Unexpected rescue dog

**NewLeaf** · 03-17-2010, 10:29 AM

Yesterday my BFF asked me if I wanted another dog. I already have a pound puppy (5 yrs old). I laughed and said "H*@! no." I have my hands full now as it is and can't imagine training a new dog.

She said this dog had been "set off" and had been wandering her rural neighborhood for 2 weeks. She looked starved and had been eating out of peoples garbage, although BFF and another kind soul had fed her some.

When I took BFF home I saw the dog and instantly fell in love with her. I didn't even have to think about it, my heart was captured. She looked like a black cocker spaniel puppy. It was odd, she had been recently home groomed. When I picked her up she was (is ) skin and bones. Her belly was saggy and her teats are all pulled out and out of shape. And she had fleas.....of course.

I took her to our doggy grooming place and had them give her a flea bath. The owner said our dog is a full grown purebred miniature cocker spaniel (black w/a white star on her chest). She thinks the dog is 2-3 yrs old and has been bred at least 3 times in rapid succession. Evidentely the breeder "used her up" and when she couldn't produce puppies again right away she was "set off" to fend for herself.

My teenaged son named her Bella from the movie character in Twilight. Bella seems to be very used to being an indoor dog , she came in and made herself at home. She is getting along w/ our other dog (male minpin/Chiauwa(sp) mix nuetured). Our male is asserting dominance and is a little on edge. He keeps Bella in sight all the time. But they have not fought yet.....We are trying to give our male dog (L.D is his name) more attention so he won't be so jealous. It seems to be ok at the moment.

My husband is a little leery of the situation although he agreed before I brought her home. He is wondering if the owner will come looking for her. And he is hoping she wasn't set off for biting or other really bad habits.... I am willing to work w/her if she needs training. I just can't have a biting dog around the kids.

So, any suggestions are welcome. Also, she was bathed in some kind of herbal flea shampoo. What do you ladies/gents use on your dogs.

**Russ** · 03-17-2010, 10:39 AM

This is the shampoo we use. If your dog has fleas you will see dead ones in the drain when you are done.

**frugalwarrior2** · 03-17-2010, 10:44 AM

First congrats on rescuing the poor thing.
A groomer isn't a vet though and that dog should have blood tests before mixing it w/ your dog. Or kids. A lot of things like rabies,distemper and more take time to show. At the very least,if it has fleas-it has round worms which can be passed to humans.
I wish you all the best w/ your new baby. Bella sounds nice.

**frugalwarrior2** · 03-17-2010, 10:45 AM

thx Russ. We had visitors last year for the first time in 10 YEARS.

**stinkbug** · 03-17-2010, 11:03 AM

I agree with frugalwarrior....I'd take her to the Vet before I get anymore attached to her. You need to check for health concerns before anything else.
Mine came from a foster home and had tape worms.....eewwwww!!! But it's a quick fix and she's been the PERFECT dog :-)

**ladykemma2** · 03-17-2010, 11:18 AM

i just rescued a cat ala the frugal method. petsmart has the worm stuff. get the drops on the back of the neck stuff for the fleas, in addition to the shampoo.

and then a vet appointment.

**krbshappy71** · 03-17-2010, 11:27 AM

Please take her to a vet to have her scanned for a microchip before you get too attached.

**NewLeaf** · 03-17-2010, 03:09 PM

Thanks, I never thought about a microchip. I will find out more from my vet. As the dog was completely unexpected, I haven't quite worked her into my budget yet.

If her owner is looking for her I will definately return her, and in the meantime it is my pleasure to care for her.

* But I hope we get to keep her....

**Ceashels** · 03-17-2010, 03:30 PM

What great fortune for Bella that you saw her. Thank you for being part of her rescue; you just became a hero to her, and lets face it, who doesn't need a hero every now and then.

**qcrazy** · 03-17-2010, 04:19 PM

I just got a new puppy, And I found out that the micro chips are super cheap! The place I looked was $10 and $16.99 activation fee. Im going their to get him a shot only $12 Im hoping that is good enough for my land lord. Does anyone know what a landlord requires for a dog? Besides the $200 pet deposit :-(

Because the place Im am going is not a full service vet they just do shots and spay and stuff.

**Teresa T** · 03-17-2010, 05:12 PM

You are kind to rescue this dog. I agree with other posters about a vet visit and micro chip scan.

Should the dog not have a micro chip, than perhaps what the groomer said may be true, she was dumped. I have known other people who found and/or adopted small dogs that were abandoned.

It's just another reason not to buy from a puppy mill type breeder. Rescue vs. buying.

Please let us know.

**NewLeaf** · 03-17-2010, 05:30 PM

I talked to both of our local vets today and she can get a rabies shot, deworming and checkup for $20. I am waiting on spaying her, what if the owner shows up and I have spayed their dog????

BTW,our nuetered dog (he is 5 yrs) is really sniffing Bella and trying to mount her. Is this just because he has never been around a female, or could she be going into heat?????

**krbshappy71** · 03-17-2010, 05:32 PM

He is probably just responding to her female smell. I have had male dogs try to mount my female and she is spayed. They smell her and assume she is that kind of girl. I dress her very modestly, I don't know WHAT they are thinking.

**krbshappy71** · 03-17-2010, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by qcrazy

I just got a new puppy, And I found out that the micro chips are super cheap! The place I looked was $10 and $16.99 activation fee. Im going their to get him a shot only $12 Im hoping that is good enough for my land lord. Does anyone know what a landlord requires for a dog? Besides the $200 pet deposit :-(

Because the place Im am going is not a full service vet they just do shots and spay and stuff.

Pet deposit and some are breed prejudice. Find out first if there are any breeds or sizes of dogs THAT specific landlord will not allow, there is not one set rule for all landlords. Find out before you get the pet. Also please know that getting a dog while renting greatly reduces the number of places you can rent. I was looking in the paper years ago and by the time I ruled out the places that would not accept pets I was left with only 9 available rentals compared to the over 50 on that page. I really didn't like the feeling of, "no pets allowed" when I was in a desperate situation to find a new place. Not that I wanted to check out 50 places but it felt restrictive to only have the 9 options just because I had a dog.

**gapeach** · 03-17-2010, 05:51 PM

New Leaf, I'm so happy you rescued Bella. We have 2 dogs that we rescued. One of the first things we did was bathe them and then get them to the vet. We prayed that he wouldn't find a microchip and he didn't. We got attached so fast. We had them spayed and neutered and can't imagine the house without them now! They are terrific dogs. We had a cocker spaniel for 17 years and he was a great dog, I never had problems with him. I still miss him. I hope everything works out for you and Bella.