[Resolved] Tried to Help a Tied up Distressed Dog, Ended up Making It Worse. Struggling to Get over It. What Are My Options?

aspirepranesh on 26/01/2020 - 11:35
Last edited 26/01/2020 - 11:58

As a dog owner myself, I feel so shitty at the moment with what has transpired this morning.

My wife and I went to Coles this morning and noticed there was a border collie that was tied to a railing with its leash to its collar. He/She looked distressed as there was a free standing advertising/booklet holder that was put against the railing and the lead was pushing against it and the noise it was making was freaking the dog out and he looked distressed.

We tried to remove the holder that was stuck but the dog got out of the collar and got free. I tried to get him to come to me and some of the passers by tried to get him, but we had no luck. My partner ran into Coles to get the Manager to make an announcement to see if we could locate the owner, but no luck.

I followed the dog to see if he would come back, but by the time my partner was able to locate the owner, the dog was gone. It wasn't our intention to let the dog out of its collar, but in trying to remove the holder, we ended up with this situation.

We feel so bad for the dog and the owner at the moment. I ran around the side streets to locate the dog, but to no avail. We have our dog on a harness all the time because twice on the collar, he got out and it gave us enough panic to see him run around on the street with all the cars around. I feel sick to my stomach thinking about what that dog owner is possibly going through now.

I am currently so angry with myself and trying to figure out what to do. Any recommendations would help? In all panic that followed, I didn't even get her details. Should I go back to Coles and see if they could help me identify her through CCTV so we can reach out to her possibly and help her locate the dog?

Pets

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  • nahi11 on 26/01/2020 - 11:40
    -2

    Pay him compensation for the lost dog.

    • aspirepranesh on 26/01/2020 - 11:42

      I am willing to do that. But we didn't even get to grab her details as she was panicking to get to her car to locate the dog. :/

      • Agarwal on 26/01/2020 - 13:03
        +2

        If the dog is still missing she may put a notice up at the Shopping Centre with her contact details.

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 26/01/2020 - 12:01
      +5

      Money doesn't really compensate for the loss of a pet.

      • aspirepranesh on 26/01/2020 - 12:05

        Yes. I completely understand that. I want to try and do whatever I can to help her find the poor dog.

        Financial compensation is the worst case scenario even though it doesn't make up for the pain and distress

  • DrRalph on 26/01/2020 - 11:44
    +8

    I'm not sure why you have posted this on OzBargain.

    I'd try posting on a lost/found facebook site for your area.

    • aspirepranesh on 26/01/2020 - 11:46

      I have never been in a situation like this before and I trust to get some ideas to see what I can do as my brain is refusing to think because I am really annoyed and feeling shit.

      I will consider the Facebook option you suggested. Appreciate it.

  • whooah1979 on 26/01/2020 - 11:46
    +16

    The moral of the story. Don’t touch other people’s property.

    • aspirepranesh on 26/01/2020 - 11:48

      I totally agree with you. Honestly speaking, we didn't even touch the dog :/

      We make sure we don't pet dogs when owners are not around because we don't know how they would react.

      All we tried to do was to remove the holder by pulling it under the leash so it didn't make the noise to stop freaking him out.

      Our intention was to help the dog. Not this.

    • outlander on 26/01/2020 - 14:27

      Ha. Thats only the moral of the story if you have an exceptional bad grasp of causality.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 26/01/2020 - 12:02
    +1

    You should have followed the dog. Now it could be anywhere.

    • aspirepranesh on 26/01/2020 - 12:04
      -1

      I did mate. I didn't want to let the dog out of my sight, but with multiple exits out of the shopping centre, it wasn't easy. I had couple of people even help me with looking through side streets.

      The owner said she is territorial and would have possibly gone back around to wait near the car. But we couldn't find him near her car.

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 26/01/2020 - 12:22
        -4

        Yeah, but you stopped looking. You should have kept looking. Going home a seeking sympathy on a bargain website won't help the owner, nor help your feelings.

        • aspirepranesh on 26/01/2020 - 12:25

          Why am I after sympathy mate for a mistake I am taking ownership of. I did what I could in the moment of panic.

          I am trying to get some options to see what I can do to help the owner including identifying her, to get an update and also help her to locate the dog if it means taking time off going around to places that the dog prefers to be taken by the owner to find the dog.

          We all make mistakes and unlike a few posts I have seen over the years here, I am not in denial of my mistake and I dont need anyone to sympathise with me for my mistake. I am trying to see what I can do with options people can recommend.

          • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 26/01/2020 - 12:40
            -3

            @aspirepranesh: Options available? It's not rocket surgery - get out there and keep looking. There is a finite area the dog could be.

            What else do you expect us to say? What else do you seek to accomplish from your post other than sympathy?

            • aspirepranesh on 26/01/2020 - 12:46

              @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: You have to remember 2 things. I have never been in a situation like this before. And I am still in shock and panic over the whole situation. Since you seem to know it all,… What do you think of the below :

              • Facebook group, I posted this on couple of groups thanks to the above recommendation.

              • maybe someone here works at the council and maybe have some ideas abt identifying lost dogs

              • maybe someone knows the owner here and may help me identify her.

              • maybe there are dog trainers who know more abt specific breeds.

              • maybe someone here works at Coles and knows more about their CCTV data sharing policies, which could help me identify her

              • finite area? Are you (profanity) kidding me. Knowing my dog who is a cairn terrier, he loves to explore and would never stop. If I run towards him, he would only run away thinking it's a game. So stop assuming that you know everything abt dogs. As someone in the comments mentioned, they seem to know more abt border collie traits.

              I have spent the last 2 hours browsing through forums to find some of the above to see if I can get through to the owner.

              • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 26/01/2020 - 12:59
                -2

                @aspirepranesh: Never said I knew it all. You asked for suggestions on what to do. I gave you the most clearly obvious suggestion.

                Find the dog.

                That involves looking for it.

              • dscott85 on 26/01/2020 - 13:00
                +1

                @aspirepranesh: “We have our dog on a harness all the time because twice on the collar, he got out and it gave us enough panic to see him run around on the street with all the cars around”.

                This does not feel like you are taking responsibility it feels like you are making up excuses for why this happened other than your own poor judgement. I agree with zeggie, posting on this forum feels like a call for sympathy rather than any form of affirmative action. Now you may feel that is harsh, but my feelings are with the dog & owner.

                • aspirepranesh on 26/01/2020 - 13:07

                  @dscott85: My feelings are with the dog and the owner. If anything I am angry with myself. My partner and I have been fighting all morning because of this.

                  I made a mention of our dog getting out of the collar to state how much stress it caused us. Hence we have him on a leash. We have friends with dogs who have them on collars and not a harness. This has nothing to do with a collar or a harness. It is easy for me to blame it on that, but it is still my fault.

              • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 26/01/2020 - 13:04

                @aspirepranesh:

                My feelings

                Yes. Every post is about "your" feelings. That's very telling.

                maybe someone here works at the council and maybe have some ideas abt identifying lost dogs

                Microship? Registered? If yes to both then it's returned to the registered address. No to either or both? Off to the pound until claimed. If not, bad news for the animal.

                Coles and knows more about their CCTV data sharing policies

                If you're working for a law enforcement agency and have a warrant, they'll share.

                Still no idea how you plan on identifying the individual from the footage. If you really wanted to identify them you can do that without the footage.

                finite area

                Yes finite. The dog is not going to be in southern France. It will be within a few kilometres of the Coles store. That area expands as more time is wasted.

                have spent the last 2 hours browsing through forums

                The dog is not going to be posting on forums.

                Since you seem to know it all

                Here's some free advice for the future, so you can't blame lack of hindsight, don't interact or touch people's children at Coles either.

  • Third_Gear on 26/01/2020 - 12:12
    +1

    If the owner cared enough to bring it out odds are it is microchipped. Don’t sweat it too much as you tried to do what you thought was the best. Learn from your mistake and move on.

  • bobbified on 26/01/2020 - 12:15
    +3

    We tried to remove the holder that was stuck but the dog got out of the collar and got free.

    My partner ran into Coles to get the Manager to make an announcement to see if we could locate the owner…

    Hindsight is a great thing, but you probably should've done this the other way around. You shouldn't be touching other people's property in the first place. There might be a reason the dog was left like that in the first place.

  • ESEMCE on 26/01/2020 - 12:30
    +5

    Border Collie likely ran straight home.
    Of all dogs to be in this situation, I'd back a Border Collie to get home safe more often than not

    • pegaxs on 26/01/2020 - 14:19

      I had two kelpies many years ago, and they got scared by some loud noises while we were out walking. Thought I lost them forever. Gave up looking for them after about 4 hours. Got home and both of them were sitting at the front door looking at me like “where the F you been? We’re hungry..”

