Road Rescue ~ "Hey Dad, Is "Blackie" Our New #4 ??"

**Tubby & Peanut's Mom** · 04-28-2005, 04:21 PM

Oh Phred, thanks so much for stopping to help this beautiful boy, but I know you wouldn't have been able to do anything but help him. It sure does sound like he hasn't been out long and does have a family somewhere and I sure hope you find them soon. He sure is a handsome guy.

I was thinking....you know how people let their dogs ride in the back of their pick-em-up trucks? Well I wonder if maybe that's where he was and the truck slowed down for someone turning or something and he decided to jump out for some reason and maybe the owners didn't realize it until they were long gone. I know, I know, if they let a dog ride in the back like that they shouldn't have a dog, especially if it took that long to notice, but it was just a thought. I think it's gonna be tough if none of the neighbors know where he belongs.

Glad to hear the 3 musketeers are ok with him though, and that he has been potty trained. Sure makes life a little easier for you in the meantime.

**Cincy'sMom** · 04-28-2005, 06:34 PM

I thought I heard the sounds of angel wings flappin!! What a great guy you are Phred!!

Hope Blackie finds his real home soon!!! He looks like a sweet guy!

**Cinder & Smoke** · 04-28-2005, 07:03 PM

We wuz UP a bit urlee - <BARKIN> frumma Basement 'Partment soon az
Dad's footpawz hit da floor! - He *ignored* da noize till it stopped.
Inna <quiet moment> he went down an brung "Blackie" up fur an outie
on da frunt porch tie-out. (NO *messes* inna 'Partment!)

Dad started puttin on sum Fancee Dudz - where we GOIN, Dad?

"WE aren't - Youze Guyz are STAYIN!"

NUTZ!
Den we *noticed* ~ Dad pulled out inna Bus wiff "Blackie" On Board
inna back seat! ~ ~ SUPER NUTZ!!

We headed over to Doc Mike's Place ...
NUTZ! "On Vacation" sign on the door with a note to go to the Hi-Priced Place
if it couldn't wait till Wednesday.
Pulled into the Hi-Priced lot - Hmmmmmm ... NO cars in the Patient Lot.

We <trotted in> and said "Howdy" to the Three Girls in the Office.
"Lunch Tyme" till 1:30 (It being Noon-a-clock) = NUTZ again!

"Blackie" stood up on the counter and started Makin Friends ...
I asked if anyone "knew" him?
<SNIKKER> as she pointed to an entire WALL of Chart Files -
"They all start to look alike!"
But all three <looked> & <petted> and I asked if they had a Chip Scanner?
SURE - give him to me and I'll go back and "read" him.
"Blackie" <trotted off> to return a moment or two later.
He sure is FRIENDLY! - NICE Dog! ... Oh, and NO Chip.

We talked about doing a fecal check -
Can Do, but we send them out now -
won't know till tomorrow.
More <chatter> about WHAT he was ...
Labby plus "Pit" kept being mentioned.

I asked about his AGE?
Girl said "Lemmie ask Doc Tom -
he looked at him when he <scanned> him."
We followed her towards the pass-thru to the Hospital area...

A minute later Doc Tom <bounced out> with a (cute) Tech, shook hands
<plopped himself down on a waiting room chair, and
started reciting his observations >>>

NICE, very FRIENDLY pup!
Let me look in his mouth without any fuss...
NO baby teeth, but his adult teeth are VERY clean and still pretty "sharp" -
I'd guess he's 10 Months to a Year old - no more than a year.
FULLY "intact" (I said: Yeah, I'd "noticed"!)
Little "thin", but in GOOD shape - very muscular.

I asked about a fecal check and worms>
Doc Tom said he wouldn't bother with a "check" -
just GIVE him a new One-Step Wormer and then check him later.

OK... let's Do It!
Need his weight - hop on the scale, Pal.
66.5 pounds = 2 1/2 "Drontal Plus (large)"

So - What IS he, Doc?

