I did what I could :-(

This morning on my way to work, I was driving through a not very nice part of town when I saw a Rottweiler on the sidewalk limping pretty bad - looked to me like he had been hit by a car. I called in to Chicago’s non-emergency number. They took the report and said they would notify animal control. I wasn’t impressed with their response, so I turned back and thought maybe he’d be friendly and I could get him into my car until animal control showed up. Seeing as how dog fighting is rampant in this part of town, and knowing he was injured, I knew I couldn’t take any chances with my own safety, but I had to see what I could do to help. I saw him near a part of a park where there is a mini golf course. When I drove back, I immediately spied him, sprawled out right on one of the greens – I thought he was dead. :( I parked on the sidewalk to hopefully attract a cop’s attention, grabbed my phone and headed over to him. The entire area is fenced off, so I couldn’t get too close, but he lifted his head so at least I knew he was still alive. By this time I was on the phone with animal control telling them exactly where I was and to hurry because when he saw me, he sat for a minute, then got up and started limping away from me. I tried to follow as best I could, but I was on one side of the fence with him on the other, and some small hills coming up to block my line of site. I lost him behind the hills, :( and by the time I mustered up enough courage to climb over the fence (in full view of a ton of traffic), I couldn’t see him anymore. As part of the golf course, they have a “natural” area where the weeds are all grown tall. I was hoping once he got to the weeds he would know he was safe and stay there, because on the other side of the weeds was an extremely busy road (Ogden Ave.). I couldn’t see him anywhere, couldn’t see any spot where the weeds might be broken down from him, couldn’t see any sign of him and I didn’t dare try going through the weeds to look for him. :( I climbed back over the fence and kept scanning the area while waiting for animal control to show up. Finally my car did draw attention and a cop stopped. I told him why I was there and what I was doing. He grabbed some gloves out of his car and started looking for him with me. We went up and down and up and down and didn’t see him. I told him how I had climbed the fence to get in and he said that was ok – whew! ;-) We hung around waiting for animal control and finally the cop asked me if I was headed to work and where do I work? I told him and he told me I could go if I wanted and that he would look out for animal control and tell them everything I had said. I really didn’t want to leave, but I was really late for work and I thought he’d handle it. He seemed like a nice guy and seemed to care (and yes, he was nice looking ;) ), so I left. I called animal control back to let them know that if they found him, and he was “salvageable,” I would pay his medical bills if they would not just immediately put him down. The girl said they really don’t have “systems set up for that” but that I could make a donation if I liked. I explained again that I just wanted to see if it was possible to give him a chance rather than just put him down right away. She went on to explain that if they did find him, his chances weren’t good because somebody had reported being bitten by a Rottweiler in the same area, and once they bite somebody… :( I thought to myself, well sure he’s going to bite, he’s injured, and the people in this neighborhood aren’t known for their humane treatment of animals, so what do you expect him to do.

He looked like he was in pretty rough shape – limping so bad his one back leg never touched the ground - looked all scruffy like he had been on the streets for awhile, and I couldn’t really tell, but it looked like he had something sticking out of the left side of his neck, almost like the remains of a leash, but instead of just hanging down like a leash would, this stuck straight out, almost like it was embedded in his neck. :(

So anyway, I left, and I have no idea if they found him or not. If they don’t find him this time, I’m sure they’ll find him soon, or he’ll die amongst the weeds. :(

Out of all the years I’ve been driving through this neighborhood to work, this is the first time something like this has happened, and I’m just devastated I couldn’t do more. More than likely he will die, either on his own or at the hands of animal control. All because some egotistical jerk just had to have a “big mean dog” to make himself look tough, and then couldn’t use the dog anymore so let him go to run the streets and fend for himself. It’s entirely possible the dog lost a dog fight and the so-called owner just let him go because he was of no use to him, although usually they’ll just use a dog like that for bait for other dog fights.

I’m so sad that people are mean enough to treat animals like this, and I’m so sad I couldn’t do more to help him. :(

Omg, that poor dog!:( It will NEVER cease to amaze me how people can treat animals like they do. As for the whole fighting issue dont even get me started.:mad: You shouldn't feel bad. You did all you could!! That's so awesome that you offered to pay the dogs medical bills. You did a LOT more than most people would have done. I feel like crying for the dog and for you feeling so bad. You are a wonderful person for doing what you did. Thank you for being that kind of person.

