Need help with possible foster home

[AdoreMyDogs]

Hi everyone. As many of you know, I moved from Michigan to Texas not too long ago. We rent a house in a neighborhood that's not the greatest, and there's this neighbor right across the street from me that has a pit mix who has a litter of puppies, about 5 or more cats, and the homeowners are former drug abusers and dealers. The owners of the dog have no electricity or water. They are BAD NEWS and I don't think that theres' any negotating with them at all.

Anyway, here's my dillema. They have this pit mix who has had a litter of puppies. They have no fenced in yard, in fact, they don't even have a front door, so the mom dog (who I have appropiately named Jolly) and all her puppies roam the neighborhood. I can call the animal control or the humane society, but it's almost a guarantee that mom dog will be euthanized due to her being a pit mix. She's a VERY young (prob no more then 10 months old) and sweet, friendly dog....she's good with cats, other dogs, she's good with kids (from what i've seen) and she's got a great temperment. She has mange of some sort, because her hair is missing in large patches and im sure it's from fleas because she's infested with them. She also most likely has worms or giardia because she has loose stools all the time. She also isn't spayed, obviously since she's got a litter of pups.

Whenever I take my dogs for a walk, she comes with. She stayes with me and the dogs, even though she's not on a leash. She listens really well, when I turn a corner and she's not paying attention, all I do is let out a little whistle and she turns and comes to where I am. When she strayed too far in front of me on walks, all I do is tell her to come here and she listens...she turns around and comes to me and remains closer to the dogs and I. When there's another person walking their dog and she wants to visit, I tell her no when she starts to walk towards the other person, and she listens to me and continues to follow me. She's a REALLY good dog, will make an amazing pet for someone but I can't have her for two reasons:

1) her owners may do property damage if I take her, or they may steal her back once I get her vet care.

2) I really don't want 3 dogs. And even if we were to get a third dog, I really want either a GSD or a golden...so not that I don't love Jolly, but I really don't want her and I don't have the finances for a dog who will most likely need worming, need all her vacs, need heartworm test and preventative, and flea preventative.

What I want to do is take a walk with my dogs and get Jolly to follow me (which she automatically will if she happens to be home) , have my fiance or one of his family members meet me and pick her up. But we will have no place to take her once we get her. Is there anything we can do to get her out of that hell-hole she now lives in, and into the wonderful home she deserves? Is there anyone in TX who would be willing to foster? I'd be willing to drive her to a new home, but I'd need to make sure someone would be able to take her in. I can donate some heartworm meds and some flea meds (at least enough for a month) but as of now, I'm still unemployeed so we're completely broke. I can't afford to get her all the vet care she'll need. Is there anyone who might be able to help in any way? This is an adorable little girl (she's probablly 30-35 lbs...nice lap size) and she's got a Jolly temperment

Please send me a personal msg or email if you can help or have any ideas. I want to act rather quick because if anyone else calls animal control on Jolly, she'll most likely be put to sleep since she's a pit mix. I'll see if I can get a pic of her today. Any advice or help is appreciated by me and my new friend Jolly.

Thanks,

Leslie

[Kfamr]

I wish you luck, Leslie!

What about her puppies, would you be able to catch them??

[Karen]

Have you sent Aly a PM? She might know someone who could foster Jolly. How old are the pups? Are they old enough to be away from mom, or do they follow when she goes on walks with you?

She sounds like a great dog in a bad spot. Are you sure your city has a "euthanize first, ask later" policy on Pitties? Does she look very obviously pit, or might you be able to say "She's a terrier mix, or she's a Lab mix," or whatever else is apparent in her genetic make-up?

[finn's mom]

Wow, good luck! That's a crazy situation. Even if I was in Texas still, I don't know that I'd be able to help. She sounds like a great dog, though....

[AdoreMyDogs]

Well I just took all 3 dogs for a walk again. Jolly went with us again. I hate that she's exposing my dogs to whatever she has, but I don't want to break her trust in my by running her off, so I just hope that whatever i'm giving my dogs as a preventative, will be enough to keep them safe from her bugs.