<Super BIG GRINN>
Well, he's a Labby-57
For sure the Predominant Breed is LAB -
with probably some Pit Bull.

Yeah, I know - they get a Bad Rap ...
You could <leave out> the Pit part -
a Lab MIX or Mixed Lab would "fit" him if you prefer.

What COLOR is he?

Well ... he sort of <changes> color depending on how the light hits him ...
He's NOT a "black", and not a "Chocolate"...
and he's got some grey or white in there, too ...
What do YOU think? ( to the (cute) Tech) ...

"Brindle", Doc - he's a "Brindle" for sure!

So, by Committee Vote, "Blackie" is a

"Lab-57", "Dark Brindle" in color!

2 1/2 pills went in the bottle; after Doc supervised the chart typing -
only 2 appeared on the bill!
Rx: was $23.10; Doc's Time was a big ZEERO!
Doc Tom shook hands, "Wished us Luck!", and trotted off to start his lunch.
THANKS, Doc Tom!!

The puter printed his mini-chart as "Labrador Cross" -
I can live with that!

Off to the Dawg Warden / Pound Office ...
But <WAIT> - driving past the Pet Food Store - anudder Mouff ta feed ...
Mite as well pick up anudder Bag a Grub...

In WE go - "OH WHAT A CUTE PuP!!" says the (cute) Clerk!
We killed an hour in there and tried to "sell" Blackie to two other customers -
"I'd take him in a minute; but Hubby would KILL me!"
*nixed* the deals both times!

Off to the Dawg Warde / Pound for another "scan" ...

Blackie won over three hearts in there -
Office Manager Carol (a Rabies Clinic at the Fire Station Buddie of mine) and
two of the Ketcher Guys all came out in the lobby to say "Hi!"
After new batts were put in the Scanner - another "NO Chip" reading!

They pulled out the "Lost Dog" clipboard and we scanned it line-by-line ...
Found only three "possibles" and I was given names and numbers.

Off to Wally's-World - we NEED a Collar!
No 22" red ones - BLUE will have to do!

Out in the parkin lot -
I ran into one of our Junior FireFighter-esses ...
(Who had been CALLED by a neighbor when I stopped ladt night).
"J" asked about "Blackie" and came over to the Bus when I said he
was with me...

"Oh, that's MOM's dog!" sez "J" ...

HUH!?? sez I ...

That's "Hobo" (that's what Dad calls him) -
he "shows up" every weekend and Mom feeds him...
He "goes away" during the week.
Been "coming around" for two months."

She and BF "called" out "here pup" a few times - he <*WAGGED*>
and looked their way...
But NO ONE came around to my side of the car to "PET" him ...

"Call my Dad - Mom's in the Hospital ..." and off they went.

Jest Freakin GREAT!

Only thing I liked about THAT development was the Name!
Hobo kinda "fits" him!

We've <tried it out> ...
Blackie, Hobo, Hey YOU, Fritz, Doofus, George, Lucifer ...
doesn't much matter.

We "dropped by" "J"'s Mom's Howze - NUNbuddie answered repeated <knocks>
although there were three cars in the drive. (GOOD!)

I'll prolly try to call her ... dunno about <turning him over> to her!
Or I might <find> his "real owner" ... might have to <work> on that!

Where you two BEEN, Dad!
We Three iz a lil **pi$$ed** ya ran of inna Bus wiff Muttlee!

C-mone, Muttlee - lemmie shw ya da fine art of da Livin Room CHAZE -
You'z *IT* - start <runnin>!

Ten Minnitz later ...
He kan <RUN> purdy gud!
An we dint knock a single lampy offa tabul!

We need a bigger Wadder Buckit, Dad - he drinkz a LOT!

Smoke mite have hiz NOZE a tad bit "outta joint" ...
seemz a mite DE-pressed about allua FUSS ober da New Guy.
Dad keepz sayin "It's only TEMP-a-rarrie!"

