I need some help here and there are some of you that are pretty knowledgeable about animals, I hope someone has some suggestions.

Yesterday on the way to town Mrs. Perfdata and I went over a pass at about 9,000 feet where no one lives as it is national forest. As we rounded the corner we see a Rott/Beagle mix (that's my guess) probably 6 months old and just skin and bones. We stop the E and get out and here's another one, they're brothers. We look down the hill and there are two more dogs, not related to these two, and they're eating a deer caucus it looks like someone dumped as it was in a tarp. We live in a unique area - people building $ million homes and just down the road is something out of Deliverance.

The two rott/beagle dogs come up to us and are not threatening at all but VERY skittish. We know we have to do something so we drive into town to the local humane society, they inform us since the latest tax referendum didn't pass there is no longer a county animal control officer. If we can capture them they will fix them up but it's up to us.

We go to Wally World as we planned and picked up some dog food and pie tins and stop on the way home to feed them. We then go home, dump our shopping, and then go back to capture them, or so we thought.

Mrs. Perfdata puts food out in the back of the E and they sniff around and finally both jump in the back of the E. We try to close the clamshell and one gets out. The other one starts to go nuts and is on the dash and remembering the discussions on here about the soft plastic we let him out. They don't run away and one actually jumps in the E again but they're now more cautious than ever.

I know I'm dragging this out but we're so mad that people do things like this (and we have our suspects who did this but we can't prove it). They're good dogs and going to make good pets (our next door neighbor needs a couple of dogs we think) or maybe, and just maybe, they'll end up here.

Anyway, our plan right now is go feed them daily to gain their trust and put some meat on them but we're supposed to get 16" of snow in the next two days and the pass is difficult in any snow conditions let alone this much. We're thinking that when they see us as friendly we'll be able to catch them and they're going in the Cherokee, not the E. We've never tried anything like this and we know it isn't going to be the last time this happens so we're looking for suggestions.

Thanks for reading and please post a reply if you have ideas or experience in this sort of thing.

you guys are good people.

Do you own or have access to any dog crates?

You may be able to entice them into the crates with food and then be able to close the doors and load them into your vehicle.

Do you own or have access to any dog crates?

You may be able to entice them into the crates with food and then be able to close the doors and load them into your vehicle.

Good idea. We thought about the crates, the only person we know with some has Shelties and they're too small. I'll call the humane society today and see if they have some they can loan us. I don't think we can have them loose in any vehicle, it's a 10-11 mile drive and we're not exactly excited about being bit or having the inside of a vehicle ripped up.

I think this would work, the only thing I think we would need to do is get both of them into two crates at one time and shut them at the same time.

Thanks!

. . . or one big crate with both of them in it. That might be easier to do.

I think this would work, the only thing I think we would need to do is get both of them into two crates at one time and shut them at the same time.

Thanks!

A local pet rescue group may be able to loan you a couple of crates, too.

Are the dogs small enough that you could lift a crate with both dogs inside? If not, you may want to go with two smaller crates.

Ralph

Perf and Mrs. Perf, you are wonderful people to do this. Maybe putting down some blankets with plywood on top would protect your car. Also, if you feed them for a couple of days they should become friendlier and maybe even let you slip collars and leashes over their heads. Also here in Pittsburgh we have a nonprofit organization that will go just about anywhere in this county to pick up animals and take them to their shelter. There might be a similar organization in that area, the yellow pages might be a good place to look. Good luck.

if the dogs are feeding on a carcass in the wild... they are in full pack state of mind. be very careful when dealing with them. you should be able to pick out the leader. seperation from the others will most likely make them really defensive, and even aggressive / offensive. anything out of the ordinary can trigger them. if you transport them in the back of a vehicle... crates or a animal barrier are absoloutely necessary.

good luck. and you seem to have a big heart.

A local pet rescue group may be able to loan you a couple of crates, too.

Are the dogs small enough that you could lift a crate with both dogs inside? If not, you may want to go with two smaller crates.

