Friday, August 21, 2009

A hungry dog, chickens and a Shot Gun...Updated Again!

***UPDATED A SECOND TIME ***

On Saturday morning Doug and I took "Snorfus" up to Liberty MO. The man that operates Cowboy's Animal Rescue knew of a home for him. He is going to be a companion to an Amish lady who became a parapalegic when 2 years ago the buggy her and her husband was riding in was hit by a car load of drunk teenagers. Her husband and the horse were killed. She is okay with a big dog, she had a husky who just recently died. God works wonders...this is why Snorfus turned up at my house, why he hadn't already been shot by a neighbor. This big ole 150 pound lug has mission in life. Big ole Snorfus I forgive you for playing with my chickens and trying to eat them (maybe). Doug and I are glad we were able to help you find a home! Gosh this ole heart is a softy.

I had planned on a second post about my visit to Nell Hill's but instead this happened to me....
This morning, I was downstairs on the computer typing up a post about Nell Hill's when I spotted a dog walking by the downstairs escape window. I ran upstairs and he was on the patio. It was a great big German Shepherd. I hollered at him to GO. But he just looked at me. That is when he spotted my Girls. He took off like a flash after my GIRLS!!!
~*~
In my nightgown, I grabbed my metal egg basket and my old plastic green watering can. I am running barefoot through the backyard to the chicken house. YELLING...SCREAMING....GO AWAY. He went straight for the girls. A few were able to get into the house. He started chasing the others around our utility trailer and the barn.
~*~
He grabs one around the neck...I am SCREAMING....banging my egg basket and watering can together...he is oblivious. The chicken is sqawking. He is running around the chicken house, chasing them, he goes in the chicken yard. I try to trap him in the yard to save the chickens that are still out, he sneak out past me. I hurriedly lock the few girls that made it, into the chicken house.
~*~
He spies one under the trailer, he grabs her, I am running and SCREAMING. He drops her and I rush her over to their pen and drop her in. He finds another one... I am SCREAMING and BANGING running around the barn, he runs the other way. He drops her, I grab her up and run her to the pen. One more is left... of course...he goes for her. I manage to get her after banging on the dog and more SCREAMING!!!
~*~
Finally it is quiet, he meanders off from the chicken house. I still haven 't done a count to see if I have saved them all. Off he goes sniffing. I go inside the pen. Honestly I felt as though my chest was going to explode, my little heart was beating so fast. I also thought I was going to throw up. Those chickens are our pets. We love each and every one, and the thought of him killing one....was unthinkable.
~*~
When I felt that maybe I got all of them in, I ran inside and called Doug at school. I quickly told the secretary what happened. She paged Doug. When he got on the phone...he told me to go get the shotgun. I did.
~*~
I went out into the backyard and he told me how to take the safety off, how to load the chamber, and fire. I aimed up into the air and shot! The dog wasn't too fazed by it. So I loaded the chamber and I fired again. YOU are NOT going to KILL my CHICKENS!!! He went and laid down under the utility trailer. I went over and sat on my wrought iron furniture in front of the chicken house, in my jammies with my gun. I was waiting for Doug to come home.
~*~
I turned to look and saw Doug coming down the road. The tears now have started to come. I try not to cry. I'm a big girl, I'm tough, I shot a gun. Doug goes in and gets his rifle. As he is walking around the house toward me, he sees a little girl hiding in the grass. She starts running toward the chicken house. I jump up SCREAMING that he is going to get her, but Doug shows me the rifle. The dog stays under the trailer.
~*~
We do a chicken head count. 4 missing. Doug puts the dog in the barn and we start looking for the girls. I am pretty sure that I saw the dog before he saw my girls. Hopefully they are just hiding. One by one we find them all. Thank you LORD!
~*~
We didn't shoot the dog. That is what people do in the country though. I called the Sheriff's dept and that is pretty much what they told us to do. The dog is very friendly, he is STARVING...he was dumped with another dog in our neighborhood. I called my dad he came out and also our neighbor came down to help. The dog has been up at their house for the past two days.
~*~
NOW DON"T STOP READING
YOU WON'T BELIEVE
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT...
~*~
As I type this, I am waiting to hear back from the sheriff's dept. The dog had a collar of sorts and a rabies tag. I called the vet's number and gave them the tag i.d. number. Well Tike belongs to a lady that lives about 5 miles from us in a trailer court. The vet gave me the three phone numbers that they had. I called all three, not in service.
~*~
I call the sheriff's dept. back and tell them that I know the name and address of the lady that dumped the dogs and that Doug and I were going to put Tike in the truck and pay her a visit if she still lived there. The deputy told me to call him back.
~*~
Get this...we drive into this TERRIBLE trailer Court. I am sure there is probably half a dozen meth labs just in this one area. We spot trailer 18, we are looking for trailer 19. Doug gets out and asks this lady that is in her yard if she knows Donna Johnson. She shakes her head and says no. Doug says the Donna Johnson that is your neighbor in trailer 19. She turns and points to this lady who is walking through the knee tall grass towards us and says, " Oh yeah, her".
~*~
Well come to find out, Donna does have a German Shepherd named Tike but he is in the house and much smaller than the one that is in the back of our truck. How STUPID does she think we are, probably about as stupid as she is, dumping a dog with tags. We get back in the truck and leave.
~*~
Pulling over a couple yards down the road, I call the deputy back and told Donna was home and the whole not my dog story. He is going to pay her a visit this afternoon.
~*~
So right now...Tike is in the barn, we have fed and watered him. The girls are all accounted for and locked up in their house. I am worn slick, sitting here telling you my story. The deputy is supposed to call me back after he visits with Donna. The shelters are all full and not taking any more animals. What are we going to do? Right now the plan is to take Tike home this afternoon whether "Donna" likes it our not. You know what is a shame? He seems like a good dog. He was just literally starving to death.
The saga continues....
I need a stiff drink...
~Jill~
If you never leave a comment....now would be a good time.
I'm a little stressed, well I was now I am just exhausted, my head and throat hurts from yelling.
More to the story ....
The deputy called me...get THIS story she told him...
Donna lived in another town a few years back, the house was broken into and a lock box was stolen. Inside the lock box was dog rabies tags and vet paperwork. She told my deputy to call the other town she could prove her story. Well he called the other town and was told the same story. So this really isn't her dog she claims. She took the deputy inside and showed him a Sheperd Mix that she said was named Tike. Okay....so probably the dog I have isn't Tike, but I think it still is her dog. I also think she dumped a female Rottweiler too!
~*~
So are YOU telling me, that these tags were stolen in 2005 in a town about 30 miles away. And it just so happens that they go put it on this dog who was then dumped on my highway just 5 miles from where "Donna" now lives!
~*~
BULL..
I called the vet back telling her about the "stolen tag" story. She absolutely doesn't believe. She says the dog is definitely Donna's.
~*~
So what to do with this dog.
He loved his ride in the truck, licked Doug's had when he putting his dog tag back on, and he didn't growl at me even once, when I was beating him off the chickens.
~*~
The deputy remembered a man who had called their office several months ago...he was opening a shelter for abused animals. He wanted to let the county know about his shelter. The deputy called the man and he said he will take the dog. So I guess tomorrow, Doug and I and the kids will be driving about an hour north to take this dog to a no-kill shelter. I am not going to dump him again.
I am not sure I am cut out for this rural stuff!
I just want to go to Archiver's and scrapbook!
~Jill~
I promise next post will have pictures. Although mom wanted me to reinact the whole jammies and gun thing so we could really share with you the whole impact of the situation buy I kindly declined! I hadn't done my hair yet ;o)

