OPERATION: SAVE GOOD BOY (Neglect warning / Img heavy)
Jan 22, 2018 16:30:19 GMT
Post by R A V N K Ö T T R on Jan 22, 2018 16:30:19 GMT
We're building a house in rural nowhere, Arkansas -- with about 200 or so acres of lake and woods to our name.
Ever since we first began eyeing the property, I took particular notice of a neighbor's dog: Rain, Snow, or blistering heat this dog is sitting out there in the yard, or pacing circles around the center point of his 10ft chain.
The owners of the house never pay him mind, never pet him, and I never see them out there often checking to see if his food and water are adequate, especially during our 100f+ summers.
They have kids that run around and play often, and he just stares at them until they head back inside.
He practically doesn't exist. I've asked, and he has no name. Just 'dog'.
On that note, I am open to name suggestions for him! I need something to call the bab, especially if I end up adopting him.
Any help is appreciated <3
There's a road on our property that skirts the edge of theirs, but every time I walked past his chain and pitiful doghouse, he only looks at me. The lack of any tail wags and general stiffness of his demeanor initially made me wary about approaching, as he may've got defensive
(This is a big dog, his head comes up to my hip and i'm 5'6)
Recently, the owners haven't been showing. It's been 3 days without anyone filling his food bowl and only rainwater to keep his water bucket filled
Last night as we were checking on the construction of our house, he was jumping all about and yelping enough to draw attention to himself. The chain would jerk him back hard onto the ground when he jumped against it, so -- fearing he'd hurt himself, I approached him for the first time ever. No wags. No association with humans as a figure of affection or love. But I got close enough to pet him and
Ever since we first began eyeing the property, I took particular notice of a neighbor's dog: Rain, Snow, or blistering heat this dog is sitting out there in the yard, or pacing circles around the center point of his 10ft chain.
The owners of the house never pay him mind, never pet him, and I never see them out there often checking to see if his food and water are adequate, especially during our 100f+ summers.
They have kids that run around and play often, and he just stares at them until they head back inside.
He practically doesn't exist. I've asked, and he has no name. Just 'dog'.
On that note, I am open to name suggestions for him! I need something to call the bab, especially if I end up adopting him.
Any help is appreciated <3
There's a road on our property that skirts the edge of theirs, but every time I walked past his chain and pitiful doghouse, he only looks at me. The lack of any tail wags and general stiffness of his demeanor initially made me wary about approaching, as he may've got defensive
(This is a big dog, his head comes up to my hip and i'm 5'6)
Recently, the owners haven't been showing. It's been 3 days without anyone filling his food bowl and only rainwater to keep his water bucket filled
Last night as we were checking on the construction of our house, he was jumping all about and yelping enough to draw attention to himself. The chain would jerk him back hard onto the ground when he jumped against it, so -- fearing he'd hurt himself, I approached him for the first time ever. No wags. No association with humans as a figure of affection or love. But I got close enough to pet him and
He's a really good boy
He was nervous, and was so weak and thin that he wobbled whenever he tried to stand. The heaviness of his chain was hardly helping.
I crouched down to pet him, so not to make him nervous, and he laid his head flat against my chest and just
sat there. Shaking like a leaf.
I took the chance to check his condition and, as feared, he was way too thin for a dog of his frame. He had a big muscular head, large paws and wide shoulders but no /weight/ to fill the gaps. His hips jut out and I can feel his ribs right beneath the skin.
And he's so bloody thin that his skin just kind of hangs around his hips. It's pitiful.
Regardless of his conditions, he seemed to have a really good -- though a little nervous -- temperament.
I hung out and gave him pets for several minutes.
My Mum came over and gave him some scritches as well, agreeing with me on the overall 'air' of neglect.
I can't be entirely sure if these photos of him at his best -- being loved on for the first time in awhile, properly capture how bad a shape he's in.
- His collar is so tight I can't fit my pinky under it, and i'm pretty sure it's embedded.
- The chain is so heavy I can't lift it by myself without issue. And i'm not a small woman.
- He has maybe 10 feet of chain to work with, if he was healthy enough to drag it as is.
