BCSP Report – Week 12

Bollinger County Stray Project Report March 21-27

Two young pups, very thin, were found on the Whitewater Bridge north Scopus area. They were on the bridge when picked up by the Peter and Cathy Rabbit family on Easter Sunday. It was their lucky day! These pups may end up in St. Louis on Friday if not claimed. Also pictured on FB. We think due the shape they are in they were dumped. Call 573-722-3035 to claim or if interested in adoption.

Two young pups, very thin, were found on the Whitewater Bridge north Scopus area. They were on the bridge when picked up by the Peter and Cathy Rabbit family on Easter Sunday. It was their lucky day! These pups may end up in St. Louis on Friday if not claimed. Also pictured on FB. We think due the shape they are in they were dumped. Call 573-722-3035 to claim or if interested in adoption.

UPDATE (3/28/16):  3 Missing Catahoula Dogs are HOME!!!  

I have three topics to discuss this week. A troubling case that appears by all accounts to have been a theft of three young spotted Catahoula male dogs tops my list.

Some brazen soul or souls appear to have trespassed on the property of a family Easter Sunday on County Road 324, between 11 am to 6 pm. The property is located right off of Hwy 34 and is half way between Marble Hill and the junction of Hwy 34 and 72 near the Rhodes convenience station.

Evidence shows that a gate which had been securely wired shut by multiple wires twisted tight were opened by the perpetrator(s) to release three colorful, young, intact male Catahoula dogs.

It is extremely difficult to believe that the dogs could have somehow opened the gate on their own and fled.

It seems someone who knows the property owner or who had been watching the home for a while or paying attention to their Easter routine on FB was the person(s) who removed the dogs.

Because of their colorful markings they should be easy to recognize. They may be more valuable to sell or use as breeder dogs. It is also possible they could have been stolen to be used as bait dogs. Bait dogs are used to train fighting dogs. Catahoula dogs are often “tough” dogs. The breed is respected as “all around stock and stoic guardian dogs”.

Have you experienced dogs missing from your area? Do you know of anyone who had dogs secured in their yard that were taken off their cables or out of their pens? Do you know of loose dogs missing from their yards? I am looking for a pattern: breed type, intact vs, neutered pets, and a pattern that may show dogs missing from certain areas.

Unfortunately everyone with missing pets do not contact the local veterinarians or myself or SEMO LOST PETS. Without this information we are not alerted to suspicious activity in certain parts of our area.

Three 8-month-old intact male Catahoula youngsters are missing, feared stolen Easter Sunday between 11am to 6pm off of Co Rd. 324 in Bollinger County.

Three 8-month-old intact male Catahoula youngsters are missing, feared stolen Easter Sunday between 11am to 6pm off of Co Rd. 324 in Bollinger County.

Next I want to discuss the two rabid appearing raccoons sighted in our area of Bollinger County in 2016. One raccoon that was seen daylight in January acted blind and was lethargic. The other one seen this month was foaming at the mouth.

The Bollinger County Veterinary Service vets advised me that they have had two similar cases of raccoons in the past, which were shipped and tested by the health department for rabies and test results came back negative. The other explanation to their behavior was that they displayed signs of distemper. An animal suffering from the disease can foam from panting, a result of the stress of the disease and being thirsty. The one seen near our home was running, was very distressed. PLEASE get your outdoor pets vaccinated and keep them safe.

Skunks, raccoons, opossums seen during daylight hours are generally sick with a potential deadly and contagious disease such as rabies or distemper. They may need to be shot to protect your kids and pets. Let our county conservation agent Jeff Scott know what you have seen so the areas of our county with the sick animals can be documented. Jeff Scott, your personable, nice-guy conservation agent can be contacted by tele at 573-238-5442.

On a final note, another stray we accepted was stage 3 Heartworm (HW) positive. She was a mother of a litter. Very surprising she survived the whelping of her litter, her blood was so thick with microflora. She also had a heart murmur and was coughing. The increased number of HW positive dogs show that pets who don’t receive monthly prevention are in grave danger of developing HWs as well as are the pups they carry during pregnancy.

PLEASE, the basics of pet ownership includes de-worming, HW prevention, and vaccinating for rabies and distemper, outdoor cats included, and for Lepto as well as Parvo and Corona vaccinations for dogs.

Accepted strays and relinquished pets (Facebook FB)(8):

… Walker hound mother and 6 mix pups, signed over by family who had her about 5 months. Stray who didn’t see vet until Friday.

… Black Lab mix puppy, male, age about 4 months, relinquished,: foster by Tammy Beck

Adoptions, return to owner or placed in other rescues (10)

… Return to owner: Male Australian Cattle Dog thanks to FB post.

… Two Corgi type mix brindle pups went to Illinois rescue.

… Brindle male named Larry W. found on Co Rd 500, went to same Illinois rescue.

… Six Walker Hound mix pups, age 8 weeks, went to same Illinois rescue.

… Little dog, severely matted, discussed last week in City of Advance: finder keeping.

Cat calls:

… FREE, several cats: age 9 months to over 1 year, all spayed or neutered house cats.

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

… Walker Hound female from Duck Creek stage 3 Heartworm.

… Walker Hound female, mother of pups who went to Illinois rescue, heart murmur, coughing, skin on bones, euthanized for stage 3 Heartworm.

Calls requesting assistance for dogs we did not admit:

… LOST/believed stolen, 3/27/16, Co Rd 324 and Hwy 34:three 8-month old male spotted Catahoula dogs, subject of today’s story for this report.

… Lasa Apso male, 12 pounds, age 8-9 Scott City area: owner moving can’t keep pet.

… FOUND Easter afternoon, Whitewater Bridge off of Hwy B: white with black speckles and large patches, male baby, also a yellow coated brother. Pups are thin, look Heeler mix.

… FOUND 3/24/16 Hwy M and 51 area: very skinny dog, white with tan. Woman would not feed him and he has left.

… FOUND 3/2/16 Co Rd 426 near Hwy 91, channel bridge: yellow spotted female, about 50 or more pounds, bobtail, young.

… FOUND 1/24/16, about 5 miles north of New Salem Church, Plains View Co Rd: Black, tan, white, some sable black tipping on the torso, seems young, female.(FB)

Miscellaneous and contact info:

We had 33 dogs and pups at our home 3/28/16.

Need help to find your pet? Do 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