It been a while since I visited but I need some advice here-

[SueS]

I have two bassetts, loves of my life. Hub and I picked up a stray Sunday, was wondering lost around a flea market. 1/2 chow and 1/2 lab mixed, or at least thats my guess. Awesome dog, about 6 months old. Has hair not fur. I washed him, picked off about a dozen ticks,fixed his sores, killed the fleas, fed him and he is sooooooo loving. Loves our dogs and kids. Had never been in a bathtub or a house. To make a long story short. I ran a lost ad. He ran away Monday, we got him back. Ran away Tue morning, we got him back. Came home yesterday and he was gone. After hours of searching, at last he was at the pound. It was closed but we saw him. I felt sad but relieved, at least he wouldnt be on the street. NO calls so far. Im torn, I would love to have him but I can't handle him running everday, getting out of the yard and ending up in the pound. I have been there before with another dog and the neighbors complained, we had to give him away. It was hell everyday wondering if he would be in the yard or not. The guilt is killing me. I feel terrible for bringing him home and then he ends up in the puppy prison. THey will keep him 7 days only. I dont know what to do, I haven't the money for training or an invisible fence. I would love to keep him, he is beautiful but the thought brings up past nightmares. What would you do? Any advice? He is so sweet but seems so lost and sad, like he is looking for his home and can't find it. Im heartbroken at the thought he will end up put to sleep but I can't pay to get him out only to bring him home and he runs again. Sorry so long, I just feel so sad.

[davet]

are there no "n o kill" shelters within 100 miles of you..specify that they not euthanize him at the end of 7 days and try calling other shelters....this is an age old problem ==toomany dogs not enough homes....but keep tryingfor any other places....good luck

[JMM]

Crate him in the house when you are not home. Walk him on a leash and be out in the yard with him to play. Many of us without fenced yards exercise our dogs outside every day. You just have to supervise.

[Traci]

Tough situation, Sue, how does your husband feel, does he want another dog and/or is willing to set up even an outdoor kennel for him?

Your description sounds like the dog could very well be looking for his owner, hence the running away at every available opportunity. Besides the ticks and fleas, was there any other evidence this dog was on the streets for too long? (torn or excessively dirty nails and pads, poor coat/skin condition, poor body condition/weight, did he seem starving when you fed him?) ...If he was in really good shape, chances are, he escaped from his owner just recently...or if he was in real bad shape, you might surmise the owner wasn't too concerned or had problems with the escaping before and just never did anything about it.

I guess if this were me and in a position to care for another dog, I would consider my options, mostly being 1) availability to set up a kennel outside and/or crate inside as JMM suggests, and 2) availability of funds to cover vet expenses (you'd want to test him for parvo, especially since he's been in a shelter environment, maybe test for tick diseases as well, etc)

[sue]

Thanks for all your imput. I emailed several no-kill shelters in the area and hope to get a call today or tomorrow. Hub is not willing to put up with a runner again, his heart was broke as well last time we had one that ran and we had to give up. Really don't have funds for a kennel and we both work long hours so I don't know about crating him all day. I feel guilty but hate to bring him home and not have the time or energy to put into breaking him of running, it wouldn't fair to him. Its not time Im not willing to spend, its time I don't have to spend.
In answer to your questions, he seemed in fairly good condition and was eating(tried to steal some food from a picnic table while we were at the market). Hes wasn't acting starving but he ate real well at my house. His feet and coat were in good shape. I do believe he hadn't been running for to long. He would definetly need a vet check for worms, heart worms, parvo and he is an extremely fast and heavy breather.(was thinking he was hot in my house with all that hair).
On Monday when I found him he was curled up on someones porch just laying there. A little boy about 9 said he just followed him home. So I believe he was raised around children, he seems to take to them so well.
Interestingly enough there was an ad in the paper for a free dog, fitting his description to a "T", with a number from the same area where we picked him up. Both of us have tried to call and get no answer. We wondered if possibly someone was trying to give him away.
Will keep you all posted. Its a hard decision all the way around. Hub called last night (away from home for work) and he is worried about him too, he feels bad but is not confident about having a dog he has to worry about. He worries too how it would affect my son if the dog ended up leaving, on his own or to someone else.