off leash dog in the woods?

Comments

• sukoshi_mom

  October 2009 edited November -1

  Understand the reluctance to corral a strange dog.
  
  Perhaps you could have looked for the nearest hunter/hunter's truck and reported the dog and his approximate location.
  
  Just a thought.
• ljowen123

  October 2009 edited November -1

  I wouldn't have tried to capture the dog, especially if you were near hunting grounds. A lot of hunters don't use collars on the dogs, so that they won't get hung up on anything while going through brambles. Several of the hunters I know have started having GPS microchips put in their dogs to make it easier to follow.
• StaticNfuzz

  October 2009 edited October 2009

  Actually I would have taken a pict with your cell and then reported the dog to the ranger station. Even if they are nowhere near by there usually is a place that takes reports of lost and found etc etc. Depends on the park system and who governs what. Thought being...If it is a hunters dog, the hunters generally have to get a license and that may be at a ranger station, so that is the first place I would post the pict with info.
  
  Snf
• baanton

  October 2009 edited November -1

  So it all depends. Usually if a dog is in his / her "element" it will look very self-assured and sort of non-chalant about you and it's environment. In that case, I'd say to leave it be -- I agree with LJ that just because it lacks a collar is not proof of it being lost or abandoned.
  
  However, if the dog is lost it most likely knows it, and will look scared in some very obvious way --- that "deer in the headlights" look, tail tucked between legs, etc. If it has been lost for several days, it will be looking physically "haggard" or bedraggled in some way, behaving like its very weak, or some similar signs of hunger and maybe dehydration as well. Anyway, if looking like the latter (and I believe you would know the difference), I think I (and my husband without a shadow of a doubt) would have tried to take possession of the dog somehow and bring it to a shelter, ranger station, police station or other similar place where it might be sought out by its owner. Or if all else fails and an owner can't be found, take it home. That is just us, though. Because of your dogs being with you I see how this may have proven to be very difficult, but perhaps there would be a way to put the dog in the possession of another person coming along who would take these actions, or tie it up until you could secure your dogs safely in your car, etc. Just some ideas...
• dlroberts

  October 2009 edited November -1

  Thanks all. Those are all great ideas. I could rationalize decisions in both directions, so ultimately I went with my gut. It sounds like I probably made the right decision.
  
  This dog looked to be in great shape. His tail was up, he was confidently sniffing the air (I'm assuming he was getting Lucy's and Joey's scents through the open window), and trotting along with a spring in his step. He was a little bit thin, but had plenty of muscle so I assumed that was his natural weight (not due to starvation). He didn't seem to be especially interested in or afraid us which, now that I think about it, was probably an indicator he wasn't in distress at all.
  
  Thanks again!
• baanton

  October 2009 edited November -1

  Oh Dave, you are describing one happy, confident dog! I think you made the right decision!