23/05/2021
Educational Post:
'Stray' Dogs and what to do-or the story of a 'feral' dog who wasn't.
While this page is primarily about cats, I wanted to share our version of a shaggy dog story.
We live in an area where dogs have it terribly. They are often chained outside 24/7, given no attention unless it's someone throwing something at them, and given no love or affection. They are frequently dumped, become lost, and have no owner caring enough to search for them, and shot/shot at frequently. I don't want to share with you the number of dogs I've seen hit by cars, dead on the side of the road.
The dog below is one we called Flora-after Flora McDonald. For two years Flora roamed Powell Heights in Bay Minette. Now, Flora is a breed recognized by the American Kennel Club. She's a Border Collie/Australian Shepard cross. They are exceedingly intelligent and used as herding dogs and often participate in dog trials with herding sheep.
Flora had her tail docked at some point which means someone spent money on her and might have paid a good price for her. However, that did not matter. For two years she ran the streets and produced at least two litters.
We were lucky that A Place of Hope rescue took the first litter and found them good homes. They spent some time trying to get Flora as well, but she was too smart.
When they left, we set about, borrowing a series of dog traps. In the meanwhile, we heard stories of Flora. We fed her-she was fussy. She preferred cat food to dog food. she only liked the pate kind. She didn't want dog biscuits.
But then we began to worry. An around the corner neighbor told us he'd 'shot up over her head' because Flora had been taking his chickens who roamed around the streets (yes, it happens here). We feared he'd shot at her, too. Another neighbor fed her with his dogs, often trying to coax her to his house-he was 'fond' of her and felt sorry for her.
In the meanwhile, we began to work at trapping her, borrowing a series of traps. But last week the patience finally paid off. Flora, who knew how to navigate traps, somehow triggered the trap when she was still inside. Trapped, she barked and barked till we heard her and rushed outside.
I had no idea what to expect. What I didn't expect was a dog that became immediately submissive and laid down stubby tail wagging. We moved her immediately up to our shaded porch and I called the dog whisperer for these parts-John Mccargo who came out and helped get Flora out of the trap, into a harness with a sturdy leash, and into a crate, we'd gotten for the occasion. Not before laying her head in John's lap, and then mine.
Flora was no more feral than the man in the moon.
A Place of Hope's director, Francine, and one of her helpers came out and spent five hours looking for Flora's puppies-yes, it was evident she'd had pups again, she was producing milk. After five hours there was no sign of them-Flora wouldn't lead anyone to them if they were alive. The rescue faced an impossible choice-set Flora free to return to her pups; or take Flora with them. Knowing we'd never get her again, the decision was made to take Flora. Francine let the neighborhood folks know there was a reward to find the pups and with a last pat I watched Flora with her Rescue disappear down the road.
As of this week, Flora is up for adoption. She's nursed a puppy whose mother couldn't feed him, been to the vet and gotten treatment for both heartworm-she has heartworms-and a tick bourne infection from living in tick-infested woods. It's been discovered she's terrified of loud noises, wants to be close to humans at all times, bonds easily to people and can climb fences with ease.
When the time is right, Flora-now named Monet-will be spayed and a good, solid, caring home will be hers.
I love Flora. I wish we could have kept her. (despite our multi-cat household). However, she deserves a well-fenced yard and a doggie friend who hang with. She deserves the good life she should have had-and maybe at one time did. She's a gentle and intelligent soul. Somewhere along the way, she was loved, and perhaps cherished. She can't tell her story to us-but now, her own happy ending will occur.
Purebred dogs do wind up running the streets, homeless, shot at, hit by cars, or worse. They are not immune to mistreatment or abuse because of their pedigree. Indeed, how many purchase an expensive pet dog from a pet store, only to realize the dog has needs they can't fill. Dogs (and cats!) let alone rabbits and other animals are not playthings or imitation babies to be disgarded when someone tires of them. They are real, living beings who love, who feel fear, who know what abandonment is. We all need to do better. Humane education needs to start with children, but til it's in the schools-it should be part of every encounter we have with people.
Flora's story, luckily, will have a happy ending.
Can we see that happy ending happens all the time?
It just takes one person....
Happy adventures Flora. I'm so glad you're safe.
