Bollinger County Stray Project Report September 9-15

Dumped dogs tend to be shy of strangers but some will be begging for attention. Lost dogs tend to be a bit shy of strangers because their mind is on getting home of they are trying to find home.

Dogs running in the middle of the road can be lost or on a mission to go home.

For a few weeks a stray male, black with some white and pointed upright ears that weighs around 20 pounds has been hanging out near the junction of Co Rd 620 on Hwy C, near Arab Gas Station..I have had three calls about the dog. That location is the backyard to Karen and Randy Sanders’ home and Karen was trying to feed and water him, but the dog would have nothing to do with her.

Then he disappeared a few days. She feared he had been hit by a vehicle, or maybe he was lucky and his owner found him. His behavior had been like a dumped dog, not a lost one, so of course we all feared he had gotten injured and may have died.

Then Karen spotted him again and she and I made a plan to set our live-trap, which we did.

The area is hilly so I asked if we could find a spot on the top of the tallest hill. Near that spot was a high-line pole with a cable brace. We wired a can of smelly fish blend cat food about 5 feet in the air for the wind to catch. I hoped the wind would swirl the scent and carry it along the road and into the woods.

I felt we could “cover” the most area with scent for a dog we knew was hungry. He had been seen bravely eating road kill several times along that section of road. So all we could hope for was that he would be traveling along the highway that night looking for a meal and God willing, the winds would whip the scent in his favor.

It did and by 5am that morning, Karen had him secured in the live trap. We had wired a piece of raw chicken and another can of cat food in the trap for bait. I also used a small amount of potent pieces of Pupperoni Stick for about a five foot trail, then lined the doorway with some pieces, and another lure straight to the trigger where the chicken was hanging and the can was sitting.

That was Friday morning. Sunday night he still would not allow her to pet him.

He’s a work in progress. We will give him a couple weeks and than make some decisions if he proves to be dangerous or friendly to work with.

All this extra work for us and the suffering for the dog. What kind of person dumps a dog, any dog? Not a person I can give any respect, that is for sure.

Dogs held for other rescues (2):

• Two Aussie/Great Pyrenees type mix pups that were abandoned in Bollinger County, now age 10 months.

Return to owner (0), placed in other rescues or foster (0) or adopted (0):

• None

Dogs with erlichia or heartworm (0), special needs (1), or euthanized (0):

• A very timid and or shy male dog about 20 pounds was live-trapped near Co Rd 620 near Arab.

Lost, found, and pets needing homes:

• Several dogs listed on our Facebook page also on the two Bollinger County “What’s Happening” pages, that are found or missing. IF you don’t have FB call us so we can try to match lost pets.

Miscellaneous and contact info:

We were caring for 18 dogs and pups at our home 9/15/24. If you have a stray camping out in the yard don’t wait. Call us at (573) 722-3035 or cell (573) 321-0050.