Expert: Stephen Vantassel - 4/26/2007

Question
Hello and i hope you can help me:


This is my situation:  I am a cat person with two spoiled cats in the process of rescuing two wild  dogs and i'm going to have to bring them to my home.  I thought i had a home for them but the people backed out last night.

The story i've been able to gather from neighborhood dog people is that these dogs were born (some time last fall) on a vacant lot near my house.  Their mother has not been seen for a couple of months (she became skinnier and skinnier).

i noticed them about three weeks ago, as the overgrown lot they've been living in has been chopped and will soon be developed.   They will run away if I try to approach them.

I have been feeding them 2-3 times a day for the past three weeks, trying to tame them to catch them(!)  They know me now and will wag their tails and come to about 20 feet away (waiting for food), but no further.  now i've run out of time, as the female is pregnant and i think about to give birth.

My plan is to sedate them and then getting them to a vet, then they will have to come back here to my house.  I just bought a large 10X10 outdoor kennel (with a top), and two wire crates that can be opened on either end (so each dog will have a crate yet they can still be together).  

I am home all day and will be able to work on taming them, but i am not an alpha dog-type.

now:  Can you offer me any tips?  I do know not to look them in the eye, and that's helped; i back up to them slowly and have been pretty close.

I've been told by many agencies that i am in over my head and the dogs should just be destroyed.  Which I fear will happen if i turn them in to almost any agency.

I am a rational person probably acting on emotion, so if you agree, perhaps i will rethink this.  Having seen it all, maybe you've run across situations like this?   

Will they ever adjust to a kennel or yard after living on 5 acres all their lives?  I feel dogs should live inside with the family, but i fear these won't be able to do that(?).  And then there are my two spoiled cats who didn't ask for this.

Should i postpone the capture until they trust me more?  And if so, when the female gives birth, could we chase her away to play with and socialize the pups?

Thank you for any help or advice you can give me - if you want to call me, my number is:

713-691-5955 and i will be happy to pay for the phone consultation.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

j


Answer
Your question is beyond my expertise as my experience centers with wildlife. I think it is admirable that you want these dogs treated properly. But I am concerned at 1. the amount of work you are putting yourself through and 2. the potential risks as these dogs surely haven't had their shots and may carry potentially dangerous diseases. If not for you then maybe for your pets.
If you wanted info on catching them I could help you with that. The answer is a Collarum trap. But it may not be legal in your state. But I would still suggest you contact the local dog catcher. These dogs are a potential public health threat. I think it would be better for you to have this situation handled by a professional. You could certainly help them by offering a donation and or adopt another animal as they pick up these.