Hey - purdy *sharp* lookin Blue Collar ya got there, Bub!!
An two *BELLZ** - now he *jinglez & *klinkz* like da rest of us!

Now Dad'z <frettin> about iffin to kall da FireKid's Mom or <wait> fur
HER ta take sum interest ... ???

Maybee we kan <paint> him YELLER!?
BLACK Lab - nope - no BLACK wun here!

..

**jenluckenbach** · 04-28-2005, 07:15 PM

he "shows up" every weekend and Mom feeds him...He "goes away" during the week.
Been "coming around" for two months

Sounds like a STRAY to me. I'd say get him neutered and rehomed FAST!!

**lizbud** · 04-28-2005, 07:36 PM

Sounds like you had a very busy day "Dad".

Blackie is sweet,
good natured, dog & people friendly and house trained.What a
great dog & so deserving of someone to look out for him & keep
him from wandering in the future.

Can you hold on to him for
a bit while word gets around about him? Maybe there is a real
owner looking for him.

**shais_mom** · 04-29-2005, 12:03 AM

Originally posted by Daisy and Delilah
D

By the way Phred......Are you married?

NOPE - He's single but comes with an afinity to pick up strays and a Kat named Bootz!

What a pretty boy Phred!

Goodluck!

**shais_mom** · 04-29-2005, 12:10 AM

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
Sounds like a STRAY to me. I'd say get him neutered and rehomed FAST!!

I agree!!!

He will just end up in the highway again!

**Cinder & Smoke** · 04-29-2005, 12:31 AM

Originally posted by shais_mom

NOPE - He's single
but comes with an afinity to pick up strays and
a Kat named Bootz!

Annnnnd ...

a desire to chase Fire Trucks!

..

**shais_mom** · 04-29-2005, 12:57 AM

And he makes the best darn chocolate chip cookies EVER!

**Cinder & Smoke** · 04-29-2005, 01:52 AM

SUMbuddie just *<Urrk'd & Gurk'd>* his dinner!

Dinner was "served" over an hour ago -
Nobody did much of anything after eating.
Went like this:

"Queen" Cinder got hers in the kitchen;
SmokeMutt got his under the cawfee table in the living room;
Bowzie got his beside the #2 Kliner chair in the living room;
I had to <shoo> Hobo away from each other Mutt's bowl, but he was
keeping his eyes on the stacked bowls and followed along to the
next stop without TOO much pushing & shoving from me...

"FeedMe-FeedMe I'm STARVING" followed his bowl into the puter room
and began <gobbling> beside me.

I made him <SIT> and he dug right in, but wasn't <bolting> it -
more like a very determined, steady, continuous <munching>!
I could hear him "crunching" the Krunchies, and he didn't seem to be
taking *giant* bytes - but I thought he could be going a LIL bit slower -
so I raeched in (NO aggression from him

) and picked up a handful then
picked up his bowl. Hand-fed him a few 3-4 nugget bites from my palm
(he took them *nicely*) - then put the rest back in the bowl and
put it down on the floor agaim.
He finished up in a couple bytes, licked the bowl, then lay down with
the rest of The Gang to sleep it off.
I don't thik anyone much moved from their *spots* till i heard "IT" ...

*Urrrrrrrrk*! ... *Urrrrk* ...
I was turning to check on WHO was having the prob...
*Gurrrrrk* answered the question ...

It came up in 3 quick stages ...
First a few nuggets + a lil gooey foam;
then a larger glob of dry, chewed stuff;
then the Big Glob of most everythin else - semi-chewed but kinda dry.
(We got #3 into the bowl!)

Wunder what's up (besides Dinner) ???

He had the Wormer Tablets 9 hours before -
they should have been Long Gone.
And they went down with "lunch" at about 3:00 PM.
No Problemo with lunch, or his first meal last night.

