ND: Dog is abandoned - Three-legged dog is left at a local business

Dog is abandoned - Three-legged dog is left at a local business
By Nick Smith
Staff Writer
Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 10:35 AM CST

Employees at a Williston business returned to work after the holiday weekend to be greeted by an unexpected three-legged donation in its drop-off area.  An employee at The Wise Penny thrift store on West Broadway found a German Shorthaired Pointer behind the business Monday morning.

Bev Talian of the Opportunity Foundation and an employee at The Wise Penny said the dog sat in the store's caged-in area where donations are dropped off.  Talian said employee Crystal Davis first spotted the dog shortly after 8 a.m. while opening the store.  Talian isn't sure how long the dog had been there, but said he could have been placed in the cage any time between 5 p.m. on Thursday and 8 a.m. on Monday. "It was very thirsty and very hungry. We went out right away and got food and water for it," said Talian.

Talian said the dog is a male with three legs. Aside from it missing one leg, she said the dog was otherwise in fairly good health.  "Someone obviously took care of it when it lost its leg at some point in the past. It's healed and in good shape," said Talian.

Talian said she was shocked and very disappointed that someone would try to abandon a fairly healthy young dog by leaving it in a drop-off cage for donations.  She added the back area where donations are left isn't heated and the dog was subjected to cold temperatures for however long it was there.

Talian said she and employees at The Wise Penny spent Monday morning trying to warm the dog and feed him. She said they were trying to place calls to the Humane Society and local pet stores to see if anyone could take the dog.  Talian also said they hoped to be able to pass on the dog to a local entity by the end of the day so a new home could be found.  "It's a very good looking dog," said Talian.

This is the second time pets have been left at an area business in recent weeks. A few weeks ago, six puppies were left in a box outside of Williston's Pets N Stuff. Talian added a puppy was left at the thrift store the same day the puppies were left at Pets N Stuff.  She said it's cruel to be abandoning pets in the cold and people should drop them off somewhere safe like a pet store instead of being abandoned overnight.

Copyright © 2009 Williston Herald

Source: http://www.willistonherald.com/articles/2009/12/29/news/doc4b3a2db5a6817575049396.txt

UK: Warning after two dogs rescued from icy lakes

UK: Warning after two dogs rescued from icy lakes
By Steve Lloyd
December 29, 2009

DOG owners are being warned about the dangers of frozen water after two pets were rescued from area lakes.  The first rescue was on December 21 when fire fighters were called to a dog stuck in ice at Hawley Lake near Farnborough at 11.37am.  The border collie was being walked by her owners and had chased ducks across the frozen water.  She managed to scramble around 30 metres across the ice before loosing her footing, falling into the water and becoming trapped in the ice.

Fire engines from Yateley and Rushmoor were called to the lake, along with a multi-role vehicle containing specialist equipment and animal rescue kit.  Two fire fighters in special dry suits made their way out to the tired dog on two inflated ice-rescue paths.  Martin Walters of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said the dog was trapped in the water for around 20 minutes.  “She showed extraordinary endurance and the ongoing encouragement from the fire fighters must certainly have helped her in these treacherous conditions,” he added.

A similar incident happened on Christmas Eve at 11.21am when a male spaniel chased ducks onto an ice-covered Fleet Pond before falling through the water.  Fire fighters wearing protective clothing waded out around 20 metres to reach the dog.  A total of 18 fire fighters from Fleet and Rushmoor helped with the rescue.  Mr Walters added:  “The fire fighters have worked well in cold and perilous conditions.

“During the freezing weather it is important for owners to ensure their dogs are kept on leads at all times so that this kind of incident can be avoided.”  Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service is also warning people not to venture onto the ice or throw animals toys onto or near frozen water.


Source: http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2063179_warning_after_two_dogs_rescued_from_icy_lakes