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Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:05 pm Post subject: We trapped our stray!

My first post about trapping a dog is here. It tells of a dog that I have been driving to and feeding every night for the last 6 months. A dog that would not come more than 20 ft of me, yet waited on me to bring dinner every night.

http://forums.petfinder.com/viewtopic.php?t=165943&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

It took me a month to pull everything together. I spent hours contacting rescues to take her, but no-one wanted her calling her feral. Then when I decided to bring her here (after my husband saw that no-one would take her) we set up a dog pen (for everyones protection) as we have 4 dogs.

AC took a week to get back in touch with me when I called, then when we finally met he brought a trap that was too small. Once the bigger trap was delivered it was an antique rusty thing that I feared would'nt work. If it failed or if she got her tail caught, she may never go near a trap again.

The first trap was set by the tree where I feed her at a shopping center. I put a large sign on the tree, Property of Animal Control, This Dog Will be Rescued and my phone number. I also chained the trap to the tree. It sat two nights and both nights I had to stop people from throwing food away from the trap! Long story, but they obviously thought they were saving her. I wanted to ask them if they wanted to feed her the rest of their lives! At that point I decided to move the trap across the street, but I needed a bigger one as I was certain she would not crouch down to go into a trap. This dog is so cautios she looks over her shoulder with every bite of food and spooks easily.

Another week goes by looking for a large dog trap. Just when I was going to order one, County AC called and was willing it to deliver it right away. That was Tuesday 3/10. We set the trap behind a chain link fenced area where I have seen her come and go from feedings.

I prepared home cooked meats. Chicken legs, pork spare ribs, meatballs, and chunks of smoked ham. I browned it off, added chicken stock and reduced it until the meat started falling off the bones. Once it cooled I took all the meat off the bones, used a nice brown gravy and mixed it all together.

The new trap was set in an area that most people would not see driving down the highway, but I could see it clearly and my husband bought me a nice pair of binoculars for this occasion. I could sit in the shopping center parking lot and look across the highway at the trap if I had to.

The first night was hard. It's the first night in 6 months that I didn't feed her. It just so happened that I went to buy her a dog house and she was crossing the highway on my way home. I tried not to think about her sitting there waiting, but I knew that once she was hungry enough she would go near that trap.

The next morning I had a catch so I knew that trap was working. It wasn't my dog, but this guy. He did not want to leave! I gave him 2 1/2 hours and he went right back to sleep. We tipped the trap up and he decided to climb, then we prodded him gently with a stick until he finally crawled out.

Once I had him out, I cleaned up his mess and moved the trap about 10 ft away and hoped his smell wouldn't keep her away.

I put fresh food out at 4 pm right before the business where the trap was set closed. They told me last week they saw her frequently and agreed to allow me to come and go around their property.

I put a quiche in the oven at 6 pm and decided to go see if she was anywhere around. My husband drove me so it would be easier to see without traffic distracting me. As we drove by I saw her near the trap! I decided not to cover the trap so it being wire it was hard to tell if she was inside. We pulled into a business nearby and discovered she was inside the trap eating, but the trap door was open! I called my daughter and told her the good news, but since the door wasn't closed we would go eat and come back. If she was inside, then we would have her.

I just pulled dinner from the oven when my daughter walked in. I asked why she was home because I didn't expect her unless we called for help. She said her and her boyfriend just had to go see for themselves and "for me to mark my calendar because we had her!"

We hugged and we cried! I couldn't believe it, I had her on the 2nd day! We were all overcome with emotion! I had so many emails, phone calls, and a lot of emotional energy tied up in trapping her, not to mention worrying about her getting hit by a car the last 6 months. We found a clear path to the trap and were able to carry her out of there and put her in our SUV. We had her home within 30 minutes.

She was scared to death. As we approached the trap she barked at us. That was the first time I ever heard her voice in all these months.

Once home we put the trap against the open gate to the dog pen. I hope she won't have to stay in there long. She didn't come out right way, but did as soon as we gave her space. She went and crouched down behind her dog house and thats where she stayed all night.

Today as we were putting together something to keep the rain off of her, I decided to take the door off of the dog house and turn it so she could see the opening. I figured that dog house was nothing more than a box to hide behind for her. She went in as soon as I turned my back and has not come out.

It's been 26 hours and she's still shaking when I come near. I sat on the ground talking softly offering her cheese and hotdogs, but she turns her head away and is so frightened. It's hard to see her like this knowing that she would run after my car when I showed up to feed her, but I will be patient. She is safe, now I will wait for her to trust me. She use to wag her tail when she found her chew by the tree. I remember that and will look forward to seeing her tail wag again.

I have no idea what mix she is and I actually thought she weighed about 45 lbs because she is tall and long. Laying down she looks so much smaller now, maybe 35 lbs, which means she was around 25 lbs when I first started feeding her as skin and bones.

