I don't have any input for you but I just wanted to say that you are a very caring, kind person.
Many, many years ago I came home from work late at night and found a cat waiting for me on my porch. Turns out someone had given her to my irresponsible neighbor a couple of weeks before. I took the cat to the vet because she was peeing blood and the vet said she would have died without treatment. The cat was 2 when I got her and she lived to be 18. I know I saved her life.

That was a wonderful thing you did. That dog must be miserable. I am glad she is going to feel better.

Trin - I have no advice on what to tell Larry (nothing nice anyway). Thank you so much for taking care of Buffy. It's caring people like you that truly make a difference. Thanks for keeping us up to date. Buffy is going to be feeling so much better by tomorrow I'm sure of it.

Bless your heart! I can't believe Larry just lets her run all day. Maybe you can be her doggy day care? Keep us posted.

Just tell him you took her to have her groomed, and they couldn't finish it in one day. If he gets mad, tell him you thought doing that was better than calling the humane society. (it might work) Poor thing.
Leslie

You have a big heart. Buffy is going to feel so much better after she is groomed. Please post pictures when you get her home.

Your a good person Trin. Your pup looks like part Bishon. I have a Bishon and she gets clipped short in the summer too. It a nice cut for her. Just so your not shocked, she might get a sunburn after her haircut if she's in the sun for very long. They have giant freckles too.
Buffy is going to feel so much better now. I hope Larry is good about this.

Glad you are back home.

Let us know to-morrow how Larry reacts. Hope all goes well.

Maybe the suggestion that you will look after Buffy in the daytime and he at nights, is a good one. At least she would get enough good care to keep safe. The poor, poor dear.

We love our fubabies just like our kids. I have a dog and we live with my son. I call them my 2 boys.

I don't know your circumstances, but maybe you could offer to adopt Buffy? If he's not doing anything for her, he probably wouldn't mind.

She deserves so much more than to be ignored. Thank you for having the courage to 'get involved.'

Buffy is very cute. I'm sure she will feel much better after the vet and groomer get through with her.

Just tell Larry you couldn't stand to see her so miserable and that you were unable to reach him. Remind him you left a note. Tell him you debated about whether to take her to the vet or call animal control and the vet won - this time. He could be charge with neglect and/or animal cruelty if animal control gets involved.

Bless you for taking care of Buffy. I'm sure Larry's mother would be appalled at Buffy's condition. (There's another argument you could use. Put a guilt trip on him.)

Linda

Bless your little heart. The dog will never forget what you did for it.

I didn't know the whole story so I linked your first post. You are truly a good person to help this dog. I would tell Larry that it seems he doesn't have the time to care for this dog and you would be willing to take the dog. If he says no, then you need to tell him that it is abusive to not groom the dog and tend to his eye condition. He could be charged with animal cruelty if someone were to report him.
Donna

Here is a link that might be useful: link

I think I would say nothing to him, since he never acknowledged your last note. I doubt if you will hear anything from him tonight, and then just play it by ear as to what you might say in the future.

I agree, she could likely get sunburned if allowed to run free during the day. For that reason alone, she should be with you until her new 'do' grows out some.

Maybe you will never hear anything from Larry. He doesn't seem to care, so might even be relieved if he no longer had her.

Sue

I would wait to see if Larry asks about her. If he does I would tell him like a couple others here said re the choice of Animal Control or the vet.

He may not miss her for a couple days then he is going to wonder where that pretty new dog came from!! Can't wait to see her picture in her new "do."

Sue

Buffy looks so happy. I hope Larry thinks about it and lets you keep her.

I might just go to his door and say Oh Larry, my gosh something happened to Buffy. She had these oozing sores on her bottom and with her eyes and hair all matted up I knew your Mom would be so upset if I didn't take her in and get her all cleaned up so I did it. She will be home tomorrow.
Gosh but your Mom took such good care of her I just had to do something for poor Buffy. Hope your not mad.
**IF** he is, too bad so sad. You did the right thing. Who knows maybe he will feel bad (rightfully so!) and offer to pay or something?
I'd then offer to be her doggy daycare since it would benefit your pups and Buffy to have playmates and attention all day long! Hopefully Larry will say fine. Then in about 3 weeks say oh gosh I just noticed she will need her rabies shot! It HAS to be done! Most city laws say so.

Bless you again Trinity!! You did the right thing and by gosh thats all you can do...at least now she will be on the road to healing.
Big hugs of admiration for you! and big hugs to sweet Buffy, I know she loves you for what you've done!

Bless you Trinity for what you are doing! And the vet too, for his caring and generosity. You have had much good advise here about what to say to Buffy's former owner (he better not claim her after this) so I won't suggest what you should say to him. It wouldn't be fit to print anyway! I am very much a live and let live person, but I just don't understand people like Larry. I am truly hoping that sweet furbaby gets to spend the rest of her life with you.

Elisabeth

Oh I can't wait to see after pics...I bet Buffy is going to be sooooo happy...God Bless you trin.....Stacy

God bless you,Trin.I am so relieved it worked out well,for both of you.Cant wait to see pics of her tomorrow.

