BCSP Report – Week 21

Bollinger County Stray Project Report May 23-29

Thursday night I received a call asking to meet to take a Boston Terrier hit by a vehicle. The distressed caller said, “It was raining. The little dog came out of no-where.”

I have problems driving at night and that evening we had stormy weather, rain from a mist to a down pour all day. It was late, I was tired, it was still stormy. I had to say I was sorry. “I just can’t drive in these conditions at night,” I said. “Can you bring the little dog in to the vet in the morning?”

The caller lived an hour from us. Sections of the road winding like a roller coaster and me with vision issues in the dark: a recipe for an accident. An injured dog and we don’t need any humans in peril too [I thought].

The caller said it was an older dog. They had tried to find his owner to no avail.

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The caller worked in the morning. It would be a lot for her to take the little dog to the vet because she needed to get back to work in Patton by 8:00. So I pondered about who I might call to help with transport early in the morning.

“Keep the little guy warm so he does not go in shock while I call the vet and think if there is anyone who can help with him in the morning,” I said.

Dr. Jones told me we needed a bleached white blanket or towel to wrap around the gash on the Boston’s back. The white towel would help keep the injury clean for sutures in the morning. It may help any bleeding too.

I relayed Dr. Jones instructions. Then I called Sheri (Fred and Makayla) McGruder from the Patton area. “Could you help transport an injured older Boston Terrier in the morning on your way to work?

Even though Sheri had Friday off they immediately agreed and set a plan. They called the Good Samaritan caring for the old dog then met her in the morning.

I am certain the well-being of the little dog consumed the McGruder family, the family caring for the little dog, Dr. Jones and I know he was heavy on my heart too. What would the morning bring?

The dog was not responding to his caretakers on Thursday night and no improvement in the morning. After talking to Dr. Jones I learned he was at least age 10, probably older. He had feeling in both hind feet so even though he was not moving, she believed he had not broken his back. Radiographs were needed. I had the burden to determine to save him or euthanize someone’s pet.

Thursday night I put up an ER plea on FB trying to find his owner. Several Boston owners messaged each

other and none knew whose dog he was. By morning a relative of the owners had reason to believe that the little dog was that of her family members. She was right.

In the mean time I had made the decision to save the little dog, even though he was old and had vision issues. If he had not been a Boston Terrier I am not so sure I would have said “save him”, but all who had met the dog said what a sweet boy he was. All were fighting for him. The folks who own Boston Terriers adore them. If I had euthanized a pet which I felt had a low chance for quality of life, would the owners have forgiven me or understood it was best for the elderly dog? Would they agree how hard it would be for the almost blind dog to recover or have quality of life with a broken pelvic and a broken spirit?

I am so thankful the owners walked in before he went into surgery. They made the decision to end the pain and suffering. They sent him to heaven.

Friday afternoon between rain showers, I went to a farm in Jackson to pick up a very mangy purebred male German Shepherd dog (GSD). The male was about age 6. Pictures showed a very serious case of mange and a low body weight. The property owner thinks the stray GSD got that way after killing a fox.

The dog bit the property owner when he had attempted to apply a topical to kill mange. I was also told the dog would not let the property owner catch him. So I knew I needed help when attempting to put a collar and leash on the dog.

I called a family who had donated $200 towards the treatment and care of the dog to meet me at the rural property. We tried for about an hour and finally had to herd the dog to the horse barn, and then encourage him to walk into a stall.

I had the Silver family and the property owner named Bob lock me in the coral with stacks of lumber, with a large GSD that we knew had a history of biting…

Not the smartest thing I’ve done, but we had to corner him to get a leash on.He seemed more interested in fleeing rather than attacking, but a fearful dog is very dangerous. Eventually I got one of the collars over his neck without getting bit.

We quickly learned he would not tolerate a leash. He tried to kill it, grabbing and trying to chew it in half. I in turn had to fight him by pulling on the leash to get it out of his mouth. That did not go over well. He grabbed my leg…

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Nowhere to go and there I was, in a corner with him and junk all over the ground for me to trip on. Lucky for me he had not taken a mouth full, only took a small bite and the mouth slipped over my leg thanks to my baggy thick sweat pants.

We regrouped and I eventually was able to get him to temporarily submit. Then I slipped on a muzzle that was a little too large so he could still bite me it he wanted, just not a mouthful. He tried, twice, may be even three times.. . It was like a rodeo, him lunging at my left arm, me pulling him to lose his balance.

My heart pounding: what the heck was I thinking putting myself in a dangerous situation like that for a dog who could make me into a tenderized steak?

