Vocal Voices

I took Billy out for his walk this morning and was hoping to get back, make a pot of coffee and read for a while.
We found a dog in the woods. The sun was bright and all I could see was a silhouette of a large dog on the path ahead of us. I hoped that he'd be friendly and as we walked nearly his tail started wagging like crazy. I thought it strange that no one was around and then noticed that he had no collar on, and therefore no name tag.
We stood around for a while and a few dog walkers passed by. None of them recognised him or had seen anyone on their walks who'd lost a dog.
I took a photo of him and posted it to be shared on Facebook (thanks Kaz for your help). I found a number for the dog warden. They only work office hours. I called Birmingham Dogs Home as I know that's where the warden takes strays and they're closed on Sundays. I did another search and info came up about a boarding kennels/rescue centre which takes dogs out of hours. I called but they couldn't collect but we could drop him off.

That left me with the problem of getting him home. Two dogs, one collar and one lead. If I'd been wearing a belt I'd have been able to sort a makeshift lead out but I wasn't. I called Joe. No answer. I called John and he said that he was only about 20 minutes from home on his bike ride so would go home, get a spare lead and collar and come and find me.

Bill and Keith, as we decided to call him, were having a great time. I started walking towards home and he just followed. If he started wandering down a different path then Bill went and got him. Five minutes from home John called. He had no key and Joe wasn't answering his phone, so he couldn't get in for the lead. I told him just to come and find me.
We had to loop Bill's lead around Keith's neck and Bill had to walk back around home without one, thankfully he's excellent at that and walks right up against your leg although we only ever do it early morning or later in the evening.

He and Bill played in the garden while John got changed and I called the rescue centre again and they said to take him over. By this time Joe had got up and was out playing with them.
He didn't want to get in the car when John tried him but I patted the boot floor and up he jumped.He was beautiful dog, so calm and gentle and he'd sit when asked, shake hands and wagged his tail so fast when told he was a good boy.

Anyway, he's at the rescue place on the other side of Stafford. I've filled out forms for the dog warden. He wasn't microchipped so there's no way at all of tracing his owners. They'll keep him for 10 days as a stray and if he's not claimed by the he'll be put up for adoption.

What a morning for you I hope he's reunited with his owner
Well done yet 3 including billy

Jo, he looked like a gorgeous old boy, and I was happy to help on Facebook - I just hope by some miracle that they find his owners! I can't get my head around him being dumped (although it is a strong possibility) as he looked in such good condition and is obviously well socialised and well trained, as he behaved so well for you! There again if he'd run off he would surely be wearing a collar

Bless him, if they don't find his owners, I just hope he gets a good home!

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Oh I hope they find his owners. x

I always think the worst of people when I read stories like this Jo - older dog, not chipped etc and possibly a medical issue so dumped for someone else to deal with. Heartbreaking. I just really hope I'm totally wrong and that he escaped from a garden and that his owners are missing him and come looking for him asap.

But it also just proves how ineffective the compulsory microchipping law is... that dog should have been chipped; and I do think all vets should - one by one - have called their patients whose pets aren't / weren't chipped to come in and have it done - but that's another gripe of mine

fingers crossed for this old boy and that he's reclaimed soon - he shouldn't be in a cold kennel at this stage of his life

will they keep you updated Jo?

You are so right Ria, about the chipping issue - what is the point when the vets aren't obliged by law to follow it up? I belong to a group on Facebook that is campaigning for this!

I hope his owners are found. He's definitely been a much loved pet.

We both thought that perhaps he'd belonged to someone who'd passed away as he'd obviously been cared for and was well socialised and trained. Maybe he'd then been left in the hands of someone who didn't really want him, or the responsibility of an older dog. Really hope I'm wrong because the thought of someone taking him to the woods and just leaving him there is heartbreaking

Totally agree about microchips. It's a pointless law as it is at the moment. Thinking about it, I can't ever remember Bill being scanned at any vet appointment. I know he certainly wasn't when he had his boosters in the Summer. It takes a moment and if a chip is present then fine, if not then one can be inserted.

He could have just wandered off from his own house I guess, and kept wandering...I too hate to think someone would just dump him

Oh me too, Di and Jo