I'm trying to think of ways to help this stray dog who comes around our house a lot.

For the last several months there's been a stray dog that will come to our house to lay under the cars for shade. It does get exteremly hot out here and I'm sure she gets tired easily. She was knocking over our trash cans looking for food, but we moved the cans to where she can get them and we do leave food out for her and water. We dont' give her food every day, but we at least make sure there is water for her to drink.

She refuses to come close to any of us. She will keep about 10 yards from us at least. She trusts us enough to let us feed her and to be in our our presence, but if we get too close or if she hears us coming she'll take off.

It's hard not being able to do more for her. I know that she doesn't trust humans with how she acts towards us. She's a beautiful dog and deserves a loving home, but I'm sure she would need time to let an humans get close. I'm not sure what we can do to help her any more. It's hard to think about her being outside in the heat.

Is there a local Humane Society there or a No Kill Shelter? I would definitely start there. I have found in my experience that the smaller shelters (ours is non-profit, and we are all volunteers - no one is on a payroll) are more apt to help as opposed to the SPCA which here are big and usually busy. I also would prefer to place a dog like what you describe in one that could work with the dog and deal with the dogs issues. The dog would go to a foster home (hopefully) - in our case the foster home person works with a trainer to help the dog overcome the fears so the dog is adoptable (or the foster home person ends up keeping him/her)

We don't have a local humane society. It's several towns away and out by us if there's any strays it's Animal Control who takes them to a kill shelter that I have notice. She's one of those dogs that will run at the sight of people and into the desert which is very hard for humans to get into to follow due to all the catus and bushes. Right now she seems pretty untrustly to all humans. I'm not sure that getting someone out there to get her would be the best thing. It took her months to get this close to us and not to completely run away from us if she hears us.

it's a good idea though. Thanks

The most important thing to do for a stray dog is to catch them. Call your animal control for assistance--that's what they are there for. Often they will loan you a humane trap that you can set food in to try and catch the dog.

A dog like that, which doesn't trust humans, really needs to be a foster home where it can socialized. Normally I would suggest contacting Best Friends as they have connections across the country if you're in the US, but they are extremely back logged due to Katrina, so you'd probably have better luck finding a foster home on your own or with assistance from Animal Control.

You might try a trap . . . I caught a dog that was really nervous of people that way. Do you have any private dog rescues in your area that you can get in touch with?

i had a similar problem with a cat, we did what you are doing with the food and water.he wouldn't let us go near him but he eventually gained our trust.presumeably the dog you are trying to help has been mistreated by humans in the past, hence her shyness,if i were you, i would try to show you mean her no harm.perhaps you could let her smell you and talk gently to her.if that doesn't work, do what kpickell says, thats my advice anyway :yes:

I agree with somehow trapping the dog and getting her to a no kill center. Can you ask or pay for a ride with someone with a truck? The problems with keeping a stray out there are manyfold. Their lives are short and miserable. They are suseptible to rabies and other diseases because they are most likely not innoculated. An unspayed female will continue to produce puppies which are all further at risk of becoming food for any wandering stray or large carnivore. Dogs form packs which can be dangerous. Either she or her possible puppies can become so feril that they eventually kill a human, livestock or get into other trouble.

another thing to consider, what if she already has puppies that she's caring for? if she's caught will she be leaving babies behind? i'd try to follow her and see where she's been sleeping to make sure before trying to catch her.

as for getting her to approach you so you can catch her, try sitting down on the ground, get as low as you can, less threatening, and offer some food. throw some to her, a little closer to yourself each time, eventually she may get close enough to sniff you. don't try touching her yet, it'll take a few days of this for her to understand that you're not going to hurt her. don't raise your arms around her, keep your hands down and palm up. no sudden movements or noises etc.

good luck :)