Just found a neglected dog left in the cold to die.

**scottish steve** · 02-16-2012, 03:23 AM

My flatmate and I have just come back from the fruit/meat market down the street and passed a puppy wrapped in a sweater next to a plastic bag of food. We took about 10s to realise he was going to die if we didn't do something, so he's now in our lounge, on a sofa, still in the sweater, with the heat turned up and a bowl of water, a bowl of sweet milky tea and a very small bowl of cooked bacon. He is entirely lethargic and has been starved to skin & bone, but his coat seems fine and he was (sickeningly) washed in some sort of nice shampoo and put out in a laundered sweater, I assume to increase his chances of getting picked up by someone who still has an oz of humanity in them.
We have not made a fuss of him, simply put him somewhere soft and warm and left him alone to eat/drink when he wants to- a couple of soothing words is all and no music or tv on. He is very quiet and watching me all the time. I assume he'll have something when we leave the room. But I need the advice of all you lovely dog-people. There will be somebody in the flat at all times till the 22nd, at which time it really won't be ideal to keep him, but with several hundred children in my school I'm hopeful we can find him a new home before then. What I need to know is where to go from here. There are obviously no Animal Welfare charities in Suzhou. Are there any counter-intuitive measures I should take to ensure his welfare?
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Steve

**Legion** · 02-16-2012, 03:57 AM

Man, that's a tough one. It's not like you can keep him, being a visitor who will be going home one day. Give him food and water, but get him a new home AS SOON as possible, to make the transition easier.

Put his bed in a different room to some news paper, and good luck. They are full time jobs when they are little.

**jwcarlson** · 02-16-2012, 05:23 AM

Are there any vets around? That would be the first place I took him if he survives the night.

Otherwise cooked ground meat and cooked rice is a pretty good food for a dog who hasn't eaten (give him something too rich and he'll get sick). Put him somewhere you don't mind him using the bathroom on/in because if/when he comes around he's going to start going all over.

I don't know that I would give him tea, I'd probably stick to straight water.

**turtle** · 02-16-2012, 05:33 AM

It all depends on the age of the pup.

If you can't determine what age it is, then you should consult someone who can.

There are set time blocks in a pups development that must be fulfilled (pack/animal socialization period, human socialization period). If these windows are missed you will never have a good pet no matter how much attention you pile on.

This is kind of dry reading but it will tell you all you need to know.

http://users.skynet.be/fa242124/a-english/puppy.html

**SalvadorMontenegro** · 02-16-2012, 06:47 AM

I was in this situation several years ago. I found a dog on the street in Queens, NY.

I took the dog back to my apartment, fed it and then called up a veterinarians' office. My apartment building was not pet friendly, so I didn't really know what else to do. I took the dog to the vet and they agreed to keep it with them. The next day, I put up flyers all over the neighborhood. A couple of days later, a woman called me and correctly identified the dog (I hadn't described the dog in the flyer, because anybody could want a free dog. I made sure that the caller would have to adequately describe it).

I would recommend a similar course of action. You don't know for certain the owner doesn't want the dog back. If you don't get any calls, then you can try and find a new home for it.

**AndyPrice44** · 02-16-2012, 06:59 AM

Thats a sad situation. I can't really give any advice now that I see you are in china. I was going to say contact the humane society but, I don't think those exist in china. I really hope you get it worked out and the pup is safe..

Andy

**Vickers** · 02-16-2012, 07:05 AM

The dog in my avatar walked up to my wife in a parking lot around 5 years ago. He was a little beat up (hit by car? fighting with other animals?) but seemed friendly. Turns out he is a Toy Fox Terrier, and he's a super-cool dog. He's snoring next to me right now (along with another throwaway dog).

Good on you for doing the right thing. I hope he finds a good home soon!

**plpenn** · 02-16-2012, 07:11 AM

I would turn on the tv or radio low to something soft. Tea may not be the best idea but rice and ground meat would be good. Try to keep it warm and I would hold him and maybe even give a little belly rub if it does not make him angry. The more comfortable he is the better he will respond.

**ouch** · 02-16-2012, 07:20 AM

Good luck. I wish you could keep him.

**scottish steve** · 02-16-2012, 07:54 AM

I knew I could count on you guys. Politics eternally divides, but I don't think there's a single one of us who doesn't deplore animal cruelty. It's late here right now, but I'll consult the advice in-depth tomorrow and my flatmate will check on him in the morning. I'm trying not to overwhelm the dog, but am giving him re-assuring tones and the odd pet. He's eaten 3 small pieces of pork and a little bit of the tea. My flatmate had the good idea of gently placing a tiny piece of salty tuna under his gumline to get his digestion started again and I think it might be working, but I expect progress to be slow. He looks traumatised and quite aware that he has been abandoned- I have no desire to get him back to his abusers, but I've texted several local people who can speak English and will ask my Principal to do an email shot tomorrow.
My sister is a veterinary nurse and her husband a small-animal veterinary surgeon. Thankfully, my dad called tonight so I should get some help from home soon too. I'll keep you posted. My flatmate feels it's entirely possible he might pass away, he's so starved, but I think we've caught him early enough. If he'd been left out in the cold tonight, I would not have fancied his chances.
When he gets stronger I'll take a picture, but right now it seems to callous to do so.