She and 2 of her puppies tried to follow me on my walk today. Last thing I need is 3 loose dogs following my two dogs, so I asked the owners to hold back the pups...they happened to be on the front porch. They don't care that Jolly follows me...they are fools to be so slack with thier dogs and cats.

Jolly's pups are about 7 weeks old. They're old enough to go from mom, and I could catch them, but they rarely leave the front yard. Today two ran across the street (non busy side street thank goodness) to follow Jolly, who was coming over to visit.

I really think she may be pure pit bull. Her size isn't very big, but I can't see any other breed in her. I have asked my fiance's mom, who does a bunch of rescue for northern TX and southern OK and she said the humane society and animal shelters here will euthanize. They have breed bans here, and if you own a pit bull, you need to keep it on a leash at all times, and provide proof of rabies if animal control ever wishes to drop a surprise visit...and I have heard that they'll take your pit or pit mix and impound it if you don't have the rabies certificate...they only give you a short time to get the certificate or else they euthanize the dog.

Jolly is a good dog in hell-hole of a house. The owners are always yelling at each other and she gets really scared when they start yelling...that's the first time I remember her coming over for a visit...when her owners were screaming at each other. It makes me crazy mad that anyone can be so irresponsible with their pets. Not only are they not taking care of Jolly, but it's likely that she's spreading giardia or whatever parasites she may have into the neighborhood. I've seen one of their cats pooping loose stools in my front yard, and Jolly's also pooped in my front yard...the cats are always going into my backyard and drinking out of Graham and Kersey's water dishes. If the cats have giardia and poop in my backyard, Kersey eats cat poop....so I'll have to get my dogs dewormed because of those morons.

It steams me up. I'll send a PM to Aly. Thanks for any suggestions. I really want to get Jolly out of that horrible place, I really wish it wouldn't result in her spreading diseases to my pets and/or the neighbors destroying my property, slashing our car tires, poisoning my dogs...all these things that an angry, horrible person might think to do if they were wanting revenge. I have to really be careful with how this is handled because of their history.

[jesse_3]

Unfortinately, all I have to give is a good luck, and praying to God for help. God Bless you for what you are doing for Jolly

[Cinder & Smoke]

Oh, MY!

But four YOUR Safety, and the Safety of your FurKids ~
you really need to *think* this over before you do anything!

Originally posted by AdoreMyDogs

... neighbor right across the street from me that has a pit mix
who has a litter of puppies, about 5 or more cats, and
the homeowners are former drug abusers and dealers.

The owners of the dog have no electricity or water. ...
... they don't even have a front door ...
They are BAD NEWS and I don't think that theres' any
negotating with them at all.

It's possible "Jolly" is pruducing pups FOR SALE - and if YOU
interfere with the "income stream" - you might be in for a "ruff time"!

Before you worry about the DOGS - you might try to "eliminate"
the REAL Problem - the 2-Leggers!

If you're *sure* about the
* no electricity
* no water
* no front door ...

You ought to have a talk with >>>
1) the local Health Dept
2) the local Building Inspection Dept
3) Children's Services (if the have any Kids)

Around here - those conditions would earn you a "Condemned" sign
on the building and NO one could occupy it.

They have breed bans here, and if you own a pit bull,
you need to keep it on a leash at all times, and
provide proof of rabies if animal control ever wishes
to drop a surprise visit...
and I have heard that they'll take your pit or pit mix and
impound it if you don't have the rabies certificate...
they only give you a short time to get the certificate
or else they euthanize the dog.

I'd have a chat with the Dog Warden or Animal Control ...
Tell them what you know -
and ask if they'll play "Let's Make a Deal" with you:
* Let THEM go get the dogs (for no Rabies & no Licenses)
* Let THEM tell the owners what they have to do to get them back
* and when the "owners" don't pay up and get the required shots
* be sure Animal Control will Call YOU to bail them out (Legally)

You'll need to be sure you can afford the "fines" and/or "adoption fees"
that the Animal Control will probably have to charge you -
but who knows - they might mis-count the pups.

