17/02/2024
When I bred puppies, my responsibility didn’t end when they went to their new homes…
I got a call on Tuesday that one of my pups microchip I put in them was scanned at the Stanislaus animal shelter. I immediately started trying to call the owner and let her know the dog was picked up, but her number was disconnected. We had been Facebook friends, so I sent a DM. I emailed her. When I still didn’t hear back, I noticed she hadn’t used her facebook since October. I became a full fledged detective. I found a new Facebook account by stalking her mom’s page, stating her last account was hacked. Sent more DM’s, found the new phone number associated with her account and it was disconnected.
My contract states if a dog is found at large more than twice, I will not return it- so I felt I was in a pickle since this is the first time anything like this has happened, so I waited to give the owner sufficient time to pick her up.
Where the situation takes a turn, the owner had the pups older brother from a previous litter. If she wasn’t claiming her dog, was he okay? I haven’t slept in days worrying for these guys.
First thing Friday morning Troy and I drove to the shelter, I paid all the fees and got Raven back. She is severely underweight. I needed Troy for the next step- to go bang on the owners door and see WTH is going on and make sure Bill was safe! The woman was very out of it. I asked her if she was having hard times financially- I would happily paid for food- why didn’t she tell me what was going on. As Troy walked up and heard how the woman couldn’t think straight, he just handed her a leash and said he is taking Bill, go get him! Bill is not as underweight as Raven, but definitely needs a bath and some good meals.
As we were loading Bill in, a neighbor ran out asking if we were from a Great Dane rescue. I told her I was their breeder and came to collect them. She burst out crying saying the owner suffered a mental breakdown in May, has been in and out of a facility, and hasn’t been feeding them. She said she dumps food over the fence, but it isn’t enough and was trying to get a rescue to take them away from the owner. She stole Raven and took her to the shelter because the rescue said they only claim dogs from shelters.
This breaks my heart, because it is in my contracts that I will take the dog back if there is ever a need. This owner was a sweet woman, but had a mental breakdown. I can tell they were very loved and trained until they weren’t 😢. I am so grateful and love Troy so much for coming, knowing I was scared what I would face at her house, and for him saying screw negotiating- give me that dog now!
We immediately stopped at the store buying litter pans, bottled water, and food. We put the dogs in the truck camper with food for the long ride home. When Bill had a bowel movement last night, it was almost entirely paper. He had been so starved he ate paper to fill up 😢. As heartbreaking as it was having Raven in the shelter those 3 days- I’m thankful she was eating.
A dear friend is fostering Raven- because my females can get territorial with new females, and the last thing I want is Raven any more insecure after spending her 3rd birthday at the shelter. Bill is fostering and rehabilitating with us until I can find him a suitable home.
Both Raven and Bill are safe, clean, eating and so grateful for every hug and rub. I wish I could take away all the suffering they went through over the last 9 months, but I can promise they will never suffer again!