He's had a few 1" long dawggie bisquits all afternoon;
and a BIG Drink around 5-7 PM after he and Cinder played Living Room Chase ...
Not much "activity" since then.

He's outside on the porch tie-out ...
I CONTINUOUS "I wanna come IN <BARK> mode" ...

PLEASE SHUT the Heck UP - at least long enough
for me to bring him in AFTER a Quiet Spell -
I'd go for even 5 minutes of <silence> right now!

He's <winding down> ...
we're down to a <BARK> or two every 2 minutes...
He otta be back inside before dawn at this rate.

So back to the Tossin Dinner problem ...

Are LABS considered a deep-chested BIG Breed and subject to the

"Bloating Problem" ???

He's getting about One Cup of krunchies twice a day.
Krunch is decent quality ("Premium Edge" Adult Lamb & Rice) that
Cinder & Smoke have thrived on for years.
Krunchies are small - 1/4" by 1/4" hard nuggets.
( The Bag suggests 2 3/4 cups for 65 # mutt ...
and I "under-feed" Cinder, Smokey and Bowser, too.)

And he sure didn't "over-exert" after dinner ... took about two steps away
from the bowl and lay down for a Nappie! ...

STRESS ??
He rode around in da Bus - happie azza Klam!
(Rides like Pet Rock Bowser - looks out every once-in-a-while; but spends
most of the ride SOUND ASLEEP!)

His day after we got home ?? UPstairs with The Gang all day!

Suggestions, Please!

He's "down" to softer *YIPP* - *Yaps* avery minute or so ...
Guess I'll give in and let him back in before the Sheriff shows up!

/s/ Phred
..

**shais_mom** · 04-29-2005, 02:05 AM

even tho you hand fed him could it be that he just ate too fast?
He didn't have any shots today right - just the wormer tablets?
how many hours b/n meals?
Sometimes Keegan gets gurky if she does eat for a long time. Which is fun b/c a lot of times she doen't eat if we go away to my parents cottage over a weekend.

hope he feels better - got any pepto?

**zippy-kat** · 04-29-2005, 02:19 AM

Is his food bowl elevated? Sara throws up alot if we don't elevate...

He's cute!

**Cinder & Smoke** · 04-29-2005, 02:32 AM

Welllll ....

He FINALLY Shut-UP long enough for me to get to the door with him
STILL quiet - so he's Back IN!

The rest of The Gang is OUT,
and Hobo <gulped> a bit of water ~
(<BARKIN> for an hour must "dry ya out"!)

Today's Meals ? ~ About 3 PM and MidNite

Shots ?? ! NO - just the wormer tabs at 3 PM

Ate Too Fast ?? - Dunno ... not much faster than Cinder & SmokeMutt
<polish off> a bowl!
And judging from the "returns" - he <chewed> at least half of it into dust.

Nerbus ?? Maybe ... he had an "Audience" for the last half of his meal.
Last Served and the Biggest Helping - the Gang had assembled in the
puter room to "help" if he needed any;
but he didn't act intimidated and didn't *eat* any faster as they each
showed up. And they did NOT really <crowd> him.

Pepto ?? - Yeah - In Stock!

Hate to have to use that, though.

Elevated Bowl ?? - NO, it's not!
Wondering

if LABS <need> an elevated bowl ???

Gonna wait till morning and try again.
I'll watch more closely and slow him down if he <gobbles>.

I'll give jim a bisquit when The Gang comes in and see if THAT stays down.
If it does, he'll get another one when I take him down to His (Bowzie's Old)
'Partment. (PaLEEZE go to sleep withOUT an hour's worth of <BARKIN>!)

/s da Foster Parent
..

**shais_mom** · 04-29-2005, 02:39 AM

He isn't as heavy as Keegan and not sure how tall he is but I do feed Keegan on an XL Rubbermaid tote that I keep her food in.
How peeved would that Kat get if you fed him in the bathroom maybe having an audience made him nervous. Being a stray.... or it could just be the new life.......stress