1/28/09

Who would do this to a dog?

This is Sloan's story.
Sloan is a puppy - a very young puppy. I don't know how to tell how young, because I'm not very familiar with puppies, but she's a baby. Her teeth are just finishing coming in. She is tiny. This is what she looked like when we first brought her home - scared and sad. She had only just warmed up.
It was a cold, cold morning in Denver. The sun was trying to warm up the streets, but the wind was blowing hard, sending gusts of snow flying across the ground. M. was home with QQ while I went for a quick morning run. Just as I got onto the path around Sloan's lake (yes, we named her after the lake), a man and a woman (unrelated) stopped me and asked if I could try to catch two little dogs which were runnning helter skelter on the path. The man explained that he (driving by) and the woman (walking on the path) had seen someone pull over next to the lake, open the car door, push the two dogs out, and take off.
The man had driven back to the maintenance office for the park and told them there were two strays. They had said they'd try to call the dog catchers - but the dogs were running fast and scared, and the man drove back to try to catch them himself. No luck.
I pulled off my headphones, bent down, and tried to coax the dogs to come near. They were very skittish. The adult dog - the size of a terrier and white - was extremely scared and did not want to be caught, snapping and growling every time someone came near. I focused on the smaller one. It was very fast and very nervous, and I couldn't even tell what it looked like, what with the wind and blowing snow. At first, I thought it was an adult miniature, but as I chased it around and it began to slow down, I could see it was just a puppy.
After that, I was determined to get hold of the puppy at least. It was so tiny, in that cold it would not have lived long. The older dog seemed like it would bite me if I even got near it. Finally, I got down on my knees in the snow, and the little one let me lay a hand on it. I scooped it up.
I took off my parka and wrapped the puppy in it, and walked back to the park offices. The man had told me that they were ready to take it to the shelter. When I got there, all the park employees were terribly nice. They all crowded into the office to take a look at the little dog. Each of them (all men) discussed whether they could take in a puppy. None could, though they were all regretful. The head guy told me that his regulations were to send it to the city pound. I asked about Maxfund, a no-kill shelter with medical benefits that we have volunteered for in the past. He said that would be much better - he knew of the shelter, but the city isn't affiliated, and he's a city employee. I said I would take the puppy to Maxfund if he'd lend me a phone to call my husband. He seemed very glad that I offered.
I walked back toward home with the puppy wrapped in my coat, shaking violently. It very quickly began to snuggle, shoving it's head up under my chin and licking my nose from time to time. M. met me halfway with the warm car. At home, we could tell how young she really was. She was hungry, and ate and drank heartily, but seemed very healthy and not overly thin. No infection of the eyes or nose, no jaundice. A good-looking puppy.
As she warmed up and began to relax, her little personality started coming out. She is sweet and extremely effectionate, loves to cuddle, and follows on my heels everywhere I go. She is playful and full of energy, rolling and tossing toys around, skipping and climbing on things. She even seems to be half housetrained - she pees outside like a good girl, although she did poop on the floor once when I took QQ to Target to get food and a collar for her. I'm kind of amazed she's even partly housetrained, as young as she is.
As I write this, she is curled in my lap with her head on my arm. She hardly weighs anything.
At the moment, M. and I are 50/50 as to whether to keep her or take her to the volunteer shelter. She would be snapped up, I know. Good-looking, healthy strays like this who haven't lived on the streets, particularly puppies, are in high demand. On the other hand, we were sort of half-looking for another dog to replace the one M. lost last summer. Still, this was nothing like what we had in mind. We never wanted a mini-dog. Plus, with a toddler in tow, it would be a serious challenge for me to train and look after a puppy.
We shall see.
But...here's my question: who does this to a dog?? Who pushes a tiny puppy out of a car into the cold. Who throws away a perfectly good dog? I still feel wounded for the dog that wouldn't be caught. It's a tough time of year for a small dog on the streets. I hope someone was able to catch it eventually...even if it was the dog catchers. Cruelty to animals, that kind of heartlessness, always cuts me to the bone.

22 comments:

Jill said...

People are unbelieveable!
I am SO proud of you! So many people would have just walked away!
I would keep the sweet thing, but this is coming from someone who has 5 cats (indoor) and a dog, and who has humanely trapped 22 feral cats in my neighborhood (taken to the shelter and paid from my own pocket...I said FERAL, to be put down) to keep them from starving. (See where I am going with this..LOL!) Good luck with what ever you choose!!

Anonymous said...

This is Sage's story, too. Left on the mesa at less than 6 weeks old! We were 50/50, too. Now, Sage is a year old. Taos sends 325 puppies a year to CO because they can't find homes for them in NM. UGH. Glad you were able to rescue this little one. I hope you keep him. The best dogs find us.