Shelley

I just spoke to my DH on the phone, and he thinks I should go and tell Larry what I have done. To be honest would be the best thing. I have to somewhat agree.
My day has been wrapped up in what to do here. I am fretting this like crazy. Every single one of my neighbors that I have spoken to (4) tell me not to say anything, he will never miss her. But Larry does look for her when he comes home from work. And that is my DH's concern. I will wait till DH gets home, and have him go with me to Larry's house if that is the choice we end up making.
What a doggy soap opera.
Hugs
Trin

You are such an wonderful guardian angel for that little dog. I can tell that Buffy loves you just by the expression on her pretty little face. I wouldn't volunteer any information to Larry at all. But should he ask, then I would say that you took the initiative to take the poor thing to the vet and that Buffy would be home the next day. Then I would just offer to take over ownership of the dog and let him know that he can come and visit with Buffy anytime and even maybe have a sleep over with Buffy from time to time. (At his house of course)
I think if you approach the subject with love and caring instead of disdain for Larry, you may just find yourself with a new dog in your life permanently.

Let us know what transpires.

Helen

I think you should tell the truth. You mentioned that Buffy's rabies tag showed that you both use the same vet. What if by some chance Larry takes the dog to the vet next week and someone says that Buffy had just been there. I don't know what position you're in but I wish Larry would offer to give Buffy to you.

I'm with your husband that it is better to tell Larry that you took Buffy to the vet and that she needed to stay. I would try not to put him on the defensive, but maybe word it that you understand that he is too busy with work, etc., so you wanted to do him and Buffy a favor by caring for her. Wishing you good luck in whatever you decide.
Veta

I'll have to go back and read the beginning of this story, but I just wanted to add my admiration for your very kind action. If Buffy could speak, she'd have plenty to say to you.

Trin,
You are a good person.
Let's just see if ol' Larry deigns to answer the door this time.
Maybe he won't and you can honestly say that you tried repeatedly to speak to him about the dog.

Dh just called me and said to wait till he gets home and we will make a decision on how we will handle this. It seems so odd to me, it really should not be this difficult. But you just never know with animals and their owners.
I am much more calm now that I have read all your posts, what a weird day.
Every day I consider Buffy mine, but then when I take her and leave her out of the neighborhood, I somehow feel horribly guilty. Like I have done something wrong.

I will post again soon,
Trin

Remember Judy, we're just like that cell phone service that has about 300 people standing to the side. We're on your side cheering you on!

I'm hoping ol Lar just has some issues going on and that he will love seeing his newly groomed Buffy.

I have been following this all along, you are an angel for taking care of this dog. Buffy is smiling at you in the picture, she knows who to come to. You now have the vet that can prove neglect if it becomes necessary. Hopefully, all will go your way. I can't even imagine my little one running around all day unsupervised, so many terrible things could happen to a dog that small.

trinitytx, I think you did a very good thing, but I can understand your husband's thinking. He is probably worried about legal action against you for taking someone's pet without permission. I would never let a pet get into that kind of condition, but if someone thought I wasn't doing a good job of caring for a pet, he would have a problem with me if he didn't get permission to take it.

You are such a wonderful person and I hope Larry understands why you did what you had to do.
Remember to mention that you did not want to get Animal Control involved but Buffy needed health care.
Please keep us posted and my thoughts are with you, DH and Buffy.
As for Larry, I will keep my unkind words to myself.
Deb

Trin, you could make up a few "Burma Shave" signs and place them on Larry's front yard that will explain where Buffy is.

When you look for Buffy
You will see,

She is not in the yard
Like she used to be.

Because you are so busy
She pleaded with me,

A trip with to the vet
And the groomer, you see.

Poor Buffy is alone
All day and night,

Because you have commitments
And you time is so tight.

For Buffy I hold
Lots of love in my heart.

Please don't make us
Stay apart.

You have mail Buzzard. This made me cry.

Trin

Oh Trin, you do have a wonderfully soft heart! I'm so glad you took the little girl in--what did the vet say about your situation with Larry? Are you afraid of Larry? It almost sounds like it. Either that or you are not one to step on others' toes if you can help it. I would keep it fairly short and sweet with Larry, and chances are he won't even care. He may not be as grateful as he should be, but I don't see why he would be angry. And it sounds as if your vet is as sweet as you are, keeping the cost down. Thank you so much for taking care of sweet little Buffy!

OMG..what a precious baby! My heart just melted at that last picture and the expression on her little face! You've done the right thing and if Larry can't see that, maybe HE needs a Dr.!!!

For some reason I'm betting Larry wouldn't care if you kept Buffy. Taking care of her seems to be a chore he'd rather not do. For Buffy's sake, I hope she ends up being YOUR dog!!!*S*

Trin, Buffy is such a sweet looking baby. Bless you for caring so much. I read your thread about talking to your neighbor before reading this one, so I know things went fairly well with him. I sure wish he would voluntarily relenquish her ownership to you.

Linda