Update on the Lake Puppies

[Bennalaya]

I mentioned this situation briefly in the Craigslist thread:

http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/385069-post229.html

I wanted to create a separate thread to update everyone on the situation so that I didn't clog up the ad postings.

Anyway, my sister and I went down to the beach area at the lake near our home where a box filled with puppies was supposedly crammed underneath the fishing dock. After Labor Day they drain the lake, so all of the docks are sitting on the ground and apparently the two men who ditched these puppies tucked the box up underneath one of the docks in a secluded area of the lake.

I was thrilled to see that about eight or nine other people who had seen the ad on Craigslist responded and had come out there to try and help. Plus, while we were searching it drew in quite the crowd and more people began to help.

There were four puppies. They looked like little Rottweiler mix puppies about ten weeks of age. We tried in vain for about two hours to rustle the puppies out from under the dock, but because it was sitting on the ground (when the lake is full it sits on buoys and floats) there was only about a 12" clearing between the iron base support beams and the ground. None of us were small enough to actually crawl up under the dock.

Eventually, one of the more adventurous puppies came running out from underneath the dock and took off through a very overgrown spot. A few of us tried to run around and cut him off at the pass, but he flew across a drained part of the lake, but it was a sink hole that the puppy barely made it across. None of us would have made it.

We tried treats, coaxing, sitting very still. Nothing worked. After about two hours of one group of people trying to coax the three puppies out from underneath the dock and another group of us trying to corner the lone puppy running through the woods, my sister decided we should go to her vet clinic and get the restraint pole. We thought even though none of us could get up underneath the dock, we might be able to stick the loop under the dock and lasso a puppy.

By the time we got back, everyone else had left. But one man that was there had left out a big pan of dog food and a big pan of fresh water by the dock. When my sister tried to catch one of the puppies with the pole, they ran deeper back underneath the dock into the weeds where we couldn't see them. Without any help, we knew we couldn't get them.

The good news is that I am in touch with everyone who was there today as well as the lady who originally posted the ad on Craigslist alerting people to the situation (she lives quite a distance from here and was at the beach for a family reunion last night when she saw the men leave the puppies). We've all agreed to keep in touch and update one another if someone goes back down there and catches one or more of them or if they want to coordinate another group rescue attempt.

Since I live less than a mile from there, I'm going back tomorrow to see if maybe with less commotion I can at least get the little adventurous one to come to me. I'll let you all know how that goes.

It just tears me up how people can be so cruel and irresponsible. The location where they placed these puppies it's obvious the owners intended for them to die rather than be found.

[RainKindle]

Thank you for the update. How old do you think they are?
Edit---I just reread, 10 weeks, sorry

[Janelle]

Thanks for the update! Poor little things. Good luck catching them!

[gooberific]

Has anyone tried calling the news channel or the fire department? I don't know how urban or rural your area is, but a lot of times something like that would attract a news crew who might have access to something to help lift the dock, or can at least call someone who can help in that regards.

I hope they get out safely and quickly.

[Bennalaya]

Originally Posted by gooberific

Has anyone tried calling the news channel or the fire department?

It's funny you mentioned that. As a matter of fact, my sister is friends with a man who runs the blog for one of our local news channels. He said he was going to see if he could get story up about this. The fire department would come out if the puppies were actually stuck, but since they are mobile and able to get out from under the dock (they just choose not to) there isn't much they can do except call Animal Control.

[gooberific]

That is just so sad. Did the lady who saw them get "dropped off" have any description of the men or the vehicle? I don't know how strict the laws are there, but here Sheriff Joe would throw those guys in jail for animal abuse/neglect!

[Bennalaya]

Alright, I have gone out there the past two days. Today my sister and husband went with me and we took a couple of leashes and a large dog crate down there in hopes of luring them over to us. Two of them came out from under the dock to retrieve some dog food we were throwing on the ground. The other two stayed under the dock with their heads sunk down really low growling at us.

One of the puppies got close enough to my sister to where she could scruff it. Man alive! That puppy went insane. I tried to slip the leash on it, but it was flailing and snapping. It managed to wiggle its way out of my sister's grasp and put a pretty nasty bite on her hand, meanwhile its sibling is trying to attack us. The other two stayed under the dock and barked. Suffice it to say, after that they wouldn't come back out.

It just makes me so angry. These dogs display the typical signs of animals that have been abused. Someone obviously beat them or manhandled them in some way to make them that aggressive and afraid. When I went to reach my hand out to pet one that got close to me it snapped at me and wet all over itself. I just wish I knew who did this so that I could report them to the police. We do have an animal abandonment law which is punishable by up to a year in prison and subjection to psychological evaluation. The woman didn't get a clear view of the men or a license plate number. She simply said it was two men in a dark colored pick up truck. It was dark outside and this area of the lake is rather poorly lit and secluded.

