I picked up a stray today. I feel badly that we won't be able to keep him. He is so cute, but already Moose (our Alpha) is not happy with our *guest.*
I have a soft spot in my heart for critters. Actually, not critters.... dogs. I have a soft spot in my heart for dogs.
We never buy puppies from a breeder. We always take in dogs from the animal shelter, or from people who can no longer house them. Not that we have, or keep, a lot of dogs. We only have 2. At the most, we had 3.
Anyway, I was at the gym and I saw a pooch hanging out by the door. People kept going past the poor little dog. I knew I would be at the gym a bit over an hour. I decided to act if he was still around when I went out. I figured it would give him time for his owner to walk out the door.... OR for him to decide to go on home.
Well, he didn't. :-( I walked out and he looked happy to see someone. Then I spoke to him. He followed me immediately.
I opened the door to the FTU to see what he would do. He climbed right in, sat on the back seat, and happily let me drive him home. (I DID call and let DH know.)
DH did warn me to not get attached (something I easily do) because we don't need a 3rd dog.
Part of me wanted to feed him, keep him, let hubby see him and then, hopefully, between the kids, and my making doe-eyes at him, he would let the pup stay.
But then....
I got him in the backyard. Well, I was GETTING him in the backyard when my 2 started to barge in. :-( I grabbed Moose, the little one, lest he get himself seriously injured. However, Buster, my golden, came barging in. He bared his teeth and had "guest pooch" cowering in a corner. I really thought it was going to get ugly, but after harshly speaking to Buster, I got the stand-off stopped.
I put the 2 big dogs outside where they commenced circling each other, trying to sniff and "find out what the other was about." Well, "guest pooch" was a bit....um.... confused as to the working of things. He kept trying to pile on Buster, who is um...... *less* than a man...er....dog. :-)
When I sat down outside to watch them, "guest pooch" kept trying to come to me, but Buster would have none of it. He (Buster) kept getting between me and "guest pooch." Jealous much? Meanwhile, Moose was in his boy's room vocalizing his unhappiness with the whole set up.
Well, while outside, I was able to really watch "guest pooch." He is really skinny.... you can see his hip bones. He drinks a lot of water, but he would not eat. :-( That makes me sad. I think he might be sick. He has an infection in his eye. It is really goopy and the eye is really red. I've never heard of doggy-pinkeye, but I wonder.
I decided to separate my dogs from "guest pooch." I don't know if he is sick with something that is contagious, or just sick. Is he dying sick? Or just malnourished? My heart aches for this pooch.
THEN, I think about DS #3. He wants his own dog SO badly. Moose is DS #1's. Buster, is more DS #2's. DS #3 wants a dog to sleep in his bed, and to run to him first. :-( I can't put him in a position of getting excited, loving a dog, only to have him taken away.
SO, I called the SPCA. Only to find out that it will cost $40 to drop him off, or have him picked up. :-( Um..... I don't think so.
I called Animal Control. They will send someone.....sometime today. SO, instead of doing all that I was going to do, I sit, and I wait for the Sheriff's Dept. to come by and pick up this poor animal. I just pray it is in time for me to volunteer at the school. I need to be there by 2. If not.... at least in time for me to go get the kids from school and DS #3 to NOT get to know *guest pooch.*
ETA: *Guest pooch* WILL eat Momma's homemade chicken noodle soup.