I'm so glad you tried and went to all the effort that you did, Debbie. I'm just sad for you and for the dog. :( :(

Thank you for caring.

Debbie you did you could - bless you for that.
I have tears in my eyes reading where you offered to pay the medical bills.
You are a wonderful person!
{{hug}}

*HUGS* You did more than anyone else would Debbie. You stopped because you cared. The dog may not realize it, but he is loved by that simple act.

I hope he is found and can be treated and found a loving home.

Did you get the officer's badge number? You might be able to contact him through that and get more info.

You sure did what you could and a lot more than what most people would do. Bless you for that!

Sending good thoughts for the rottie!

Debbie dont feel bad - you did what you could & he (dog) knows your heart was there & there is still hope they found him.. But you know sometimes I dont trust animal control services in some places - seems the lacking of concern..

You did more probably then most people would have done. Thank you for trying!!

Bless you Debbie for at least trying to help the dog. Please don't be hard on yourself, life just isn't fair sometimes. Hopefully they got the dog off the street. You might try calling the police or animal control for an update.

Things like that just break my heart into bits. You did as much as you could do. It's not fair to people like us to feel the burden of all the inhuman idiots that are in this world. The poor animals have no choice. I wish it were the old west days because I'd be shooting dog fighters down every day. In a way, I hope the dog dies peacefully in the weeds. At least he wouldn't know the horror of animal control and then he could be at the RB and be happy.

(((((HUGS))))) I know how it feels to have done all I could and not knowing if it was enough:(

You are such a kind person to be late for work for a dog..Not many people (besides PT'ers) would do that. Prayers are on the way for this rottie. I hope that he ends up okay and finds a wonderful and loving family.

Steph and Jes

Thanks everybody. The really sad part for me is that I know that even though I don't see it everyday, I know this kind of thing goes on everyday, here and everywhere. Usually we "know" this, but we don't really think about it because it's not right in our face. Today brought it right into my face again, and it just makes me so sad. :(

This did prompt me to look more into Chicago's Animal Control and I found their website http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/w...ameEnumValue=2

I'm afraid to call animal control back.....basically because I know I won't be happy with the outcome, whether or not they found him, alive or dead, because deep down I know he doesn't have a chance. :(

Jadapit - I feel like crying for him too. I'm sure he did nothing to deserve this and it's just life's cruel fate that put him in the hands of some inconsiderate person rather than a loving, caring home. :(

Freckles - I didn't even think of getting the officer's badge number! Doh!

lvpets2002 - The officer mentioned that Animal Control is in bad need of an overhaul because some of the people there just don't care - whether from burnout or whatever - and he said basically whether the dog is helped or euthanized depends on the person that comes out and finds him. Some care and will do what they can, others just don't care. :( I was skeptical of calling them, but I didn't know who else to call, and I didn't want him falling into the hands of someone who would abuse him more than he already has been, and I didn't want him wandering onto a busy street where some uncaring person would run him over once and for all. :( Had I had the facilities myself, and been able to catch him, he would have been home with me in an instant. Hmmm....maybe I need to spend more time on "the Dog Side" to expand my contacts for just such occassions. ;)

DDM - I think you're right about him dieing peacefully in the weeds so he doesn't know the horror of animal control. I like to think they would treat him good, but I know chances are at best 50/50 that he wouldn't be, so I'm with you. If he dies peacefully in the weeds, no one will ever know and he will be free and not in pain anymore, and will have wide open fields to romp in with happy kids to play with instead of city streets filled with mean people. :(

Thanks so much, everyone, for the kind words and hugs. The hugs are greatly needed as I'm still as upset about this as I was this morning. I'm almost afraid to go home because I go the same way, and I don't want to see him again.

One thing I forgot in the original story. As I was starting to leave, the officer asked me if they found him, if I wanted him. I wanted so bad to say yes, because I knew that would make him and animal control try a little harder to find him, but I had to say no. :( There is no way I could bring a dog home and it just breaks my heart because I felt like I let him down.

Poor guy. :(

You did not let the poor boy down. You did everything right. And no matter what happens now, because you cared enough to not only call but to stay and make sure someone followed through on finding the poor hurt baby, he will be better off than he was. So many people would have just kept driving. Thanks for caring. {{{Big Hugs}}} for you. I hope things work out for him.