20 comments:

Salmagundi said...

I can't get your post to come up. You're teasing me, aren't you about one of my favorite subjects? Sally

Stacey said...

Oh honey!! I think I told you that my parents experienced the same "dumped dog" situation when they moved to the country. Eventually my mom got a bb gun to shoot at them and they would run away...it kind of hurts, you know.

Sounds like Tike needs a good home. That is one tough situation you are in there. You couldn't keep him because he wants to eat the girls! I'm so proud of you for running around out there in your pjs. I would have done the same thing!

Anonymous said...

This story explains so much...why when I clicked on the story "Nell Hill" there was nothing there this morning.
Why, when I looked later, the title "Nell Hill" wasn't there.
What a morning you had, poor dear! I hope you get that drink, and get to enjoy every last drop!
And, if you dont mind some unsolicited advice, maybe you could pick up a bag of dog food to offer, in case any more hungry visitors come wandering around?
(Just to tide them over until they get taken care of) Those poor creatures- what a dilema it presents when people abandon a member of their family like that.

Cottage Rose said...

OH Donna; You poor thing,,, I am so glad that the dog was not a mean one. Happy to hear that all your girls are safe and sound. I would have done the same thing,,, what a way to start your day.. hope you get some rest this weekend.....

Hugs;
Alaura

Salmagundi said...

Oh Jill!!! In my first comment, I was talking about the Nell Hill story. I just now checked back to see if it had come up, and find that you have had a very trying morning. Hopefully, things will quiet down and a good home will be found for Tike. Keep those girls safe in their beautiful home. And, have a restful weekend yourself! Sally

Tracy said...