As soon as she warms up to me she needs to see the vet, or I may contact a mobile vet to come to us.

Darlin is home! Thank you, Lord!

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:40 pm Post subject:

Congrats! She's gorgeous.

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:46 pm Post subject:

Congratulations!
She looks just like one I had a few years ago, her markings look husky, but she looks more hound. With her size, I'd say husky/beagle.
If you want to go ahead and take her to the vet, you might as your vet if you could get some sedatives (probably acepromazine), and crush it up and put it in canned food. Wait for it to take effect, and take her to the vet sedated (or have them come to you). That way you can go ahead and fecal test (make sure there are no internal parasites like giardia that need extra treatment), get her dewormed, shots, and find out if she's heartworm positive. I wouldn't spay her yet, as doing all that and surgery at the same time would be a lot for her to re-cooperate from at once.
As for gaining her trust, it's just going to take time, but it will happen. She'll probably never be a happy go lucky dog, but she will learn to trust you, and at least be comfortable with your family (she'll probably bond with only you). It may take weeks, months, or years to really gain her trust, and it'll just happen a little bit at a time, but from the first time she wags up tail, to making eye contact, to letting you pet her, to actually coming up to you, each step makes it so worth it.
I took in a stray, who the only way I caught her was because she was too weak to run. It took a year to get her comfortable in the house and around people, but eventually, with me, she became affectionate and playful.
I also have a friend who took in a dog, who at 9 months old, had spent his whole life chained to a tree with on shelter, was starved, beaten, and dehydrated. He spent 9 months hiding and shaking behind her dryer. Everyone told her to just put him to sleep.
Today, 6 years later, although still a cautious dog, who it takes him awhile to warm up to new people, he is a happy dog, who loves being outside, barking at strangers (he's a newfie, likes to protect his people), loves chewies, and cuddling on the couch. Even the progress he's made in the 3 years since I've known him is amazing to watch (it no longer takes months for him to warm up to people, sometimes only days).
It will work out in the long run, it'll take longer than you want, but in the end, it will all be so worth it.

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:55 am Post subject:

Congrats on getting her.

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:32 am Post subject:

Horray! Darlin' is HOME! I wish you the best of luck getting her to come around! I know you can do it- you have a heart of GOLD to fight for this sweetie so hard!

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:39 am Post subject:

That plate of meat would be irresistable to any dog!
Congratulations, Good luck with her. Very Happy

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:44 am Post subject:

Congratulations, that is so great that you caught her.

My worry is that she may climb the fence and escape - many dogs can climb chain link.

Do you have any plans to try to bring her indoors? IMO that would be your best bet for both safety and socialization.

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:47 am Post subject:

I am so happy for you guys..I can't wait for all the stories about Darlin and I can't wait to see her transformation...She will have her tail waggin in no time!

Valerie

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:10 am Post subject:

You write well. That was a great story with all the details and suspense building up and the pictures.

Darlin is a cutie. Given time and a lot of patience she will settle in with you.

There are some tips on the Best Friends Dogtown website for socializing semi-feral or shy dogs:
http://www.bestfriends.org/dogtown/index.cfm?csid=3731&csii=3734&csit=Set&csip=2759

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:12 am Post subject:

You did a wonderful thing for this dog. You have alot of patience. She is so lucky.

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:17 am Post subject:

Unchained, you've done a truely wonderfull thing. I had tears in my eyes reading thru. I must add with a pan of food like that, I might have gotten in that cage too. Laughing

You can get pills to slip in her food to worm her from your vet. The chances are slim she doesnt have them, but the meds wont hurt her even if she's worm free. It will take some time for her to trust you. I wouldnt attempt drugging her just to get her to the vet now. That would be a traumatic experience for both of you. Wait until she trusts you more before having anyone handle her. Again it will take time, but little by little it will happen. I know this dog will feel the love you have for her/him and come around. Either way, this world needs more like you!Please keep us posted.

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:20 am Post subject:

What a wonderful story! Thanks so much for not giving up for her - you went to more trouble than some people go to for their own animals!

She looks ( and probably feels) comfortable and safe for now and I'm sure she'll come around steadily to trusting you!

Please keep us posted with more picture stories!

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:42 am Post subject:

Unchained, Thank you for going the extra mile to get Darlin into safety. Your story and pictures are awesome, a true testimony of perserverence. I am sure that Darlin will come around in her own time and have her tail a waggin,especially if you keep making her meals like that!

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:46 am Post subject:

Unchained, your post gave me a whole bunch of warm fuzzies and happies!
I'm so excited for Darlin'. She is safe and loved!

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:56 am Post subject:

Ok, that has tears in my eyes as well! She looks so scared, but also...so warm and protected. She'll be fine and will realize it was for the best, I'm sure! No advice, just THANK YOU! Btw, though, that plate of meat might have convinced ME to go in the trap, too! Laughing

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