Ivory

Ivory is a German Spitz that made her way onto the Loop 202 freeway this morning during rush hour traffic. I watched her dash across six lanes of traffic, miraculously making it across unscathed. Nobody seemed to care that this dog was now stuck on the median and it was only a matter of time before it was killed. So I made my way across the highway and stopped a few yards ahead of her. She ran right up to me. I asked her what she was doing out on the highway, and since she didn't have any good answers, I threw her in my truck and drove to work.

She had a tag on her collar, so I called the number linked to her license, and the lady who answered said she did not have any dogs. Phone numbers get re-used (which I think is retarded, but that's another story) so it was possible that the owners had just not updated her license with their new number, and now someone else had the number. I tried again later to make sure, but it was the same lady.

At this point I wasn't sure what to do, so I brought her home and got her some food. Later I took her to our vet, to have her scanned for an ID chip. Unfortunately she does not have one, but the vet wanted to call the number again, and I figured it couldn't hurt. Whoever answered the phone that time identified the dog, and said she would come down to pick her up right away.

Weird. Maybe the lady I spoke with is a little senile. Or hates dogs. Who knows.

Anyways, I was thrilled to have tracked down her owner, and although I was very sad to let her go, I was glad to have resolved the whole situation.

UPDATE
12 Feb 2008 5:30PM

I just called the vet, to make sure everything went smoothly with the pick-up, and it turns out they haven't come yet. Supposedly they are going to pick her up tomorrow morning.

Now I'm pissed. First, you let your dog get out and run around on the highway. Then, you can't even take the time to come get her when you find out she's been rescued.

UPDATE
12 Feb 2008 5:45PM

I was wrong. I must not have been pissed earlier, because NOW I'm pissed. The vet called me back and told me that the older lady (the one I talked to multiple times this morning, who insisted she did not have a dog) had called back and said that they weren't going to be picking up the dog because they didn't want it anymore.

Oh. That's nice. So you decide to don't want your adorable, loving, doe-eyed little doggie, and instead of taking it to a shelter like a human would, you just kick it to the curb like an ignorant piece of shit would.

Well, Ivory is spending the night at the vet's office, who assured me that she is comfortable and has food and a chew toy. She will be coming back here in the morning.

UPDATE
13 Feb 2008 5:00PM

Genevieve picked Ivory up from the vet this morning. Luckily, she was able to work from home today, so could bring Ivory to our apartment and take care of her.

She seemed to be a little more stable today. She was sniffing around, actually did some business, and even barked some. She was acting like a happy, healthy dog.

Around 2:30 this afternoon the "owner" showed up at the vet's office. Long story shory: Ivory is their dog, so we had to return her. The fact that our intuitions told us not to let her near these people again doesn't really matter.

I did speak with the guy who came to pick her up, and he was apologetic, thanked me for saving her, and assured me she would staying in a safe place. He also told me that he would get her license updated. Whatever.

I hope she is back with people that care about her and that she stays safe. That is all we can do at this point.