Jill, we have to be kin...stuff like this only happens in my family LOL!!!!!! Hope you get it all taken care of. Sooo glad the girls are OK. :)
Tracy

Crystal Rose Cottage said...

Jill.....OMG! You didn't have to take pictures because I got a step by step visual of what happened! I am so glad your little chicken girls are ok and none were hurt or worse. You are doing the kindest and the most humane thing by taking this poor dog to the shelter where at least he has more of a chance than taking it back to that woman! I guess you were right that who knows what will happen in the rural area! We are not as far in the country but we don't live in the "big city" anymore and we learn something new everyday! It's kind of a different world than we are used to. Take care, and be careful firing that shotgun Annie Oakley! lol
~Hugs, Patti

Melinda said...

Jill--
Good Grief what morning for you!
I'm glad that the dog will be going to a good place. I'm tired
now that I've read your saga.
Hope your afternoon went smoother.
Try to have a nice quiet weekend.

Melinda

The Mama Monkey said...

OMW What a story Jill!! So, you have traded mountain lions, bears, and wild turkey for neglected animals and chickens! I would rather have the wildlife! ;) What was Molly doing all this time? I can so see you with the shotgun, btw...

SmilingSally said...

Whew! I'm exhausted just from reading this! You will be worn out for weeks after LIVING it!

jeanie@mageditor.blogspot.com said...

As a complete animal lover and chicken lover I have to say that I feel very sad for the "faux or real as the case may be, Tike". He is really the victim in this whole situation. I hope and pray you don't take him back to Donna. She sounds like a horribly irresponsible animal owner. I hope the no kill shelter will keep him. Either that or maybe you need a dog? Perhaps he could be trained to befriend the girls...kind of a Noah's Ark type situation? LOL

Chanda said...

Bless your heart, I am so sorry for all your dog troubles. I went through a similar experience only it was coyotes and they killed 11 in one morning. It was awful. So glad you saved your. The ones missing may be too frightened to come in and roost tonight. Mine wouldn't go back into their pen until the next and. What a silly stupid girl she is. Hopefully the good dog will get a great home like he deserves. You could train him to leave your chicks alone and he would even protect them if you would decide to keep him for a farm dog. Shepards are great protectors ya know. Maybe it is karma or higher powers, maybe you might consider or maybe you might just go feed that dumb girl some chicken feathers. I'll help ya.

Colleen said...

As I read this post, I was laughing, praying and hoping you and the girls were okay all at the same time! I am so glad eveyone is okay but I can't help but think of the elderly couple who was mauled to death by the pack of dogs this past week. The owner left the dogs to fend for themselves and they literally killed the old couple probably due to starvation. All of them were caught and put to sleep afterwards. It seems to be a growing problem in this country. People just dump puppies and dogs and they become wild packs of vicious animals. It is really sad that the old couple had to suffer such a horrible death and it is sad that the poor animals were left like that. I am glad you found a place to take this dog. Hopefully someone will adopt it and it will get to have a good life. I am most happy that you and the girls are okay. You are one tough momma!

Anonymous said...

OH, Jill! I'm so sorry for what you've had to go through. You poor thing and your chickens. I'm so thankful they're all okay! Poor doggie too. That is so terrible for that gal to dump the poor thing. I'll be praying for the best for your family and Tyke!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Tam said...

Wow Girl and I thought I have had it bad this summer with the wild baby boar and the three foot alligator running loose in our neighborhood. You made me feel very sorry for the DOGS!

Becky K. said...

I had to laugh because I had a very similar in my jammies, yelling and screaming at a fox that was trying to get into our hen house.

Thankfully, for us, we only had to deal with the fox, not dishonest people.

That dog surely owes you, big time.
You have gone way farther for it than most would have.

Becky K.
Hospitality Lane

Nikki via The Scarlett Rose Garden said...

OH JILL!! You poor dear! I'm glad all turned out well.. but whew! That's a sad story about the amish woman.

Are y'all gonna build a big fence around the chicken coop now? There's bound to be more dumps and coyotes a comin'.

And.... at least you had on jammies! LOL!

Love your finds, those are great books. The chairs with the gigham backs and toile seats are gorgeous, great idea!!
AWESOME candle chandy! I've never seen one prettier, what a find.

I like the wreath in your banner too, with the toile ribbon.

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Barb said...

I'm just visiting your blog for the first time and enjoyed your replay of your exciting day. Glad it all turned out okay! I am new at blogging and anxious to be part of the blogging world. If you'd like to visit my blog, it's at: http://www.momsgenerationgap.blogspot.com I'll be back to visit yours!

Anonymous said...

I just loved reading your experience about the dog, nightgown, and your girls. I love both animals and you did the right thing. Thanks for a happy ending.
Melody..from Nashville

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