Found a puppy in my front yard, what should I do?

Question

I found the puppy in my front yard yesterday when I got home. I tried calling animal control to come get her, but the one AC officer in our small town left town early for the weekend.

My husband and I took the puppy up to the vet because she looked really sick. The vet says it looks like she could have a bacterial infection on her skin and some form of mites, but can't tell for sure without a skin scrape. We payed for the vet visit and a worm treatment for her and brought her home and have been keeping her in our back yard. We really can't afford the skin scrape ($35), possible anti-biotic ($20 ish) and possible mite treatment (2 or 3 $35 baths). The vet said that she looks to be only about 10wks old. Someone shaved her entire body (probably because of skin issues) but she was so dehydraded and skinny that it looks like she hasn't been cared for properly in a little while.

What should I do? I'd love to keep her, but can't afford all of the medical treatment she needs, as I have a 3yr old, an 8wk old, and a dauchshund.

Answer 1

Do you have an SPCA in your area? The SPCA will take the puppy and get it healthy and find it a loving home. Don't go to ANIMAL CONTROL. because it has problems it my be put down. THE SPCA is a no kill shelter.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

Is there a friend, neighbour or relative that can help you out, either with a loan for it or to take it so it can have treatment?  Poor little thing deserves a chance at a good life and home. If you cant find someone. Put up a post for someone to take it on..or give it to a welfare group.

Answer 3

See if it has a chip.

Otherwise just keep it over the weekend, and wait for the AC officer to get back.

While you have it give it heaps of water, and feed it 3 times a day (only a handful or less of food every feeding)

;)

Answer 4

You can afford internet, a computer, and a purebred dachshund but you cant afford to take care of a poor puppy. WOW that amazes me. Take her to the shelter. They wont be able to afford her treatment and will put her down but if you cant afford to take care of her and are letting her suffer you might as well. Poor baby she will be one of the 6 million dogs and puppies that will or have been put down this year at animal shelters alone. I'm sorry you cant afford to take care of her. If you don't want to kill her put up found signs around your town she could belong to someone. If you cant afford paper call the local newspaper and they will put a free ad for a found dog in their classifieds.  

Answer 5

First off, good for you for trying to do the right thing for this baby. My heart goes out to her.

Being that it is the weekend it will be difficult to do a lot.  You can post lost and found signs, especially at the vet's offices. Just be careful if someone should call.  I wouldn't list a lot of info on her, so you can decide if this is truly the owner.  I would also call the SPCA and local shelters to see if the puppy has been reported lost. They may also be able to give you suggestions on what you can do.  You can also sometimes get help from PAWS or rescue groups in the area that may be willing to help with her care or even finding her a foster/permanent home.  They are a great place to start and it never hurts to ask.



Please, for her sake, try to avoid putting her in a kill shelter.  Since she has health issues her risks are higher for being euthanized.  

Good luck and we are sending drool for this little one so she can get better soon.

Answer 6

she probably belongs to someone

put signs up if they don't answer keep her or adopt her out to someone

Answer 7

try to get a neighbor or close friend(someone you know that'll take good care of it) and have them take it if they want it. Not much else you can do

Answer 8

erm. well, take it to the vet to see if it has a chip. if not put up signs. if no one claims it... if you want it then take it :D

Answer 9

I would phone the vet and explain the situation to them.

They might be able to offer you a discount, or like, you pay so much a month/week for however long.

Because vets are actually animal lovers, so most will try their best to help.

Well done for trying to help this poor puppy. Whoever dumped her should be really ashamed.

(Make sure to deflea your dauchound, now incase she/he has caught any off the pup )

To the girl who wrote about you having the internet and stuff ..

Its not her responsibilty to pay for the vet bills and stuff .. she hasnt gone out and bought a puppy .. she found it. The responsibilty lies with whoever dumped her (and it sounds like she has been dumped, so no real point putting up posters) so the should be ashamed. The person asking the question is doing so out of kindness.

Could you maybe phone your local newspaper and ask them to write an article on the story of the puppy...maybe appeal for infomation about where she came from, and ask for donations for her treatment ..and at the end write that you are willing to give her to a loving home for free, because you already have a dog, and a family ect?

Good luck and sorry i don't know what else you could do.