Laurie said...

That is just horrible...and what a precious little dog. I vote keep him. Could be QQs little buddy!

I agree with you - I just don't understand who DOES that to animals. It infuriates me.

Stefanie said...

What a precious dog!
I have a very soft spot for animals, like you, and just can't imagine what must go through a person's mind when they do something so unthinkable. Good thing for Sloan that you showed up just in time :)

monica said...

I guess I have to chime in too. What a perfect little guy for your little gal. He's precious. And I love the picture of the 2 dogs together. You came along just in time to save his life and when there's that kind of serendipity...?

Unfortunately, we know the kind of people who do things like this. It just makes me sick.

Anonymous said...

There are a thousand more stories like this.

She looks like a pug with long hair. Animals come into our lives for a reason. Not always to keep them, but to wake us up.

Curious to see what you will do.

Rhonda said...

I'm so very glad you were able to capture the puppy.

I'm always stumped by people who do things like this. I've seen many horrible things that people do to pets, I used to work in a veterinary clinic. The things I've seen would make anyone's blood run cold.

Unknown said...

precious dog! looks so cute...
Dog Ramps

Tamara said...

So sad that someone would do this to a dog. So glad you were able to retrieve one of them. Whatever you decide, you definitely saved this dog's life.

Vivian M said...

I am so glad you were able to save the puppy. I do not understand cruelty in any shape or form, whether it be to animals or children for that matter. The person could have just as easily dropped the dogs off at a shelter, where they would be safe and warm, fed and most likely adopted. I don't know how these people can sleep at night, knowing they left a tiny helpless innocent creature to fend for itself in the cold snow. Ugh.
And as the owner of a tiny small little dog, I can tell you that great things come in small packages! Whether you choose to keep the pup or not, you should feel good that you gave it a chance at life in a loving home instead of being abandoned.

Juliette said...

I hope the other dog is ok too.
What a sad story but maybe it happened for a reason...and a happy ending can come from it. Love the 2 dogs pic. Just saying!

Mamacita said...

That's so sad....and harsh! Why couldn't they just drive to the shelter themselves if they couldn't keep the dogs?!? OK. If you decide that she's not the dog for you, please call me. She's exactly the size and type of dog that we DO want. My husband and I talk about a dog off and on....Ginger has been gone almost exactly one year. So let me know if you don't want to keep her....we might just make a trip to Denver to get little Sloan from you!

tiffany said...

Oh you found a cutie pie pup! We have a little guy and he is so nice for the kiddos- very snuggly little lap dog. If he is very tolerant of QQ, maybe consider adding him to the family. :)

And speaking of Maxfund...check out the Shitzu/Rott mix on their website! Funniest, cutest dog I have ever seen. I am obsessing about that dog! Unfortunately, he comes as a pair with one that I am not obsessing about...

4D said...

Makes my blood boil! I am so happy that you all were there to rescue them. Did the big dog go to the pound?

I hope you are able to keep him. He is just adorable!

Keep smilin!

Lost and Found said...

Me thinks you have a new dog. She's a cutie and I met QQ will love that she's small. I got my Pekinese who was left on one of the busiest roads wearing a gold collar and a fresh haircut. She was one of the best dogs we ever had.

Anonymous said...

Maia--keep the dog!

Jannine

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

People who do this need their balls chopped off... sorry but to do that is awful...
I say keep the little dog.. just think that QQ needs a little pet :)

Snowflowers Mum said...

who indeed?

If you can't keep Sloan, man I'd take the little guy in a heartbeat! Olive would love him...as would the girls!

Maia..I think Sloan is a keeper.

Susan Angstadt said...

She looks sort of like the dog from the movie "As Good as it Gets" or maybe the faces she makes reminds me of the funny little dog. I rescued a chihuahua and I am a big dog person as well but she has grown on me and LOVES to walk in the woods. Good for you for going the extra mile to save the cute girl!

Yoli said...

I had not seen this and I am here crying like a fool. You know how much I love animals, that is my weak spot. I am so happy you found her that you were there at the appropriate time to take her in. She would have died otherwise. Keep her Maia, give her love, she will be a good dog for you guys.

Ivy Shaffer said...

Maia,
The story makes me so sad! Yes, I've heard things like this before about what people will do to their own animals. Fortunately there are people like you in the world that do care and helped to make a difference.

Thank you my friend, glad the puppy has a new home too. She's pretty darn cute!

Ivy

J said...

I've been away from your blog for too long - I missed all this drama! Poor little pooter. I can't imagine what kind of person would do that. I'm glad you ended up giving him to Christie, b/c otherwise I might've been tempted to take him. I've decided I want a small whitish dog to go with my giant black one, and have even gotten M talked into it. I think they'd make a nice set.