
(*Trigger Warning for Animal Abuse*)


Hello fellow Austinites -

I am here because last week I rescued a puppy at my apartment complex. I moved in back around February and I am in a first floor apartment. It was brought to my attention the other night that there was a dog stranded or left out on a third story patio - for weeks at that point, in the words of the man who informed me.

If anyone’s interested I can the give full details of this crazy story but in the interest of brevity … there was no one there in the apartment, got no help from property management/maintenance, etc. so I ended up having to get crafty and get up there and get him myself. I now have him in my possession and haven’t been able to go get him checked out yet, but am going ASAP. So I don’t know about a microchip or anything. 
 
Anyways I remember seeing this dog up there back around the time I moved in (February/March). I have a dog myself and they barked at each other a few times. And then, for months, I saw and heard nothing. I was shocked to find out that this dog still lived up there. For multiple reasons I do not believe the people who had him in this apartment were the original owners of this dog. If he was lost or possibly stolen it could have been around this time frame. February or earlier.

The puppy was severely malnourished - practically skin and bones. Very little energy, of course. Regardless of how long he was stranded out on the porch, the people who had him were clearly not taking care of him for quite some while it would seem. From what I could gather, the occupants of the apartment I rescued him from have not been around in some time. I got the feeling that these were squatters or something like that, and they were possibly arrested or detained elsewhere, or just abandoned everything at this place, or were just unable or unwilling to come back for their things.

As far as where I found him and my relative geographical area - I am located in South Austin, a little ways from the intersection of Menchaca and William Cannon, near the CVS and Sprouts. Also not far from the Westgate mall/intersection.  

You can see the pictures (my 75lb golden-doodle is also pictured for comparison), but as far as a description of the pup goes:

Hard to tell but he looks like he may be around 12-14 months old. As far as breed I definitely see some pit, but also some lab possibly? Chocolate lab? He’s not very big, maybe 35-40 lbs now after a week of normal eating. His coat is either black, with lighter brown hairs underneath, particularly his hind quarters - or it’s just very, very dark brown. Hard to tell. In the sun I see a lot of brown though. He has white fur on his neck, chest, and paws. Salt and pepper lower lip. I think his back legs are a bit bow legged.

Now that he’s feeling a little better, his personality has really come out. I believe he may have had a previous home, however brief, because he does respond to many commands - he can sit, he will go poop or pee if I tell him to and he also has to go, he stays close to me and listens when I call him or tell him to stop, he will lay on the bed when I tell him to. He’s very playful, loves to be inside and just chew bones or play tug of war. Loves to jump. Loves fetch. Extremely cuddly. Sleeps next to my head/chest every night. He’s a heavy spooner. Health-wise, he has really bounced back with ferocity. This is a very good, very resilient, very strong pup. 

Anyway I figured I’d see if anyone on Reddit recognized him. I’m going to contact APA and take him to look for a chip. I hope if he has a home we can get him back there. 

Either way, he is currently safe and sound. Thanks Austin

Rescued a Puppy in South Austin