Seeking advice from experienced owners!!
If this post isn’t allowed admin please remove. I am just unfamiliar with this breed and trying to do research as well as talk to people that know the breed. I found this dog and I think he is very neglected if not abused. I can’t figure out how to add photos. I am in the US btw.
He got out on a busy road and I picked him up. He was caked in his own feces and matted down to his skin. I had to take him to a groomer to have him shaved because his condition was so bad. When I originally scanned for a chip he didn’t have one. So I tried agai after shaving him and it came right up. So he was so matted the chip wouldn’t scan. The groomer also said all his hair came off in one big piece like a sheep because it was so bad and caked on sand and dirt. She had to bathe him 3 times after I already did twice. He did have a collar on but the number is out of service.
Then last night I see a post of someone saying their dog got out and it looks very much like him, mats and all. The time they said he got out is right around the time I found him. But they didn’t post to look for him until more than 24 hours after I found him. And after looking at their page he’s gotten out two times previously as well. In none of the posts do they even mention his name or say they miss him. They didn’t even say where he got out until someone had to ask in the comments. It seems very clear they don’t care about this dog. Everything I’ve read about this breed says they are the most loyal and intelligent dogs you could get. They need constant enrichment and exercise. They need frequent grooming and baths. He’s also so scared I’m going to hit him! It’s the saddest thing. I understand some dogs are just skittish, my own dogs are. But I’ve never seen a dog run and hide from shoes like this poor baby does.
His owners have not contacted me, but I have no choice legally but to take him to the shelter today. They are a no kill shelter and will hold him for 5 days to give his owner time. Then they will allow me to adopt him if he’s not claimed. But the thing is I don’t think his owner should be allowed to have him back!?! Is this enough to file an abuse report on the owner? Would the shelter take it seriously, or is he just going to be handed back? Any perspectives as an owner or ideas for what to tell the shelter would be so helpful. I’m not familiar with this breed, but this just feels wrong. Any advice would be so appreciated, thank you.