A rainy and cold Friday night brought 2 abandoned animals to the parking lot of the agency I work for.
As I drove to pull out and start a nice long weekend (I'm on vacation until Thursday) I saw to wet and pathetic looking dogs standing by one of our feral colony houses.
The dogs were a male and female. Their relationship was nothing short of amazing. After winning some trust from the male with Baar's bone and by sitting in the rain petting him, I tried to approach the female. She was terrified. The male came between us and licked her face as if to say "hey, this lady is ok - don't worry". Every time a loud noise occurred or she seemed to feel to threatened he would run over and stand in front of her.
For her part she followed him everywhere. They had obviously been together for a while.
The male looked as healthy as a soaking wet dog living on his own cat. I can't even guess the mix. Curley tail, those amazing rott brown "eyebrows", on the small side of medium was guarded but friendly. He smelled AWFUL.
The female was a different story. She was terrified of me, soaking wet, under weight, and worst of all, injured. She is brown, short fur, medium (larger then the male). Too afraid to come under the canopy, she dug herself out a little bed in the mulch near her companion and curled up to nap, in the rain. The quality of the photo is so bad because I had to shoot into the rain with a flash.
I stopped the car and got out to give catching them a try. I called a friend and she of course asked the most obvious question - "what are you going to do once you catch them?". My answer was the usual "i have no idea...".
Joe and I are not well off by any stretch of the imagination (like many people we are living paycheck to paycheck for the most part) and rescue is expensive. But I knew Under the Wing had some money and even if they didn't the other members are generous souls always willing to give what they can to help animals in desperate need. Plus, I do know of a low cost vet. In situations like this I often mutter a prayer and hope that something, somehow will work out. Rescue and anxiety go hand in hand.
Pam, a friend at work, stopped her car and stood in the rain with me trying to win over the female's trust and cement a relationship with the male. She was there for at least 45 minutes.
Tom, the security guard and loyal Under the Wing member came out to give us some help.
Robin, another friend who is getting over a bad upper respiratory, also stood in the rain to try to help. She found some chicken to use in an attempt to lure them into one of the cars.
Anne, another friend and UTW supporter brought out peanut butter as another treat to lure them.
The down side was that when we brought out the cat food (no dog food on site) the male wouldn't let the female eat. My only assumption is that he's learned that he had to get his first. We separated the dishes and stayed on duty to try and keep him away from hers without scaring her. It was quite a challenge.
After chicken and several helpings of cat food and at least an hour of unsuccessful attempts at catching them I tried to leave. I got as far as the road and then turned around to come back in. I couldn't leave her out there hurt.
In desperation I called Laura, another Under the Wing member and dog rescue maven. Even though she was already at home she jumped back in the car to come help out. It's worth mentioning that she does not live particulary close to our place of employment.
Laura and I tried everything we could to catch them. We happen to work in a dangerous inner city neighborhood and we braved field areas with trees and people in the shadows. It was dark; we stood in the rain and kept trying. We worried as they crossed streets and tried desperately to make them understand that they would be safe with us.
Laura was so close to catching the female once. She let Laura come closer then she had anyone else. Unfortunately something went wrong and for the rest of the evening, she continued to allow us only as close as an arms length.
We were close on the male several times but each time but again something just went wrong.
We hoped that if we caught one, the other would come. We were determined not to separate them.
It became 8pm, time for the security guard to leave. We couldn't stay anymore as it had just gotten too dangerous. Laura and I threw out more food for them and headed home with heavy hearts.
I stopped back Saturday morning but couldn't find them. Hopefully they were someplace curled up together with full tummies sleeping. Laura's husband checked for them in the evening but only spotted some other stray dogs Laura is trying to help.
I'm off work, but Laura will look for them Monday.
The worst part, for me, is the knowledge that at one point these two lovely animals belonged to someone. She even had a collar on. They were left, for whatever reason, to fend for themselves, something a domesticated animal finds nearly impossible. I understand that desperate situations occur and at times people are unable to keep beloved pets. Even though I cringe at the thought of leaving an animal at a facility that will euthanize him or her, it's better then being dumped with a large potential for a painful death.
Alone, hungry, cold, injured, and afraid of humans, I hold little hope that they will make it much longer.
Winter is coming.
People suck.
Baar dressed up as Darth Vader. Baar thinks him looks very nice in him's cape. Maybe Baar will wear just him's cape more often... Him did not like him's hat though. Yes, Baar does look very handsome! Baar's human friend Melanie was there and gave him lots of pets and told him how good him looked. Baar loves Melanie!
Mikki looked beautiful in her Princess Leia costume. Everyone loved Mikki. Baar would like to know why she was flirting with the police German Shepard though. Him did not even have a cape! Mikki's dadums said she likes a man in uniform. Baar has a uniform! Darth Vador's!!!!
Baar and Mikki entered the costume contest together. Yes, Baar and Mikki had a good time. 
Baar and Mikki won a prize for most original costume! Here is our ribbon. 
