What would you do?

I found a puppy 2 1/2 weeks ago. I filled out a found dog form at the animal shelter, put us found dog signs, and placed an ad on Craigslist. No one ever came forward to claim her. I am not surprised as she had health issues when I found her and now I am convinced she was dumped.

I believe the dog is a purebred (though poorly bred) Great Dane. Pics taken her the day after I found her.





The night I found her, she had fleas and ticks, tar stuck in her coat, a gash on her forehead and dog bite wounds on her face, and a major case of puppy pyoderma on her stomach, groin, and insides of her rear legs. I bathed her, cleaned her wounds, and started her on Keflex and Ecchinasea/Goldenseal. The thinning hair on her head was not apparent until a day or so later when I got the wounds really clean. Demodectic mange. Great. Just great. I had no money to take her to the vet so I looked up home remedies. I found this website and decided to try the mayonnaise and apple cider vinegar remedy found halfway down on the second page. Cure Demodectic and Sarcoptic Mange. Believe it or not, it is actually working.







The pyoderma is gone now and the puppy is in apparent good health except for the mange.

Since I couldn't find her owner, I placed an ad on Craigslist and another on Ebay classifieds to try to find her a home. I got several inquiries (mostly from idiots) but the few promising homes declined taking her when I told them about the mange. I started contacting Great Dane rescue groups and all-breed rescue groups. Not one of the 6 GD rescue people have responded and the 2 all-breed groups I contacted didn't have room to take her.

I do not know what to do. I already have 9 dogs (4 or whom I am looking for homes for) and most of them HATE this puppy. Seriously, 3 of them would quickly eviscerate her if they got hold of her.) The GD puppy's crate takes up my entire kitchen and I can't even reach the stove or sink without turning sideways to squeeze past it. I am in critical shape financially and I have had to borrow money just to buy dog food. (Purina Dog Chow is all I can afford.) This puppy is gaining almost a pound a day and she eats a lot. She needs to go to the vet and I can't do that. Her presence in my home has been a major problem and I just can't handle this any longer.

The animal shelter is full and I am sure that she would be put down right away due to the mange. If the puppy had temperament or behavior issues I might be able to handle her being put down but she doesn't. She is extremely clean in a crate and waits patiently for me to walk her several times a day. I can turn her loose in a safe area and she does not go far. Her recall is amazing. She is super friendly and adores kids, the smaller the better. People are afraid to touch her because of the mange though. This puppy has tremendous potential to make someone a fabulous pet.

I can't keep borrowing money to feed her but I don't want her killed either?

What would you do if you were in my situation?

I would make her a petfinder page, contact more rescues, start a chipin account for donations to feed her while you have her, make a facebook, make another CL, consider shelters not directly local to you and keep trying.

If you cannot find anyone, or any place, then the responsible thing to do is put her down yourself as desperate as that sounds. Sometimes it's the last and most humane thing you can do for them by being there for them in the end.

Bless your heart for saving this dog. I second the petfinder page.

Maybe the rescue groups, even though they are full, would put a courtesy Petfinder listing up for you? Or maybe you could talk them into considering you her foster home and get some financial help from them?

Can you put up a sign at your vet for adoption? I know at Petco they have a bulletin board where you can put up adoption signs.

Have you contacted Rocky Mountain Great Dane or Big Paws Huge Dogs yet? I'm not sure where you're at geographically, but BPHD is nationwide, I believe and RMGD does a lot of pulling from other areas.

She is looking better! There's something about her that doesn't seem quite purebred to me, but that could also be the lack of coffee talking.

I agree with this advice. Thats a really rough spot to be in.
Bless you for helping her and good luck finding someone for her! Hopefully you can and it won't come to letting her go humanely.

This...

Also do you know anyone else that you are close to that might be willing to be a foster her? Any dog savvy friends with a willingness to try rescue

I have seen people finding/rescuing a critter and posting for help on CL. Here recently on our local CL a guy did this with a wounded ferret he found and later posted a thank you with pictures because so many people helped with the care.

I don't think this is a purebred dane, most likely has dane in her, but definitely not pure. Which could explain why you didn't get any responses from the dane rescues as most deal only with purebreds.

I would keep contacting rescues, maybe even some out of state ones. Generally northern states will transport dogs from other areas in the country.

Where are you located?

I agree, I do not think purebred dane at all, though looks like a possible mix.

Where are you located?

I see she's somewhere in Georgia. I'm not sure what part, but I'm near Atlanta. I can ask around and see if someone here is interested in a dog.

You can also offer to foster the puppy for the rescues that don't have room. I know that's not ideal, but at least they would pay vet and food costs until they have something else available...

Hi everyone. I wanted to give a quick update about the situation. I couldn't figure out how to place an ad on petfinder because I am not a rescue organization. I stopped by the animal shelter and asked whether she would be put up for adoption or be put down because of the mange. I was told that if it were sarcoptic mange she would most likely be treated then put up for adoption. Demodectic is tougher because they just don't have the room in their hospital area to keep her for the length of time it would take to clear up the demodectic mange. She would most likely have to be put down and I would prefer not to do that at this time.

I was just about to advertise her again on Craigslist and Ebay classifieds when I got a call from my Mom. Her nurse has been looking for a dog and my Mom told her I had some Basenji puppies available. The nurse called me but when I mentioned the Great Dane she got excited. She is more of a large dog person and has owned a Dane before. She came for a visit and fell in love with Tawny's personailty and sweet disposition. I explained the mange and it's treatment and she wasn't phased. She wants to bring the rest of her family Saturday to meet the dog. Please say a prayer or send positive vibes that this will be a match!

Awesome news!


^this. Rocky Mnt. Lab Rescue took in my Lab mix puppy via transport. Last I heard she was adopted quickly and lives with children - seemed very happy from the pictures!

If it doesn't work out, don't be afraid to contact rescues in other areas. Transports can usually be set up easily.

oh I sure hope the new home works out!

That's strange, Demodex mange is actually pretty easy to treat. It takes awhile to clear up, but for 10 days of medication it was 25 bucks. Duke had demodex for 2 months I think.

I really hope your potential adopter works out!

Oooh I hope the home works out!

Ah!!!! Good vibes! ~~~vibes~~~

I really hope that the potential home works out!

((((((((((((((((VIBES)))))))))))))) for a quick adoption!