How to Rescue A Dog

There are very few sights more pitiable than an abandoned or abused dog. This article will help you build a rescue kit to keep in your car. We will go over immediate actions during and after a rescue.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog Treats
• Water
• Blanket
• Food
• Collar
• Leash
• Muzzle
• 1st Aid Kit
• Air Horn.

1. Approach the dog with caution. Neither of you know each other, yet. Look for signs of aggressive behavior. The obvious ones are baring of teeth, snarling, snapping, and growling. The not-so-obvious ones include the ruff standing on end, a tense stance, and a low-to-the-ground with eyes firmly on you stance. If the dog is aggressive call animal control immediately. The Air Horn is there to scare the animal away if it becomes dangerous or attacks.

2. Get a treat and conceal it in your hand. The ideal treat in my experience is a cut up hot dog. It is soft and easy to chew in case the animal has an injury to the mouth. It has a "food odor" that will attract him. The odor lingers on your hands which helps with trust building even if you are not holding a treat.

3. Assume a non-threatening posture. Squat or kneel and hold out your treat hand palm down. Let the dog smell your hand.

4. Speak softly in a non-threatening voice to encourage her to come closer. You are trying to build enough trust to allow you to offer food and shelter. If she hesitates or backs away a bit, don't push it.

5. Open your hand, while the dog is smelling it, and allow him to take the treat. Don't be discouraged if she takes the treat and retreats a few steps.

6. Fill and place a small amount of food and water close to you. Wet food works best in my experience. Use careful judgment here. Too much food/water can lead to an upset stomach.

7. Inspect the dog for wounds or obvious ailments. Use the first aid kit to wrap or bandage what you can. Your goal is to treat the wounds if you can without over stressing the animal.

8. Load him into the car. The blanket should be used to keep him warm. Additionally the blanket will provide a padded surface that is comfortable. Hopefully she'll feel safe enough to sleep.

9. Transport her to your choice of home, shelter, or veterinarian. It sounds like the adventure is over but it is really just beginning. Animal rescue is a humane act intended to alleviate suffering in those that cannot help themselves.

Tips & Warnings

• Approach this with an attitude toward being prepared. You are not out hunting animals, instead you are prepared if you see one. The rewards are tangible on a great feeling/good karma level.
• Do not attempt to rescue a violent dog. Your best intentions are great, but this is a job for the trained professionals.

[billips]

on 5/23/2009 Great article on a subject dear to my heart - this is the way all my family gets their dogs and the ones they absolutely cannot keep they take to a no-kill shelter like my favorite Blue Dog Rescue in Texas - 5* and a recommend which I give very sparingly - B.