Ralph

Yes, I think between the two of us we could lift them, if they weigh 35# each I'd be surprised. Just looking at the is really sad. They look a lot like the dog we have now, maybe this is why this is bothering us so much.

The one crate idea sounds even better, that's what happened when they jumped in the E, one then the other.

We're calling neighbors, our vet, and local rescues looking for a crate. We're regrouping again and want to get them to the shelter as soon as possible as they keep running out into the road.

Update: just got off the phone with our neighbor who used to breed dogs. She has one oversize crate to lend us, her concern is they will get frightened and start to fight. We're still looking for a second crate and some of those long poles with the rope on the end.

I sure wish I knew more about all of this.

Perf and Mrs. Perf, you are wonderful people to do this. Maybe putting down some blankets with plywood on top would protect your car. Also, if you feed them for a couple of days they should become friendlier and maybe even let you slip collars and leashes over their heads. Also here in Pittsburgh we have a nonprofit organization that will go just about anywhere in this county to pick up animals and take them to their shelter. There might be a similar organization in that area, the yellow pages might be a good place to look. Good luck.

Thanks. We checked at the humane society, ther'es nothing like you suggested with non-profits going out to do this (and I'm not looking for another job).

Our big concerns are 1) the 16" of snow we may get in the next two days 2) the other two dogs, they look like they are older and been out there a long time, will they attack the two pups? and 3) coyotes, they make dogs and cats into meals out here on a regular basis. These guys were strong enough to jump in the E but I think they'd lose a fight.

I'm just thankful that work is slow now on purpose, we try to have a quiet last two weeks of the year and we can take care of this. Just got to beat the weather.

I'd sure like to find who dumped these guys and put them out there to fend for themselves. People...

Bless you for doing this!!! :)

Where do you all live? If I were nearby (with a 16" snow forecast, unlikely) I'd gladly join an Element posse to help -- and bring my crates.

Are there any Rottweiler or Beagle rescue groups in your state?

Any breed rescue group is run by dog people -- they'd help if they could.

I'm sure interested in helping more than just my dog's breed (Samoyed).

Thank you everyone for your kind words. In our minds we're just doing what everyone should do. God help the person who dumped them if I ever find out who it is.

Hiker Chick, you're about 2,200 miles from us, we are in the mountains of Colorado. The snow has held off so far, nothing.

Mrs. Perfdata just called me from where the dogs were yesterday (one of the few places a cell phone works as it is high enough not to be blocked by mountains), not a trace of them. A neighbor saw a pick-up there this morning giving them water, hopefully they took them somewhere. We're going to go up there for the next few days, we now have a big crate we can keep and also something called Rescue Remedy that a friend suggested and Mrs. Perfdata picked up at the local health food store. I guess it's a stress reliever, she is going to test it on me (and if it works I'll be grateful).

We have learned that we are not very prepared for this stuff and as I mentioned at the beginning of all of this it won't be the last time it happens. I think we'll compile a list of no-kill shelters (the local one isn't) and rescue groups for the various breeds so we can jump into action. The county is of no help, someone told me the laws out here have no teeth in them and I believe it as some irresponsible people let their animals wander everywhere; ever have a llama in your front yard? We had a bear in our dumpster a few months ago but they're in the wild so we can expect that, it's the mistreatment of domesticated animals that gets under our skin.

One last thing - the local shelter told us they get packed around this time of year because people rid of their animals so "their house looks nice for the guests." AAARRGHHH!!! Our home was only 3 years old and hardly lived in when we got it, it was showroom new. We now have fur, dander, and cat puke stains everywhere and the furniture is wearing out fast but it's a home (and it gives me a reason to put in hardwood floors :-D ).

We just spoke with our neighbor again, she gave us more details of what she say this morning. She said it was two older gentlemen and they had all 3 pups on leashes and two matched the description of the ones we fed yesterday. Hopefully they're off to somewhere that is safe, warm, and will bring them back to health, I think they're going to be great pets for someone.

When I was out there yesterday I was thinking this road doesn't have a lot of traffic but we can't be the only people who saw them and would care. Hopefully out of this we're trained better for next time, it's sure been a learning experience.

Thanks everyone!