  • dscott85 on 26/01/2020 - 12:33
    -1

    ‘As a dog owner’ you should know better.

    So many animals are adopted post poor experiences. You come up to a dog without knowing it’s history, when it is ‘tied up’ - ie. can’t get away from you, without the security of its owner the person it trusts nearby, why would you expect the dog not to get scared & try & run away.

    I hope the dog is ok & hasn’t been run over as is very possible around car parks.

    • aspirepranesh on 26/01/2020 - 12:35
      +2

      I agree with you. I should have known better. Big lesson learnt today. Never again that I Can tell you.

      Again, my concern is more about the wellbeing of the dog and its safe return to its owner.

  • Findo on 26/01/2020 - 13:01
    -2

    I hate meddling fools

    • aspirepranesh on 26/01/2020 - 13:09

      Cheers. Thanks mate

      Sometimes we do things because of the goodness of the heart, and things dont go as we planned.

      I didn't purposefully go and disturb the dog for the want of doing it.

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 26/01/2020 - 13:20
        +3

        "I didn't mean it" is literally the worst cop out excuse ever. Actions have consequences. It has nothing to do with your intentions. You need to consider the consequences before you do something.

        Interacting with a stranger's restrained dog has many, many potentially bad consequences.

        • Findo on 26/01/2020 - 13:22

          Say, if this lost dog bites a child because you released it, who would be at fault?

          • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 26/01/2020 - 13:25
            +1

            @Findo: Too many hypothetical issues to consider there.

            • aspirepranesh on 26/01/2020 - 13:26

              @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: All the consequences are the follow up of my decisions and actions. No denying that.

              Appreciate the valuable input though. Helps me find the owner.

      • Findo on 26/01/2020 - 13:21

        there was a free standing advertising/booklet holder that was put against the railing and the lead was pushing against it and the noise it was making was freaking the dog out and he looked distressed.

        We tried to remove the holder that was stuck

        So was the booklet holder stuck or was it free standing? Perhaps the owner of the dog wanted the booklet holder to stop the dog sliding the leash off the railing?

        • aspirepranesh on 26/01/2020 - 13:25

          The free standing booklet holder had been dragged by the leash and the books were on the ground. The dog couldn't move because the holder was stuck in between.

          Thanks again. Appreciate your help.

  • Alexander420 on 26/01/2020 - 13:07
    +3

    Post to your Facebook local mums group to see if they spot a nearby border collie

    Contact all of your local vets with the description

    Keep looking around nearby to see if you can spot the dog, give it a few hours if you didnt spot any then it is out of your control

    • aspirepranesh on 26/01/2020 - 13:18
      +1

      Thanku.I didn't even think about the vets. I will contact my vet first thing Tuesday morning and will contact other vets around the area.

  • dins on 26/01/2020 - 13:40
    +3

    Peeps trying to attack OP as if they are so damn perfect smh.

    Don't stress yourself out too much. It was the owner's fault for leaving the dog like that. You were only trying to help. Sometimes sh!t happens even when you are trying to do the right thing.

    • pegaxs on 26/01/2020 - 14:11
      +1

      I agree. So many of the comments in this thread make me sick.

      OP, you did the right thing and in the same situation, I probably would have done the same thing. I hate people who tie their dogs outside in front of shops and leave them to fret and stress out. The dog could just as easily have been stolen if the owner was in the shop. And no doubt it was tied up without any water on a day like today.

      So, (fropanity) the owner and (fropanity) all the holier than thou pee holes in this thread acting all fake outraged at what you did for pathetic fake internet points. You did as much as you could under the circumstances, OP and no one has even mentioned the dog owners dick move.

      DoNt ToUcH oThEr PeOpLe’S sTuFF

      How about, don’t leave your (fropanity) dog tied up and stressed while you go shopping? You wouldn’t tie your children up in the front of a shop and just go inside. (Although, some of you should…)

  • Gravy on 26/01/2020 - 14:16

    Contact local pounds, describe what happened and see if a dog has been handed in that matches description and whether it has gone back to the owner, they may then be willing to contact the owner on your behalf to pass on a message. Note that there could be repercussions for you if you do find the owner but if you are trying to set your mind at rest and willing to take responsibility then this might be the best way to go. You were trying to help out an animal in distress and that says a lot about your character, even if it didn't end well.

  • Moderatorscrimshaw on 26/01/2020 - 14:29

    Thread closed, marked as resolved.

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