Did I do the right thing?

[bubstance]

So, I came across something I haven't ever seen before today on my break from classes.

Completely by chance, I was walking by my town's library in between classes at school. I had an hour to kill, so I thought I'd check out some books and wait for my next class to start. Then I realized that the library wasn't open until 10 o'clock this morning, and it was only 9. Bummer. Just as I'm about to leave, I notice out of the corner of my eye that there is a dog down the street (for reference, the library is on a residential street next to a major intersection). The dog was sniffing around the garbage cans, looking around, and just generally seemed confused. At first I thought that it must have lived at the house it was by (silly, perhaps), but I decided that I should check if it had any tags and see if I could return it to it's owner if it was lost. As I get closer, I can see that something is clearly wrong with this dog. Its nose isn't just dry, it's so dry that it's cracked and bumpy and deformed. Its left eye looked blind at first, but then I realized that it just had two different colored eyes (right = gold, left = ice blue/grey). It was drooling thick, milky drool, but it didn't look like it had rabies. Its eyes had thick yellow goop around them, and were a bit swollen (but, it was a pit bull). The dog was shaking a little as I got within 30' or so of it, but then a car came zooming out of the library's parking lot and almost hit the dog (I though it had). This guy comes driving by in his truck and asks if it's my dog, to which I respond that it isn't, and that I just found it. I notice the dog has no tags, just a leather collar with no markings on it. I started to call the local animal control (since I had no way to take it anywhere myself) when I noticed something very strange. The dog had this giant red mass coming out of its back end (later to be found as its vagina) and I noticed that all of her nipples were at least 3/4" long and swollen and cracked. When I got home, I found out that the mass was a uterine prolapse (or at least I'm 99% sure it was) and that it was a sign of the dog having recently given birth.

Finally I finish navigating the phone menu for the animal control only to find out that there are no operators available and that I am ninth in the queue for an operator.

As I am hanging up (after writing down the address of the AC headquarters) this couple walks up and asks if the dog is mine. I say no, that I am trying to get in touch with someone and that I am going to try to get someone to help me take it somewhere. The couple offer to take the dog wherever it needs to go, so I give them the address and they load the dog into their car and drive away.

Only now do I realize that not only is the dog probably going to die, but there were most likely puppies somewhere that I couldn't find (although I looked up and down the whole block after they drove off) and they will die, too.

I feel horrible. Did I do anything right?

[Cody_Pole]

Call animal control again when you have time tell them your situation and about the possible puppy
situation they'll more than likely canvas the area looking for the puppies.

[unownunown]

you definitely did the right thing. you did everything you could to get the dog help and most people would just walk away and not even think about it. someone will find those puppies. and puppies are cute, so their reaction will probably be instant.

[foomanfat]

You definitely did more than any random jerk would. Don't feel so bad, man.

[comtrails70]

yeah props to you for doing more than most people might have done.
i'm sure that AC will be able to recognize a dog that recently gave birth.

[tuffteef]

aww poor dog

[magiclawnchair]

you did the right thing.

dog used to be wild animals that we trained to depend on us. kinda sad in a way. you totally did the right thing though bub!

[htsamurai]

I'm a big animal lover and specifically a dog lover, I've gotten into fist fights over cruelty to dogs
I say that because as I was reading the post I was getting sad and upset that this poor dog was out on its own

hopefully the couple got it some help, you did all you could man, I hate it when the animal shelters don't answer, such bullshit.

don't feel bad man, you really did everything within your reasonable power

[bronzetalon]

You did what you could, no worries man.

[snipelfritz]

I'm not sure how you didn't do anything right?

I, however, am not that great of a person. Story tiem...One day about a year ago, I was walking down an icy Minneapolis sidewalk to the bus stop trying to make it to class on time. The bus stop is exactly a block away then on the other side of an intersection(35mph, but relatively busy). As I'm walking I see a dog jumping playfully around up the road. "No biggie," I think and I assume that it belongs to one of the people walking ahead of me, but then I realized it doesn't have tags and is on its own. He's running around on the sidewalk and street(the street I was walking along wasn't busy at all). I pass him but quickly realize he's trotting along a couple feet behind me. I know if I don't catch the next bus I'll be late, so I don't pay him any mind. I get roughly two hundred feet from the intersection when I see my bus about a block away so immediately I start to run for it. I realize the dog is playing along and starts running too.

Now, at this moment, I'd like to ask a rhetorical question: Have you ever had something happen to you where you predict it happening in vivid detail, but only a second or two before it happens so you don't have any time to comprehend what you can do about it? Well that's what's about to happen to me.

As I'm nearing the road I need to cross to get to the bus stop I first realize there's a good chance I'll have to stop for at least one car. I also realize there's a good chance the dog won't stop. I also realize that the combination of icy roads and large piles of snow along the road will make it impossible for the driver to see the dog, much less be able to stop in time. And what do you know, that's exactly what happened. The car stopped but not quite fast enough. It the poor thing and made a sickening thud. The dog, however, seemed completely unfazed, bounced back up and disappeared down the road in a matter of seconds. The driver of the car was a stupid college age girl who clearly was thinking, "OHMAGODBECKY! I just hit a DOG! What do I dooooooooooooooo?" Then, I got on the bus and made it to class on time Hooray!!!

[Gearmond]

[the Life Aquatic]

u did everything u could, and im sure the fact that its a pit bull and the bad rep they have people would have turn and left

[Green Jacket]

Stray dogs: you're damned if you do, damned if don't. If you take the animal in, youll most likely end up taking in multiple animals without the time/ability/means to give them the necessary care and attention. If you leave them without doing anything, they will most likely suffer a terrible fate (and you're an ass). You gave all the time you could and went out of your way to help the poor dog. IMO, you did what you could hence everything is right. Even if the dog has to be put down, I'd much rather see them at least be fed and taken care of over them suffering/starving on the streets.

[morange]

You did the right thing. The puppies were probably already dead, and it sounds like the mother needs a lot of medical attention. Even if they put her to sleep, it's better than dying of starvation or some horrible combination of diseases or because of wounds from fights with other animals or getting hit by a car. If she has an owner, they'll go looking for her at the animal control place.

[htsamurai]

^holy shit, ass post.