Puppy found by dumpster

[short1216]

I was taking a detour behind two stores in Parma Heights, Ohio (the detour allows you to avoid traffic and takes you behind both stores). There are dumpsters behind one of the stores, as I drove by I noticed something black in a pile of white (garbage bags & snow). It didnt "feel" right, so I parked my car and went over to the garbage where I found a young dog tangled in garbage and covered in snow. This poor dog had just had puppies, was completely emaciated, and had no license or identification. I had clothes in my trunk to take to goodwill so I picked her up and wrapped her in the shirts, took her to my car and heated her up slowly. I drove her to my dad's house--he lives very close. We cleaned her up dried her off. She immediately took to me, won't leave my side, and she completly adores Roush who is probably about 4x her size. She puts her ears back and cowers if i pick up a broom or anything long and thin. If I raise my voice to Roush she runs away. Obviously I am already attached to her, my mom, who I live with, wants me to try and find the owners she thinks the dog might have ran away. My gut feeling is that this wasnt accidental and I dont want her back in the hands of anyone who would hurt her, shes a wonderful dog. My mom also has a small wirehair terrier x old english sheepdog thats 12yrs. old and about 25lbs. Roush agitates her quite a bit- like an annoying little brother. Roush is 9 months old and over 80lbs. now, but having this new dog is like a gift to my mom's dog because Roush doesn't give her a hard time anymore because he knows he can play with the new dog. I also have a vet appt. for her this week. My mom, in a round about way has said that she doesnt want 3 dogs in the house and I know she means it. I have applied for disability/ social security and my unemployment has run out. I am having a horrible time finding a job. With tax refund coming I will has enough money for food and vet. I know you might think that the sensible thing to do is drop her off at the apl or an animal hospital but, Im afraid of what may happen to her. I have gotten her a license because I dont want her to have the chance of ending up in the pound. I wish there was funding for this sort of thing!
btw...I named her Steeda...for anybody who doesn't know cars, Steeda and Roush are two types of Mustangs.


Steeda

Steeda with Roush

 

[Zoom]

Looks like a Basenji mix...very pretty! Bless you for taking her in for now, but I agree with your mom; with your situation, you should probably drop her off at either the vet's or a good shelter and let them find a permanent home for her.

 

[girlbuffalo1]

Were all the pups dead or?

 

[smkie]

poor baby, i am so glad you found her and took her in. I am sure she will be a fabulous dog for you.

 

[atldoglover]

What a nice gesture. I hope everything works out.

 

[makka619]

She's lucky you found her She's gorgeous.

 

[Groch]

There are dumpsters behind one of the stores, as I drove by I noticed something black in a pile of white (garbage bags & snow). It didn't "feel" right,

What a great fortune it was for that poor dog that you sensed something amiss and cared enough to stop and rescue it. I wonder how many hundreds of similar cases happen every day when the result is far more tragic.

Something similar happened to me about 15 years ago. I was dumping trash into a commercial dumpster behind the store I managed. As I started to dump I nearly jumped out of my skin when I noticed a large dead python inside. Then I did jump! Their was a king sized bag of Purina Dog Chow laying next to the dead snake and it moved!
Not being the bravest person around snakes I got some backup before opening the bag. Inside were 4 puppies.

Apparently the dumpster was used by some irresponsible pet store or owner to dump excess inventory both living and dead. The police did nothing (indicating their was no way to trace the bag or snake.) We did adopt out all of the puppies.....but I always think about how fortunate it was that I looked inside just as a puppy moved.

It makes you sick to think how cruel some pet owners can be. Thanks for the great story and pictures of this beautiful dog.

George

 

[adoptashelterpettoday]

She is beautiful! I would suggest contacting ALL of your local rescue groups and seeing if they can take her, most are usually full but if you explain the situation they might be wiling to help.

If they cant take her, ask if they will "courtsey" post her on their website.

Taking the dog to a vet & dropping it off sounds like a horrible idea to me because around here if the dog is there past the time it is paid up until, the dog goes to the pound.

I dont think it would be a bad idea to run an ad in the paper either trying to find her a home, be sure to screen extensively and ask a $50 or so adoption fee. Also, be 100% sure she is fixed before she leaves you no matter what. She doesnt need any more puppies!

Be sure to take her over to the adopter's house before you allow her to stay with them. This is to make sure she will be well taken care of. (we call it a "home visit")


I am sure you know all of this!! good luck in finding her a home & bless you for saving her life.

 

[ACooper]

I think it is very kind of you, and lucky for her that you found her. I also think you should at least report her missing to local vets........shelters........and even the police department. There is a slim chance that she has been lost or even stolen from her original home, and someone could have a load of puppies who need momma, plus be worried sick about their dog. While this could very well be a dump off case, you just never know.................................

 

[nikkichan]

So what happened to the puppies? Were they still alive?

