Stray Dog...Maybe Not...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
November 8, 2007 8:51am CST
I was out with my Mom the other day and saw a dog sitting on the side of the road by a store watching the traffic go by. I thought for sure he was a stray and my heart just broke thinking of him laying there in the cold, probably hungry with no home. I was on the verge of tears over it. My Mom noticed and when I told her what was wrong, she told me that the dog belonged to the store owner and sits out there every day watching the cars. When we went back by the dog and the owner were gone. I hope she was right. I don't know why I get so emotional over a stray animal or any animal in general.
Have you ever done this? Does it bother you when you see a stray? Do you rescue them?
"COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS"
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
15 people like this
30 responses
@musicman6 (2407)
• United States
8 Nov 07
uath13, what are wolfdogs? I'm not familiar with these in this part of the country!
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
11 Nov 07
I have great respect for people like you who get than emotional over it but I don't.
Not that I don't feel badly for them because I do. I just don't get that emotional over them.
I don't rescue them either. I guess (especially with dogs) you never know what you're going to get with them and the fear out rules me - thinking they might attack me. Crazy I guess.
1 person likes this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
12 Nov 07
It does, indeed, bother me whenever I see strays. Specially when the temps are dropping. Few years ago I was on my paper route when something told me to go straight down this one road when I normally turn around at this farm's drive after delivering his paper. After coming to the next turn, I spotted a pitbull puppy running full steam ahead. It was 20 degrees out and the temps were supposed to drop to 0 that night. I stopped and called to the pup and she came flying at me and just bout bowled me over backwards. Poor thing was very skinny and I knew she wouldn't survive the night. She also reeked of pigs being she was prolly trying to scrounge for something to eat at the farm I was just at. I brought her home, gave her a very good bath and she now rules my bro-in-law's house down the street. Very happy, playful, spayed and very overweight dog now. She always gives me tons of kisses whenever I see her now. I know she's grateful for me saving her life and I'll never forget that day. I've since rescued several dogs and cats and found them new homes. I feel content whenever I see one of my rescues going to a good home.
1 person likes this
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
8 Nov 07
I will take in any stray dog, and most of the time I find the grateful owner. If I can't find the owner, I'll try and keep the dog, if my husband will let me, or if I can't, I'll take it to a place where they put dogs up for adoption. I love dogs too much to ignore any dog who seems to be lost.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
8 Nov 07
I have grabbed a few strays from the streets/alleys taking
them to the local Humane Society. I also have bought a
couple cats from them as well in the past.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
2 people like this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
8 Nov 07
I too feel for strays, especially when the weather gets really cold.
I have brought a dog inside so that it can get warm, but now that my daughter has this cat that doesn't like anyone, I can't do that, but then again where I live, it is not common to see a stray.
There have been times that I have been in town and wanted to take home a dog I saw, but I knew I can't take them all in, so I just hope that they find someone who can..
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
9 Nov 07
One day I rescued a stray kitten. There was actually a whole family of them there. But, I could only take one. As it was, I was living with my sister and her family. Their father was allergic to kittens. But, I knew that as soon as their six children saw the kitten and fell in love, the kitten would be staying. He did.
1 person likes this
@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
9 Nov 07
I know exactly how you feel! Whenever I see a stray I HAVE to try and get it. If it doesn't come to me and runs away I'll try to coax it to me for a while (whether I have a car or not). If the dog doesn't come to me, of course I'll be upset. But at least I'll know I tried to help him! And hope that the reason he isn't coming is he knows the way home!
It sounds like your mother is probably right in this situation! It's good that dog wasn't a stray, and wasn't thinking about trying to cross the road! If you really want to make sure you could go back to the store and ask the owner yourself! :)
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
9 Nov 07
Yes, I have to say that I do get upset over stray animals and I try to help them as much as I can. I am hoping that the dog did belong to the store owner and that your mother was right. It makes me feel better to know that.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
9 Nov 07
I used to always bring home wayward pets that I was sure were strays. Always is was some dog or cat that had just gotten away from it's owner. Sitting out in front of a store, i probably would have assumed that it was the owners or a shopper's . I work in a store and any dog or cat that hangs about too long, we call the animal officer who will take the animal and try to locate it's owner.