Can Fiance's MOM help by finding a Rescue that will take them in?
No matter what - I would NOT bring "Jolly" and/or her Pups back
to YOUR House - the "neighbors" prolly won't take that very well!

Good Luck -
but *think* about YOUR (and your FurKids') Safety before you act!

/s/ Phred

[Cincy'sMom]

What a horrible situation, Leslie!! Jolly sounds like the perfect pet, in such a horrible place!!

I admire what you are trying to do for her, but please be careful!!

Good luck!!

[AdoreMyDogs]

Originally posted by Cinder & Smoke


Oh, MY!

But four YOUR Safety, and the Safety of your FurKids ~
you really need to *think* this over before you do anything!

You'll need to be sure you can afford the "fines" and/or "adoption fees"
that the Animal Control will probably have to charge you -
but who knows - they might mis-count the pups.

Good Luck -
but *think* about YOUR (and your FurKids') Safety before you act!

/s/ Phred

Yes I won't take Jolly into my home because of the diseases she may have. I won't risk getting my dogs and cats exposed. She really needs a place where she can get healthy away from other pets. That's where my main problem is...I could find several of Ricky's family members who could take in a dog in need, but not one with possible parasites.

I don't know, maybe I should just let sleeping dogs lay. I know she needs a new home, but maybe I should just keep out of the rehoming of her to avoid the stress and financial burden that it'll cause. It's hard to ignore it though, I get more and more attached to Jolly the more she comes to visit. I almost wish she was timid and didn't want to visit me, so I wouldn't feel like I needed to get involved.

[lizbud]

Gosh, I think this would almost take someone with a heart of
stone to just abandon this sweet dog to her fate with these
idiots. And what about her pups? While I don't think you need
to necessarily take her into your house, it would be terrific if you
could round up some other people to help spirit her out of there.
I does sound like she would need to be fostered before being
rehomed. If you were able to get help from some other people,
it could work. I wouldn't try to do all this yourself. I'm sorry you
have to live were you must see, first hand, her hellish living
conditions. I do wish you the very best of luck getting her out
of that situation.

[AdoreMyDogs]

Friends of ours, who live two houses down, are calling animal control on Jolly. Aly, if you read this and you have any ideas please call my cell if you're able to. I PM'd you my cell #.

[Kfamr]

Is there any way you can talk them out of it for the time being?

[Kfamr]

Leslie, is there any news on Jolly and her pups?

[AdoreMyDogs]

No. The owners are complete idiots though. I heard this noise outside and I opened my door to see what it was and one of her puppies is dragging this enormous cowbell that's tied around its neck. Honestly the people have no clue. What on earth made them think they need to strap a cowbell that's big and heavy enough for a COW around that tiny puppies neck, is beyond me. The pups are maybe 7-8 pounds, they're rather small, and this cowbell drags on the ground it's so big. Messing with them may really hurt us...they are very bad news people. They've broken into houses in the neighborhood, they've been arrested for cooking meth, the guy next door to me just had his dog stolen a couple days ago, the idiots who own Jolly could really make our life hell. I just don't know what to do. I've not heard from Aly, I've started trying to find other places taht might take her in. I just want to get Jolly out of there, at least her, her puppies woudl be a bonus, but I have a soft spot for Jolly. I'll let you know if anything happens, but thus far it's not looking good

[aly]

Hi Leslie,

I just read your PM's. I am SO sorry that I didn't respond sooner. I've been staying with my parents and only checked PT from their computer a few times (and PM notification didn't pop up).

There is a Pit rescue here in Austin that I could probably get Jolly and puppies into. I'd be willing to take care of Jolly's medical expenses since I get a major discount at work.

I want you to be safe though. I don't know what those people will do if all of their dogs disappear? At the same time, those dogs really need to be out of there. What a difficult situation

I'm totally willing to help though. I can't call now since it is so late, but I will PM you with my cell number too. Or you can always email me [email protected]