 

[mamasobuco]

Please call The Animal Rescue Center 216-476-0433. We will help you place her. You can bring her to adoption day (PetSmart, Willoughby) AND stay until she is adopted. That will give you the chance to give your info to her new family as well as have the peace of mind knowing that she will go to a good home. Once she is with us, her new family signs an agreement that if it does not work our, she comes back to us. She will NEVER be put down by a shelter or pound if you call us. Please, Please, Please call us!!!

She is a basenji mix. I foster for ARC and I would love for her to meet my basenji.

PM me if you have any questions.

 

[adoptashelterpettoday]

Please call The Animal Rescue Center 216-476-0433. We will help you place her. You can bring her to adoption day (PetSmart, Willoughby) AND stay until she is adopted. That will give you the chance to give your info to her new family as well as have the peace of mind knowing that she will go to a good home. Once she is with us, her new family signs an agreement that if it does not work our, she comes back to us. She will NEVER be put down by a shelter or pound if you call us. Please, Please, Please call us!!!

She is a basenji mix. I foster for ARC and I would love for her to meet my basenji.

PM me if you have any questions.

Wow, that is awesome. I thought she might be a basenji mix too, but it's hard to tell! This is one lucky dog

 

[mamasobuco]

Wow, that is awesome. I thought she might be a basenji mix too, but it's hard to tell! This is one lucky dog

I know for sure she's is a basenji mix. Not only because of her picture but because of the way short described her putting her ears back. A basenji's ears tell you about their mood. It's kinda the same as what a dog's tail tells you. This doesn't work well with basenji's because their tails are curled. Their ears make up for what their tails can't say.

 

[adoptashelterpettoday]

I know for sure she's is a basenji mix. Not only because of her picture but because of the way short described her putting her ears back. A basenji's ears tell you about their mood. It's kinda the same as what a dog's tail tells you. This doesn't work well with basenji's because their tails are curled. Their ears make up for what their tails can't say.

Sorry, not to get off topic but my GSD mix does this as well. I can always tell how he is feeling by his ears

Let us know how it goes!

 

[mamasobuco]

Sorry, not to get off topic but my GSD mix does this as well. I can always tell how he is feeling by his ears

Let us know how it goes!

I figured basenji's aren't the only ones. I also knew that someone here would let that be known. I'm certain by her size, her face and her ears that she is a basenji mix. I look into my basenji's eyes multiple times daily and would know one in an instant just as you would know a GSD mix with no questions.

 

[Spirit2010]

shes gorgeous! but did the puppies make it?

 

[Julie]

I am guessing the op mentioned "just had puppies" because her teats were full or swollen. A pretty common thing... a female has pups and the owners decide to keep a pup and dump the mother.
The pups are easier to "get rid" of..... and the mother just gets dumped!

Just my take on what I have read though.

 

[short1216]

Thanks everybody for your kind words. The puppies were nowhere to be found, and believe me I looked. I spent most of the day yesterday calling every local pet store, and animal hospital in the area, no one has reported a dog matching her description as missing. I took her to the vet yesterday with Roush (my poor puppy has double ear infections). He said that aside from being so thin, she looks good and Im taking her back next week to get her vaccinated. She and Roush have formed a strong bond, they dont go anywhere if they arent side by side. At the Vet yesterday, Roush had to be restrained while his ears were swabbed, and he yipped in pain. Steeda started groling and barking at the tech who was holding Roush. Then when Steeda went on the table to be checked out Roush stood on his hind legs on the other side of the table and watched everything that they were doing to her. My dad is considering taking her (his wife doesn't want him to b/c they have three cats). We'll see what happens, if she doesn't get claimed Im going to try my best to keep her in my family.

Mamasobuco...she would love to meet your basenji Im sure.

And last....I know quite a bit about dog breeds the basenji, however, I am not too familiar with so If anyone could suggest a good website or book, please let me know. Thanks!

 

[chinchow]

Looks more like a Cattle Dog or BC mix to me. Basenjis aren't too common to be seen running around as strays having puppies.

Thank you short for doing a good service to animals. It takes a strong person.

 

[mamasobuco]

Oh short, this is great news. I hope you can keep her and Roush together!!!

If you want to know more about basenjis, just click the B.R.A.T. link in my sig.

Good Luck and don't forget that ARC will always be there.

Chinchow: You are correct about basenjis not being very common. But, since I have been involved in rescue, I have seen less likely things that this little beauty running the streets. My aunt just adopted a Bichon that was found wondering the streets. ARC along with the shelter he was turned into did everything possible to find owners and no on claimed him. Our guess is that he was a stud that stopped producing and they just let him go. Just a theory.
My guess is that Julie is right on. They probably bred her because she is part basenji thinking they could glom on the the half breed/designer craze and when they didn't make any money off her pups they dumped her and who knows where the pups are.