I see him pacing circles all the time, without toys, company, or even sticks to chew on. He's bored out of his mind.
Eventually, we had to return back home, 28 minutes away. As my Mom and I got up to leave, mud and grime on our hands from his fur, he moved to place himself in front of my legs as if to block my path. 'More pets, please. They feel nice.'
We started walking down the road and he was tugging on his tether again, still exhausted from jumping around a few minutes earlier, making all sorts of racket to try and get us to turn around. It hurt my heart to leave him, but I had no choice.
I'm going to start bringing him protein/vitamin-rich and high calorie treats whenever we visit, to try and pack some weight onto the poor thing.
We're going to be moving down there at the end of this month somewhere and then i'll be able to keep a closer eye on him.
If the owners do show up, i'm going to talk about taking him off their hands. Not like they want anything to do with him, anyways.
Naturally, with 4 smaller dogs of my own and a cat, I have to make sure he won't be an issue with them. Even to that extent, we can keep him outside in the yard with tons of roaming space, love, and proper shelter if he doesn't. As hungry as he is, I need to make sure he doesn't have issues with food aggression. Either of these can be trained out of him, in time. Time i'm well willing to invest
Already i've started saving up some money for any possible medical bills, and to get him fixed if he isn't already. I'm determined to pamper this boy, he's such a sweetie .
I crouched down to pet him, so not to make him nervous, and he laid his head flat against my chest and just
sat there. Shaking like a leaf.
I took the chance to check his condition and, as feared, he was way too thin for a dog of his frame. He had a big muscular head, large paws and wide shoulders but no /weight/ to fill the gaps. His hips jut out and I can feel his ribs right beneath the skin.
As suspected by the owner's lack of showing, his food bowl was empty
And the only thing in his water bucket was rain from a previous cold shower.
His shelter has no bedding, and is caked with mud on the floor.
We reach below freezing at night during the winter and he's always out here in the cold.
His shelter has no bedding, and is caked with mud on the floor.
We reach below freezing at night during the winter and he's always out here in the cold.
And he's so bloody thin that his skin just kind of hangs around his hips. It's pitiful.
Regardless of his conditions, he seemed to have a really good -- though a little nervous -- temperament.
I hung out and gave him pets for several minutes.
My Mum came over and gave him some scritches as well, agreeing with me on the overall 'air' of neglect.
I can't be entirely sure if these photos of him at his best -- being loved on for the first time in awhile, properly capture how bad a shape he's in.
- His collar is so tight I can't fit my pinky under it, and i'm pretty sure it's embedded.
- The chain is so heavy I can't lift it by myself without issue. And i'm not a small woman.
- He has maybe 10 feet of chain to work with, if he was healthy enough to drag it as is.
I see him pacing circles all the time, without toys, company, or even sticks to chew on. He's bored out of his mind.
Eventually, we had to return back home, 28 minutes away. As my Mom and I got up to leave, mud and grime on our hands from his fur, he moved to place himself in front of my legs as if to block my path. 'More pets, please. They feel nice.'
We started walking down the road and he was tugging on his tether again, still exhausted from jumping around a few minutes earlier, making all sorts of racket to try and get us to turn around. It hurt my heart to leave him, but I had no choice.
I'm going to start bringing him protein/vitamin-rich and high calorie treats whenever we visit, to try and pack some weight onto the poor thing.
We're going to be moving down there at the end of this month somewhere and then i'll be able to keep a closer eye on him.
If the owners do show up, i'm going to talk about taking him off their hands. Not like they want anything to do with him, anyways.
Naturally, with 4 smaller dogs of my own and a cat, I have to make sure he won't be an issue with them. Even to that extent, we can keep him outside in the yard with tons of roaming space, love, and proper shelter if he doesn't. As hungry as he is, I need to make sure he doesn't have issues with food aggression. Either of these can be trained out of him, in time. Time i'm well willing to invest
Already i've started saving up some money for any possible medical bills, and to get him fixed if he isn't already. I'm determined to pamper this boy, he's such a sweetie .
I'll save you my friend. You don't deserve to lose anymore years to pacing circles or shivering out in the cold.
I will keep you all updated with future posts, here!
I will keep you all updated with future posts, here!
