or cats.

sukoshi_mom

Agree with the folks saying not to put his photo up.

I think he may have been dumped in the park. (Not necessarily by the owners, but maybe by somebody else.)

Zinja

Hmm. He is really smart. I taught him down, sit, and spin in two sessions during meal time, so possibly boarder collie. He has a similar facial structure. We'll see in a few years if he stays.

I posted 10 flyers around town, cs, and left the description at the shelter and humane society as suggested. I brought him down to Tampa for the long weekend and received two calls who were unsuccessful in describing him.

I'll see the shelter when I get back home and take Heidi’s advice and see about the holding period.

Finding him a name is difficult! I'm trying to push "WiFi.":)

Zinja

Eevee, female 65lbs, starting mounting and humping him this morning. Is this normal? She's never tired it with my Akita.

I have seen her hump my friend's golden retriever at his place before. I don't like the "dominance"theory. Anyone have any other suggestions on this behavior?

WrylyBrindle

Reilly (female, 70 lbs, 9.5 years old) will sometimes hump Sage (male, 65 lbs, 6.5 yo), you can tell she's going to do it and he never gets upset. She actually humps his head, not his rear, and he generally just lays down and she air humps over his head for a few seconds. It's one the games they play, it doesnt last long and they play a lot of other games as well, so its not obsessive. Nobody humps Juno, nor does she hump anyone else. Sage used to hump a golden retriever he knew- she seemed to think it was a silly game too (there must be something about those goldens). If its not persistent and nobody's getting upset, its normal dog play. bullying however is bullying no matter what game they are being bullies at- meaning its not the GAME that makes it bad, its the attitude, persistence and consent- a dog can be a jerk at any game. Humping play is just one game. Noming on each others' necks is another game. As with any play, if puppy doesnt like it and is overwhelmed and Eevee wont listen when he tells her 'enough' then you need to advocate for puppy, and direct Eevee into another way to play with pup that he enjoys too, like doing sits and tricks side by side, or chasing balls or tug or whatever you know is right for them.

Kuma123

He is super cute.

How is he doing? How is the search going?

StaticNfuzz

really cute....he doesn't look very big so I am assuming small dog, maybe Papllion as one of the grandparents in his ancestry given the silky coat and ear tufts. Who knows but he certainly looks like a nice dog whatever he is.

Hope he find a place to call home : )
Snf

Zinja

I called the animal shelter and I have yet to talk to someone in person I left a message and sent them an email and I'm waiting to hear back from them. I've gotten a few emails and phone calls. The closest person was a dog with very similar descriptions but they were missing a 7 year old jack russel with a bob tail. I feel really bad telling the folks I don't have their dogs and to keep looking.

I scheduled an appointment with my vet for a checkup on Saturday. Let's see how old he is by his growing teeth.

He's a little spaz but he's very lovable. I saw him sleeping near my Akita so they all get along well. The cats are also good with him.

jellyfish

Humping is just play and Toki chooses who he wants to play that game with, too. He even humps males, soooo I don't see how that could be taken seriously other than as play. I wouldn't worry about it in this situation!

Kuma123

I am glad he is doing ok. I bet it is hard to tell people it isn't their dog.

You are doing a really great thing for this pup

Zinja

That's good news about the humping. Eevee just grabs him and puts him in position. Sometimes she begins humping the air (size difference), sometimes she will just position him and lay down to squish him. The puppy also has jumped on her back while she was standing and began humping the middle of her back, which she growled at him and he jumped off.

The Animal Services says they have a three day hold on stray dogs. He will become property of the state for those three days and if my adoption application is cleared, I will take him.

So I'm taking him in today and possibly take him home on Sunday

cezieg

@Zinja Good luck! Either way he'll have a happy story, a great home with your or, if he has one, reunited with his original owner

Zinja

So, he belongs to the state right now. Still no signs of his owners though.

Before I brought him in, I was walking him and Eevee and heard another dog's leash dangling in the bushes near my apartment. We went to investigate and saw a white dog about 70 lbs running by. I brought Eevee close by to try and attract the dog. She came by and I read the phone number off the collar.

It turns out the lady has been looking for her dog for about an hour. I had to let go of the dog because she started growling at Eevee. The dog then ran off into the woods again and I met up with the owner, who began walking around the woods to find her. I saw the dog run past her and I talked to her for a little bit.

The dog got out of her place while she was moving and claims her dog has an unlimited supply of energy. She is going to wait until he gets tired and try looking for him again. The lady went back into her apartment shortly after. I was offering to help her find her dog but it seemed to me she gave up and so I went back into my place.

Honestly, I had a dream that I was walking Eevee around Orlando's airport and found Mochi. I would name the puppy Mochi but there is an ice cream shop here named "Mochi" and I don't like their service. Too many found dogs. lol

Zinja

The shelter called me today. I'm picking him up tomorrow

cezieg

Well congratulations on your new pup lol Think Eevee will be happy to see him?

Kuma123

Yay! Congratulations!!

Have you decided on a name yet?

Zinja

I hope so. Her separation anxiety returned when he was gone. Another dog around the house calms her down immensely. He's also another outlet for her to take out her energy.

My problem is the name... We've been tossing up SO MANY names these past few days.

I guess we will never really know until we get him home and test out the names. When he left, his name was Miso but we kept saying, "Miso horny" when Eevee tries to hump him. lol

I'm trying to push Ezio Auditore da Firenze or Ezio/Etsy for short. He is basically homemade, right?

Kuma123

@Zinga, 'miso horny' ?!?!?! HAHAHAHAHHAHHAA SO funny!

I like Etsy! That is very cute