New Baja dog. Warning, graphic photos! Updated photo today..

We always assumed we would be adopted by a Baja dog. We intended to try to get one to adopt us when we finished our new house as our small condo is barely big enough for our current crop of animals.

About 6 months ago I noticed a dog following the neighborhood herd of cows that would come by the construction site every afternoon. She was young, probably 6 months old and not full grown. She was a handsome dog with a classic "Baja look" about her. She had a short piece of yellow nylon rope tied tightly around her neck. It looked to be pretty uncomfortable so I tried to catch her to remove it with no luck. The neighbors all tried to lure her close enough to get it off also but she wouldn't let anybody touch her.

We saw her from time to time, as she grew the rope got tighter but still no luck in catching her. She wasn't particularly afraid of people, she just wouldn't let anybody touch her. She would walk through the construction site picking up chicken bones and scraps left by the workers but never within reach.

We hadn't seen her in a while, about 2 weeks ago we happened to be at the job site when the cows came through. The dog looked really bad, she was skinny and looked sick. Upon a closer look I could see that the rope had cut through her skin and had turned into a hideous looking infected mess. It was dripping some nasty looking fluid and had flies crawling around it. I knew she couldn't live much longer like that.

Jill and I decided that we had to try to catch her but how? We borrowed a large pet carrier form the ALMA people in Los Barriles and put it near where a neighbor had been putting food out for her. We threw in some chunks of hot dog hoping that she would get accustomed to going in the cage to eat. We did that for a couple of days and went looking for her one afternoon. As luck would have it we spotted her in the aroyo about 1/4 mile from the trap. Jill got off the quad with a couple of hot dogs to try to get her to follow her to the trap. It took a while but she was able to get the dog to follow her. She sat down on the ground next to the cage and started tossing in pieces of hot dog. The dog was pretty spooky but little by little she reached further into the cage for the food. When she got both front feet in the cage Jill gave her a shove and closed the door.

I went home, got the car and went back to load the cage. It was Sunday evening around 6:00 and I figured it would be hard to find a vet. We went to the animal hospital in Las Quevas and were lucky to fine Gretel still there. She looked at the wound and decided that she would need a couple of days on antibiotics before surgery.




She took a few pictures for us before, during and after the surgery:









We picked her up on Tuesday and brought her home. We knew we would be in for a challenge, she was basically a wild dog and we would need to gain her trust to be able to care for her and for her injury. When we got her home we let her out to explore her new home.



After settling in she let us touch her a bit and seemed to have a sweet disposition. When we put a harness on her she wasn't too happy about it but eventually laid down on a blanket with Jill and they did a little bonding.



It was a challenge getting her to walk on a leash but she caught on pretty quick and she was always happy to get out of the house.





We have been letting her off the leash to run on the beach and play with the other Baja dogs. She is proving to be a fine dog, very sweet and smart. She catches on to new things quickly and seems to be considering adopting us.....we can only hope.......dt

[Edited on 11-26-2012 by dtbushpilot]

You are a good man, David.

You and Jill needed a bigger dog.

A name yet?

Quote:

Originally posted by motoged You are a good man, David. You and Jill needed a bigger dog. A name yet?

YOUR HERO'S !!!

A happy ending

You are great people indeed!

Whew!!

Oh my, after seeing what that poor pup had been through, that picture of Jill on the floor bonding with Chicha brought tears to my eyes.

What a lucky dog.

Good for you guys DT and Jill! I love to see stories like this! That pup will love you guys!

You guys did a great job!
We have a dog with a similar scar on her leg from being tied to her sister by the back legs....the sister died but Eta survived....boy, did she!
Enjoy your new friend

Thanks much, put a smile on my face --- outstanding

What a differance a little love and some regular meals make. We have had her home for only 12 days.......

12 days ago:



Today:

Happy for your rescue, David.
Heart-warming photo of Jill and the dog on the floor.

LOOKING GOOD !!