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Two adult Weimaraners were picked up by Richmond County Animal Control as strays from Hough Road in Ellerbe last week. Reno, the adult male with blue nylon collar and Rennie, the adult female with pink camoflage collar, both tested heartworm positive. The Tarheel Weimaraner Rescue will adopt the pair next week if the local owner is not found.
Shelter staff cross-checks incoming animals with lost reports, Bacon said, but with intake at a seasonal high, and with the difference in animal descriptions, the connection is not always immediately made. Collars, required-by-law, rabies tags and personal identification tags make the return of a pet to their rightful owner easier.
Stray animals, brought in by animal control or dropped off at the shelter by the public are held 72 hours by the shelter prior to being processed for adoption or euthanasia. With a daily inventory at 120 to 150 animals, space is limited this time of year, Bacon said. Due to the extreme heat, the shelter can't use the six indoor/outdoor kennels in the hanger.
People who find an animal are required by North Carolina law to contact the animal authority (animal control or the animal shelter) within 24 hours.
“Keeping someone else's pet without reporting it is unlawful as well as hurtful .That dog or cat could be someone's special baby,” Bacon said.
Humane Society of Richmond County has come a long way...
'Dumping' animals is so prevalent here, I thought this was appropriate..
"I Found Your Dog Today"
I found your dog today. No, he has not been adopted by anyone. Most of us who live out here own as many dogs as we want, those who do not own dogs do so because they choose not to. I know you hoped he would find a good home when you left him out here, but he did not. When I first saw him he was miles from the nearest house and he was alone, thirsty, thin and limping from a burr in his paw.
How I wish I could have been you as I stood before him. To see his tail wag and his eyes brighten as he bounded into your arms, knowing you would find him, knowing you had not forgotten him. To see the forgiveness in his eyes for the suffering and pain he had known in his never-ending quest to find you... but I was not you. And despite all my persuasion, his eyes see a stranger. He did not trust. He would not come. He turned and continued his journey; one he was sure would bring him to you.
He does not understand you are not looking for him. He only knows you are not there, he only knows he must find you. This is more important than food or water or the stranger who can give him these things. Persuasion and pursuit seemed futile;
I did not even know his name. I drove home, filled a bucket with water and a bowl with food and returned to where we had met. I could see no sign of him, but I left my offering under the tree where he had sought shelter from the sun and a chance to rest.
You see, he is not of the desert. When you domesticated him, you took away any instinct of survival out here. His purpose demands that he travel during the day. He doesn't know that the sun and heat will claim his life. He only knows that he has to find you.
I waited hoping he would return to the tree; hoping my gift would build an element of trust so I might bring him home, remove the burr from his paw, give him a cool place to lie and help him understand that the part of his life with you is now over. He did not return that morning and at dusk the water and food were still there untouched. And I worried. You must understand that many people would not attempt to help your dog. Some would run him off, others would call the county and the fate you thought you saved him from would be preempted by his suffering for days without food or water. I returned again before dark. I did not see him. I went again early the next morning only to find the food and water still untouched. If only you were here to call his name. Your voice is so familiar to him.
I began pursuit in the direction he had taken yesterday, doubt overshadowing my hope of finding him. His search for you was desperate, it could take him many miles in 24 hours. It is hours later and a good distance from where we first met, but I have found your dog.
His thirst has stopped, it is no longer a torment to him. His hunger has disappeared, he no longer aches. The burrs in his paws bother him no more. Your dog has been set free from his burdens, you see, your dog has died. I kneel next to him and I curse you for not being here yesterday so I could see the glow, if just for a moment, in those now vacant eyes. I pray that his journey has taken him to that place I think you hoped he would find.
If only you knew what he went through to reach it... and I agonize, for I know, that were he to awaken at this moment, and (if) I were to be you, his eyes would sparkle with recognition and his tail would wag with forgiveness.
-author unknown
Although every responsible citizen should notify animal control and the Humane Society about any 'found' animal - (Every pet deserves an opportunity to be returned to it's rightful home)- it is NOT the only option under NC law...
Under North Carolina law;
“It shall be unlawful for any person in the county to knowingly and intentionally harbor, feed, keep in possession by confinement, or otherwise, any stray animal which does not belong to that person, unless that person has,
within 24 hours from the time such animal came into his/her possession, notified an animal control officer of his/her intentions to either surrender the stray animal to the animal control officer or
advertise such stray animal in the local newspaper for three (3) consecutive days.
If the individual holding the stray animal elects to advertise the animal in the local newspaper and the prior owner does not respond by the tenth day from the last day of publication of the notice, the individual who has advertised shall be deemed the legal owner.”
“If the advertisement has not appeared within 72 hours, the animal shall be surrendered to the animal control officer. It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to surrender any such animal to the animal control officer upon demand. “
ie.. You are NOT required to surrender the animal to the shelter, but you MUST advertise that you have possession IMMEDIATELY.
I have had an 'escapee', and have taken in (& returned or re-homed) many, as well.
The Humane Society was a valuable (and much appreciated)resource, but it is not against the law to care for the animal yourself..
BTW - "care", IMO, includes having the pet spayed/neutered (after 72 hrs)while in your possession..
Rescue Organizations are readily available to assist you in re-homing, if the pet is not claimed.