Look what we found...

I'm house-sitting for a few days (and feeding the person's cats) and I took DH and River with me today so we could walk around the property. As we're making a circuit of the house and coming down the stairs off the deck, River starts going bonkers. We're looking at each other like 'WTF?!" when out from under the deck trots this injured and terribly emaciated dog. The dogs immediately start making their acquaintances.

It was clear that this dog badly needed food, medical attention and TLC. DH told me to take River back to the truck and he would try and get the other dog. We had to switch jobs though as once it was just DH and the other dog, the other dog scurried back under deck and wouldn't come out. I used some of the cat food to coax him out and petted him for a minute then chanced picking him up, which he let me do.

We got him bundled into the truck and took him back to our house and into the backyard until we could decide what to do. The Humane Society was already closed for the day, so we called the emergency vet office to see if they could point us in the right direction. Due to economic circumstances they couldn't help us by taking him, but they gave me the number for animal control.

Animal control can't do pick ups on the weekend, so we're going to have an overnight guest. River could not be happier. Now technically the vet advice included keeping them separated, but they get along so well, we're not worried about that for now. He's really a sweetheart. Here's a picture of our guest...

Yes, he's a Pittbull Mix. A friend who knows a bit about the breed thinks it's an American Red Nose Pittbull mixed with...something. We gave him some dinner (It's hard not to give him more, but the prevailing wisdom says not to overfeed an emaciated dog.) You can see is ribs so prominently that he looks striped.

We gave him a bath which improved his smell some. He is not interested in letting me clean his ears though, and I'm not going to push it.

There are several injuries on him that we can see. There are scratches and open wounds on his legs. There is what looks like a puncture wound under his jaw, which is matted with dirt. Some of the fur on his back seems to be singed, though by what we have no idea. There is a sore in one of his ears and the other one needs cleaned badly. And to top it all off the skin on his boy dog parts is rubbed raw.

I wish there was more that we could do for him, but I have no idea how to even begin addressing the injuries. At least he's fed and in out of the cold for the night (we got River's crate out to put him in when we go to bed). I'll take him into the humane society in the morning to get him some medical attention. Hopefully they will be able to treat his injuries, get him nourished and find him a good home*.

He seems pretty happy here though. His tail has gone from curled way up between his legs to more relaxed and even some wagging. River has wound down for the day so is leaving him alone for the most part, so he is flopped down in our office.

I'll update later...

*We're not in a position to add another dog to our family. We know what it takes to completely devote yourself to owning an animal and unfortunately we just can't take another responsibility like that on right now.