When he settled down I gingerly slipped on a second collar with leash attached. The folks who had been holding the door swung it open and Mr. Silvers and I on opposite sides of the fighting dog who was still trying to bite us guided him to a large crate where he was then covered with a blanket and pushed in the crate.

If this dog had not been so sick, I would not have been in such a hurry to move him. He was a rack of bones and his mange was about an 8 with a score of 10 being naked. Scab material about ¼” thick on his face. He was suffering.

In my opinion once we discovered how truly dangerous his temperament was he should have been shot. Without the muzzle, I could not have put the vets in the danger I did either, to euthanize him. No proof of rabies. IF not so weak it would have been especially dangerous, and I would have declined his capture that day.

 

We think this 75 pound female is a Lab Bully breed mix. She has a lot of black spots on her tongue. It appears a collar that probably was attached to a chain has been removed before possibly dumped near our yard. If you know whose dog this wild child is call Marilyn at 573-722-3035.

We think this 75 pound female is a Lab Bully breed mix. She has a lot of black spots on her tongue. It appears a collar that probably was attached to a chain has been removed before possibly dumped near our yard. If you know whose dog this wild child is call Marilyn at 573-722-3035.

Accepted strays and relinquished pets (Facebook FB):

…German Shepherd with mange.

… 9 yr 4 month old male Yorkie Schnauzer: elderly grandparents had granddaughter leave her dog behind. They felt they could not care for him.

Adoptions, return to owner or placed in other rescues:

…SharPei mix tri-color female returned to Marble Hill owner.

… Magic Mike was adopted to an athletic Illinois family: He is in the Navy reserves.

Cat calls:

… FOUND grey tabby with lots of white on face and chest, found Co Rd 318 off Hwy CC.

… Up for adoption: three to four kittens, age 3-4 months old: Zalma at flower nursery.

Dogs with Heartworm (HW), Ehrlichia, special needs, or that were euthanized:

… Wounded Boston Terrier was euthanized.

… Vicious GSD with mange was euthanized.

… FOUND nearHayes Catholic church (Cape Co) black Lab possible Pit mix male, shy.

Calls requesting assistance for dogs we did not admit ():

… FOUND on Co Rd 710 near Zalma: yellow Lab chow and something else mix female, short coat, weighs about 80 plus pounds.

…LOST cat. White with patches of tan tiger. Owner Kim Leslee, Laflin/Leopold area, off of Hwy 34 on U.

Miscellaneous and contact info:

We had 41 dogs and pups at our home 5/30/16. If you have a stray camping out in the yard don’t wait, call us at 573-722-3035 or email photos at ace@clas. net.

We LOVE Buchheits! Donate a buck or more at the Jackson store for dog food and supplies when you shop. Also, Second Time Around in Marble Hill is taking donations for the Stray Project. Monetary donations are accepted at the Bollinger County Veterinary Service, Marble Hill Coop, Buchheits, and the MH Town and Country.

Stray Project monetary donations accepted at the Marble Hill Coop. We purchase de-wormer and other supplies at the Coop and donations are greatly appreciated.

Please be advised that the Bollinger County Stray Project is not the county or City of Marble Hill dog catcher. When you have a stray we try to help and can usually offer solutions. Patience is required of the caller towards our ability to find and implement a solution. I wish we had a magic wand but we don’t and can’t always help the callers in a manner they may demand of us. Remember, we are volunteers and help as time and space allows.

Offer a stray water on day one and food day two or three. Call if missing a dog or if you have a stray. We don’t always have room but we may have a solution to help you and the stray.

Dumping dogs is a form of abuse and against the law. Please report animal abuse or neglect.

Please do the following when your pets are expecting or caring for a litter: offer any pregnant dog small-breed-puppy-food the final 1-2 weeks before delivery and while the pups are nursing. Give those mothers all the food they want: bowls full all day and lots of fresh water available all day. Cats need kitten food. Free feed the higher calorie food during the nursing stage to help mom make milk and maintain her own body mass. Babies need to be de-wormed as young as 1-2 weeks, then every 7-10 days until age 10-weeks or older if in a confined environment with re-infestation concerns.

Thank you to the County Residents who have continued to support the Bollinger County Stray Project. 

Check out our available pets at Petfinder.  Call 573-722-3035 about our adoptable pets.

If you suspect an animal is being neglected or abused, call the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Hotline, 314-647-4400 or 800-383-9835 or you can make a confidential report on line at Humane Society of Missouri.

To understand when an animal is being abused or neglected in the state of Missouri read the following link:http://asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/cruelty/mo_cruel.htm