**professorchaos** · 02-16-2012, 08:55 AM

People who mistreat animals deserve a cruel, cruel fate. Let's hope the little fella makes it - thanks to your kindness - and lives a long, happy life.

**scottish steve** · 02-17-2012, 03:54 AM

We've tried everything we can to get this dog to eat and it simply refuses. It's had 3 very small pieces of bacon in 24hrs and about 20ml of water. It's also not moved from it's place on the sofa or said a word. The Headmaser of the Primary School sent round an email to all parents asking if they wanted to adopt him and someone did come along, but when they found out what condition he was in, they declined. This is perfectly understandable when your only child is 5. I honestly can't see him pulling through. Quite frankly I'm very reluctant to take him to a Chinese vet as I'm convinced he'll either stick a needle in him or cost us a month's salary in treatment. It's a big problem.
After letting him acclimatise for 24 hours I decided to make an issue out of his not eating and tried (gently) to force it down his throat. Without physically harming him it's not going to happen, but at least he showed a tiny bit of spirit by baring his teeth a little at me. I don't know what to do. He honestly seems to have lost the will to live

**nosedog** · 02-17-2012, 04:45 AM

Very sad, but maybe the best thing is to have a vet put him out of his misery. Or at least give a vet the chance to form an opinion on that. Much as we may not like it, dogs are put down all the time, whether through old age, sickness, or even just outstripping the resources of the dog pound to keep them. It would be great if he recovers and lives a happy and healthy life. But maybe a vet would identify his condition as too far gone.

I recognise the dilemma in consulting a Chinese vet though. You won't be confident that the vet will apply the degree of compassion you want. Quite the quandry.

Regarding the refusal to eat, how would that be treated in a human? With intravenous liquids, I imagine.

**TonyH** · 02-17-2012, 04:54 AM

Part of the issue may be simple exhaustion. Maybe after a bit of rest, he'll take a little to eat. It's hard to say, but it's just a thought.

**jwcarlson** · 02-17-2012, 07:25 AM

Originally Posted by jwcarlson

Are there any vets around? That would be the first place I took him if he survives the night.

Otherwise cooked ground meat and cooked rice is a pretty good food for a dog who hasn't eaten (give him something too rich and he'll get sick). Put him somewhere you don't mind him using the bathroom on/in because if/when he comes around he's going to start going all over.

I don't know that I would give him tea, I'd probably stick to straight water.

Originally Posted by Blue Raccoon

if you can get a jar of baby food I would try that.
he's probably scared craple$$ being his first time indoors.
a few hours on someones lap wouldn't hurt.
maybe on the floor would be better.. maybe he has never been up off the floor and doesn't know about it.
cooked and drained burger with maybe a little rice added. never pork!
go with regular straight water, tea will just dehydrate him. Pedialyte would be even better.
when he's left alone turn on a radio to soft music.

Thank you :)

It may be adventageous to get him to trust you a bit. There may be a reason he doesn't want to eat. Have you tried soft dog food? And just how young is this puppy? He's not young enough to still be nursing is he?
Soft dog food usually entices a dog to eat, plus it has lots of water in it... two birds with one stone.

**legrandfromage** · 02-17-2012, 07:49 AM

If you think that the pup is young enough to still be nursing or just older, try putting a warm water bag next to him and a ticking clock somewhere in proximity. The contact warmth, besides feeling good, will make him feel like mom is still there; the ticking is a reminder of mom's heart beat. Good luck.

**Obiwan** · 02-17-2012, 07:53 AM

I'd also consider trying Peanut Butter. You can put it in his mouth gently and it will force him to lick it up. That might get things rolling.

Good luck!

**tchudson** · 02-17-2012, 08:09 AM

Good luck to you and so glad to hear he is safe and warm and will (I'm sure) have a good home soon. We have a truly wonderful dog that was abandoned on a roadside when she was three or four months old. We got her from a rescue when she was about six months. She is a bird dog - I've read stories where people raising hunting dogs will sometimes abandon pups that don't show an affinity for hunting and they can't find a home for. This is what we think happened to her.

**dpmtherrien** · 02-17-2012, 02:00 PM

You sir are to be commended on your kindness and concern for something that has a life of its own.

I'd go the call a vet route, any vet. And I hope things work out for the best.

**Legion** · 02-17-2012, 02:49 PM

Stop trying to feed it pork and bacon. Start with things it can lick (like peanut butter as someone said above) then get him a small tin of puppy food and put it in a bowl where he can smell it. Hopefully after sniffing it for a little while he'll slowly try some. Don't put too much out, in case he gets the idea to eat too much in one go.

You can also buy non lactose puppy milk formula. You could try some of that.

He is drinking water I hope? If he is not drinking that is more serious and he needs to go to a vet now.