Abandoned Labrador
Discussion
Out this evening on the beach, I spotted a yellow Labrador wandering alone towards the road. Nobody obviously near it (nobody within 1-200 yds in fact) so I went over to investigate. Lab was an old boy, limping slightly, soaking wet and without any ID - not even a collar on, though he'd clearly been wearing one recently judging by the indent in his fur aroun the neck.
My wife spent an hour traipsing round the beach asking everyone if they'd lost a dog or if they'd heard/seen anyone looking for a dog, but no joy - asking at the bars on or near the beach drew no clues either.
So we decided we would have to get the dog warden out. Not knowing who exactly to ring, I first got the number for the RSPCA - straight to answerphone, with a statement that they didn't take in strays. So next I rang the local cop shop, who gave me a number for the dog warden (118 118 couldn't find the number). This number lead to an office that was closed outside normal office hours. Feeling rather frustrated I rang the police back who gave me a different number - this time someone answered. She asked me whether I could take the dog home with me, so a warden could collect him tomorrow - unfortunately I couldn't - both my wife and I had drunk a couple of pints and we had no car with us.
Her advice on this basis was: 'Well you'll have to let him go, there's nothing we can do.'
Now quite frankly I was astounded by that piece of "advice". Fortunately a gentleman walking past then gave me the number of a rescue centre fairly local to the beach, who said they would take the Labrador in. The lady at the rescue centre asked if we had tried the council dog warden - I told her the advice I had been given and she told me that she had been assured by the council that they never ever turn dogs away - this was then confirmed by ringing a kennels nearby who should have taken the dog on behalf of the council, provided the council rang them first to get authorisation. They wouldn't take the poor lad without council say so, which was obviously not forthcoming, so the lab has ended up at a rescue centre tonight - fortunately the chap who gave us the rescue centre number was able to take him there for us.
Sorry for the rant, just mightily pissed off at the all-out arse-ache we had just trying to make sure the dog would be ok - we would have taken him home if we had been able to, but we have a 9 month old lab pup ourselves, and there would be no telling if the old boy had any infections or other nasties that could affect our lad. Also, there would be no way of knowing how ours would react to another dog in the house.
I know there is also the chance he wasn't abandoned, and has simply wandered off or escaped. But the fact that we were there for two hours and nobody heard or saw anyone looking for a lost dog (we had attracted quite a crowd at the end of it), his collar was missing, he had a limp and possibly weak hind legs as well as being well into his teens by the look of him, leads me to think his owner decided to turf him out.
I hope I've added 2+2 and gotten 5, but the circumstances all point to being abandoned.
My wife spent an hour traipsing round the beach asking everyone if they'd lost a dog or if they'd heard/seen anyone looking for a dog, but no joy - asking at the bars on or near the beach drew no clues either.
So we decided we would have to get the dog warden out. Not knowing who exactly to ring, I first got the number for the RSPCA - straight to answerphone, with a statement that they didn't take in strays. So next I rang the local cop shop, who gave me a number for the dog warden (118 118 couldn't find the number). This number lead to an office that was closed outside normal office hours. Feeling rather frustrated I rang the police back who gave me a different number - this time someone answered. She asked me whether I could take the dog home with me, so a warden could collect him tomorrow - unfortunately I couldn't - both my wife and I had drunk a couple of pints and we had no car with us.
Her advice on this basis was: 'Well you'll have to let him go, there's nothing we can do.'
Now quite frankly I was astounded by that piece of "advice". Fortunately a gentleman walking past then gave me the number of a rescue centre fairly local to the beach, who said they would take the Labrador in. The lady at the rescue centre asked if we had tried the council dog warden - I told her the advice I had been given and she told me that she had been assured by the council that they never ever turn dogs away - this was then confirmed by ringing a kennels nearby who should have taken the dog on behalf of the council, provided the council rang them first to get authorisation. They wouldn't take the poor lad without council say so, which was obviously not forthcoming, so the lab has ended up at a rescue centre tonight - fortunately the chap who gave us the rescue centre number was able to take him there for us.
