Last night around 10:00 I drove by the church and saw a dog in the shadows. Actually my first instinct was coyote. We have plenty of them. I pulled into the drive thinking to make sure it kept trotting away from my house (and livestock). After watching for it for a minute, I put my van in reverse and as I cut the wheel I saw her! Deep shadows make it hard for a white dog to hide. And I stopped and got out.
She barked a few times at me and wasn't wagging her tail, but she followed me to the steps. Grace definitely has some trust issues going on. And wherever she has been for two days didn't improve them. I'm wondering if she was caught by someone?
Anyway, this morning she was back in her spot sunning herself. I didn't see her tonight but I know she is around again, so at least can go to sleep without worrying quite as much.
Now the question is how to bring her in.
Someone with the church has been working to gain her trust for three months now. Grace still isn't ready. She will warn if she doesn't want them touching her. But she is a definite project dog. My question is… I don't want grace to have babies. Should I put out a live trap and drug her food, take her in and get her spayed and just see if she can cope with captivity, or spay and release? And wait for her to say she is ready?
Dogs with trust issues are such touchy issues. Guess I will talk with the church folks a bit and see what they are thinking too. Whatever. I'm happy to know she is ok.
6 comments:
Such a dilemma - but I know all of you will make the best decision for Grace -
She deserves the special life animals should have!
Soon she'll have so much to be thankful for -
She just doesn't know it yet!
my gut says "feral" dogs don't survive (especially in the presence of coyotes) as well as feral cats. I'd get her into a home and work on socializing, just enough that she has good quality of life for the rest of her life. She deserves it. Maybe it's a widow or widower? No kids (unpredictable), no young marrieds (lifestyle likely to change). Just my thoughts.
Glad she's back! I've been worried, too. It's going to get cold. One way or another, she has to come inside, away from the weather. And into rescue where there are caring folks to work with her on her issues. They will spay her too. I've used acepromazine in a cheeseburger a couple of times to bring in a stubborn pup. All ended up with great happily ever afters.
Thanks for the faith mom of Khyra!
I have to talk with the church people and the rescue group about Ms Grace before anyone makes major decisions. The church members seem to have made the most progress with her so we will maybe work to support them.
Susan friend we think alike. No surprises there really. :) the only problem right now is long term fostering for a special needs dog. I am unsure yet if the rescue group is prepared at this time for it. I have to meet with them and talk with them.
Right now I am thinking we need to support the members of the church who have been working to win her over. We will see tho. The rescue group may decide they want to get her off the street sooner.
Carol the only problem with ACE is that it can also have an adverse reaction in an animal. Doesn't happen often but if she is trapped it wouldn't be an ideal time to find that out :-/.
I have had one rescue it didn't work with at all. Rescues have to sometimes get crate training crash courses. With no house manners and unpredictable behavior, in a multiple dog household, crate training is required. Sierra had other ideas. Without ACE she just screamed. With ACE she destroyed a vari-kennel. Ate it. Literally. Luckily she had house manners. What she also had was claustrophobia. It took me a little while to figure that out. I've had two dogs with claustrophobia. Actually. Both very reasonable dogs otherwise in the house.
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