1 person likes this
@3lilangels (4639)
• United States
9 Nov 07
yes my friend i have done this a few times,my heart just breaks when i see a animal outside all lonely and not knowing if they have a home or not.alot of the times i have find stray dogs and helped them find their homes if they did have owners if not i would find a family member or friend to take them in.pattie
@peanutjar (5198)
• Canada
9 Nov 07
Hi twoey,here there are alot of strays that end up at my door,cats.I feed them,put an announce on the local radio about finding them.If no one answers/claims it,i then find a nice home for them as i already have 2 cats(indoor)a dog and 2 fish,plus a 4 1/2 year old daughter,haha.I keep them in the garage and let out during the day(the cats).I love all animals.It does bother me alot when i see a stray,i think that its lost or has been abandoned which happens alot here and is soo sad and it pi$$es me off that humans are so cruel in many ways for dropping off animals or neglecting to take care of them by watching them.
Peanutjar:)
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
9 Nov 07
First of all - I love your avatar! :) Yes I know what you mean when seeing a stray dog or a cat wondering around. It makes my heart sink when I see that and just want to take them all in if I could. I saw a lonely cat the other day while on the highway and it was in the drainage ditch just wondering and I prayed it had a home already for I couldn't just stop along the highway and get it. I try to rescue any that I can. I have already rescued three cats already. They've shown up at my door and I just don't have the heart to turn them away so they stay with me as long as they want to be here.
1 person likes this
@Captain_Car (10)
• United States
9 Nov 07
I get very bothered when I see a stray animal. I wish I could take them all in, unfortunately I live in an apartment and we are not allowed to have pets.
I do donate to animal shelters often though.
1 person likes this
@rosebug23 (1906)
• Australia
8 Nov 07
Hi twoey,a few weeks ago very early on a Sunday morning someone knocked on our door ,they had a dog on a lead and said they were returning our dog and we should make sure that our dogs are kept on our property and safe. I looked at the dog and it did look very much like ours but i was sure our dog was in the back garden .I told the man this and said i would check just to make sure but he picked the dog up and pushed it into my arms and took off .There i was with this dog and not sure what to do.by this time i knew it wasn't my dog so i took the dog out the back and had to hope that my dogs would be ok about this strange dog. I got dressed,made a sign with photo (thanks to digital cameras and computers) and went to our local shop and posted it on the door . When i arrived home there had been a phone call from the owner and they were on ther way .When they arrived i went to get the dog but it was gone .It had dug a hole under the fence and escaped.The owner wasn't surprised as this had happened on many occassions previous.I don't know if she got the dog back or what happened but some dogs just seem to be great escape artists.
1 person likes this
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
8 Nov 07
Yes I get the same way, I think it is because they are such beautiful souls that can't really speak out for themselves and when you think about are treated pretty bad sometimes when all they want is a bit of love, food and a little warmth, you have a nice heart twoey.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
9 Nov 07
I have rescued stray puppies and raised them but to just see a dog watching traffic nawwwwwwww the pwner is there some where or he would nt be sitting there he would be off finding sealter and food. Dogs are smart they wont be cold or hungery!
1 person likes this
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
9 Nov 07
Your not alone i love to rescue animals. I have had two cats and one baby rabbit I rescued this year alone. And i will continue to do it. My dog was given to me by someone who could not keep him and my ferret was rescued from some people who did not take care of him. I am an animal lover and will always be.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (90355)
• United States
9 Nov 07
My mom would get so frustrated with me as a teen when I would see a stray dog and bring it home. At that time we lived in a city, but it could easily have been mistaken for country. But there was a busy road outside out house, so I would take them back to my house off the road and feed them. My mom kept saying if I fed them they'd just stick around. Eventually if no one called after I put up posters, she'd call the pound. It was really hard for me to give up the Dalmation. But I couldn't care for it. I wasn't at that time allowed to have a dog in the house and my parents didn't have an extra money.
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
8 Nov 07
Oh twoey, I am like you i cannot stand to see any kind of animal that is a stray or not wanted.Some people get a puppy and they dote on it and then when it gets big they take it off because they don't want it any more..I do love animals ,they are so dependant on us and we were meant to take care of them.I have a dog, a parrot ,and a cat, and recently someone throw out a stray cat at our house,it was so hungry and needed attention very badly,it was a sweet cat...Anyway we fed it and he is gaining weight and i went and bought it a collar and got it all fixed up and that cat is very happy with us..I just cannot turn out any hungry animal...My friends tell me i spoil my pets but i cannot help it,i love all my animals a lot and i try and make sure they have anything they need..They get their shots,baths, collars, food and shelter and all the love i can give them..now that my hildren are all grown up now ,these are my babies, and i will do anthing to see that they get anything they need,including toys,we play with them,hold them,and i even kiss mineLOL
1 person likes this