I feel so helpless. They're big enough to where they can really do damage when they bite. What's even worse is that the jerks who abandoned them left collars on them, which worries me to death. What happens if they get snagged on something underneath the dock or when they grow too big for them? I don't know what to do at this point. I don't have the sort of equipment or traps or anything of that nature to where I could catch them without hurting them or myself. The Humane Society won't come out. I've been advised to contact Animal Control. I hate that, though, because if they're aggressive I'm almost certain what their fate will be.

It's such a catch 22 and at this point I am so stressed over the entire situation.

[dra&pigs]

Have you tried the super-unhealthy, unadvisable, fat-filled dog treats? They don't sound very good, but we taught our dog to come that way. They are very alluring-they might work. Just an idea...

[Bennalaya]

Originally Posted by dra&pigs

Have you tried the super-unhealthy, unadvisable, fat-filled dog treats? They don't sound very good, but we taught our dog to come that way. They are very alluring-they might work. Just an idea...

We've tried everything. We tried "Scooby Snacks", ham, chicken pieces. They will come out for the food, but as soon as they see us or we reach toward them they snarl at us and run off. They're very skittish and act aggressive when approached.

[AnimalHouse36]

Originally Posted by Bennalaya

We've tried everything. We tried "Scooby Snacks", ham, chicken pieces. They will come out for the food, but as soon as they see us or we reach toward them they snarl at us and run off. They're very skittish and act aggressive when approached.

What about live traps? You could set some up with some food and checkk everyday.

[krittercrazy]

It is great of you to keep trying to catch these puppies and help them. Definately try a live trap. See if your local animal shelter or even animal control will lend or rent you one. It is terrible that at such a young age they are so terrified of humans.
I do think that it is even more important that they are caught now. With your sister having been bit, they should be where they can be watched in case of the rare chance that they have been exposed to rabies.
The most likely case is that they have been abused and neglected. I hope you are able to catch and help them. Are the other folks that were trying to help, able/qualified to help if the pups are caught? Maybe a local rescue could help?

[Bennalaya]

As much as it pains me to say this, our county's Humane Society is not very helpful in these types of situations. I'm going to contact animal control tomorrow and see about borrowing a live trap. I've done that before when we had coyotes at a barn I boarded my horse at. Of course, all I caught was the barn kitty. I may set the trap and come back the next day to find ducks in there. At least it would be worth a shot.

The longer they're under there the more dangerous the situation becomes and I've pretty much exhausted all of my other options. Even with a group of people I don't think we would be able to handle them. Everyone would have to be wearing padded arm and leg protection. My sister says judging by the bite wound she got that they're older than she initially estimated, because they appear to no longer have their milk teeth. And I'm afraid to use any sort of a slip type leash because the way that one flailed itself about when restrained I'd be afraid it would choke itself or crush its trachea.

It is sad that they are so human aggressive. Puppies are usually incredibly naive, trusting and playful. These guys are scared and, honestly, downright mean. It really breaks my heart because puppies are not born that way. It really makes me angry to know that whatever they have been through has traumatized them so and all they know is to be afraid of people.

I sat in the mud for over an hour this afternoon, very still, tossing food on the ground trying to get them to trust me. They'd get about a foot away from me, growl and run off.

[Bennalaya]

I called animal control today and spoke with a very nice man at the dispatch office. He told me that this was a case in progress, that two other people had gone to try and rescue the puppies and were bitten pretty badly. They sent an officer out late yesterday afternoon and he was bitten as well, so they went out this morning to set live traps. Everyone who has been bitten is on alert and hopefully they will keep checking in with animal control. If the dogs have rabies (which the dispatcher said is highly unlikely) obviously those bitten will need immediate treatment.

He also informed me that they have an officer working with the lady who witnessed the dump in hopes of getting as much information as possible which will hopefully lead to an arrest. Now that people have been bitten it elevates the status of the crime, according to Georgia's abandonment laws.

Everyone did their best. I wish the situation had been a bit different. When I first read about the puppies, I was thinking very young puppies. None of us were really equipped to deal with aggressive dogs. This past summer I had to get under my neighbor's porch to rescue a litter of feral kittens that had been abandoned by their mother. Honestly, that wasn't as much of an undertaking as this has been.

My hope now is that they are rescued and hopefully can be rehabilitated and they will be able to place them. If they were full-grown I'm almost certain they would be euthanized, but since puppies are very adoptable I'm hoping they will go to good homes. They just need some time and attention that they have lacked up until this point.

I'm going to be in touch with Animal Control and continue to inquire about the status of this case.

[AnimalHouse36]

Keep us updated.

[Bennalaya]

I went to the beach this afternoon. I didn't see any traps around, but the puppies and their food dish were gone. I'm going to call Animal Control tomorrow and see if they were able to catch all of them.

[suzilovespiggie]

Kudos for all you tried to do, and never giving up.