Sorry for the rant, just mightily pissed off at the all-out arse-ache we had just trying to make sure the dog would be ok - we would have taken him home if we had been able to, but we have a 9 month old lab pup ourselves, and there would be no telling if the old boy had any infections or other nasties that could affect our lad. Also, there would be no way of knowing how ours would react to another dog in the house.
I know there is also the chance he wasn't abandoned, and has simply wandered off or escaped. But the fact that we were there for two hours and nobody heard or saw anyone looking for a lost dog (we had attracted quite a crowd at the end of it), his collar was missing, he had a limp and possibly weak hind legs as well as being well into his teens by the look of him, leads me to think his owner decided to turf him out.
I hope I've added 2+2 and gotten 5, but the circumstances all point to being abandoned.
Oh dear what a shame and what a bloomin nightmare trying to do good and sort this out for the old boy. I agree I would not have taken home with me even if I did have a car and no beers in me as like you said he could have had anything that could have caused your own pup problems or even been agressive towards you or your dog. It really is madness that you try to do the right thing for this dog and are fobbed off and given such advice as to "let him go" 
Shocking behaviour from the Council but good on you for helping the poor pooch out, I hope he is reclaimed by his owner and his collar had simply fallen off.
Personally, I think that all dogs should be micro-chipped but then that's a debate for another day - good owners would, bad owners wouldn't. Same with the Dog Licence argument.
Guam said:
It would help if ID tags were a legal requirement on all dogs (or better yet a microchip). Smart phones could then get an app to read them (like the Barcode scanner apps). That would help everyone out imho (not least the animals).
The Control of Dogs Order 1992 mandates that any dog in a public place must wear a collar with the name and address (including postcode) of the owner engraved or written on it, or engraved on a tag. Personally, I think that all dogs should be micro-chipped but then that's a debate for another day - good owners would, bad owners wouldn't. Same with the Dog Licence argument.
One Friday, last July a Yellow Lab b
h was wandering around my area. She had no collar, was clearly under weight, but a friendly wee thing.
After tempting her into the garden for hugs (I'd had a few wines) and giving her a bowl of water and some dog food, I called the local SSPCA who came to collect her within the hour. But on their arrival, the female officer did admit if I had phoned 20mins later than I wouldn't have got anyone to collect her until the following Monday!
h was wandering around my area. She had no collar, was clearly under weight, but a friendly wee thing. After tempting her into the garden for hugs (I'd had a few wines) and giving her a bowl of water and some dog food, I called the local SSPCA who came to collect her within the hour. But on their arrival, the female officer did admit if I had phoned 20mins later than I wouldn't have got anyone to collect her until the following Monday!
Just had a call from the rescue centre - owners are on their way to collect him 
Appears he got out of their place a couple of miles away, they spent all evening searching the local camp sites as they didn't think he would have gone any further.
Really glad I was wrong though over my theory of him being abandoned. I suppose because of my boy being near identical to him apart from age it really got to me.
Appears he got out of their place a couple of miles away, they spent all evening searching the local camp sites as they didn't think he would have gone any further.
Really glad I was wrong though over my theory of him being abandoned. I suppose because of my boy being near identical to him apart from age it really got to me.
GTO Scott said:
Just had a call from the rescue centre - owners are on their way to collect him
Appears he got out of their place a couple of miles away, they spent all evening searching the local camp sites as they didn't think he would have gone any further.
Really glad I was wrong though over my theory of him being abandoned. I suppose because of my boy being near identical to him apart from age it really got to me.
my god, that's brilliant news. they must be SO relieved! Appears he got out of their place a couple of miles away, they spent all evening searching the local camp sites as they didn't think he would have gone any further.
Really glad I was wrong though over my theory of him being abandoned. I suppose because of my boy being near identical to him apart from age it really got to me.
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