.... may be, according to this message from Lori Paul:
Rob and I returned home late last night and saw not one, but three obviously related little tan cairn-type terrier dogs wandering in confusion down the hill near the trail junction... in coyote country. It was obvious that the little dogs were frightened and lost. We pulled aside, got out and tried to coax them over, but they were too skittish, except one. She hesitated and literally sat down in the middle of the road, trembling. We had to slow a car and truck coming up the hill so they wouldn't hit her. After about 10 minutes of edging closer to the little dog, I was able to touch her and then slide an old leash (that I keep in our glove box) over her head. She looked up with such a mournful expression, that I knelt down, petted her for a minute to reassure her, then picked her right up. She's a very gentle and endearing dog.
All we could do for her apparent siblings was to herd them downhill when they wanted to scatter and bolt back into Angeles Forest where the risk of encountering predators is greatest. The two of them were last seen traveling westward, somewhat together, on Loma Alta.
Once in the car, the little terrier settled in my lap and leaned against me with desperate relief. She shook for a few minutes, but exhaustion won out and she put her tired head down and rested. We drove down to Pasadena Humane Society where the after hours staff, Officer Murphy, took her in. He appeared charmed by the little dog. He promised clean water, some good food and safety.
All three dogs appeared dirty with scruffy coats and long term crusty stains under their eyes. The one we captured was not starved, but thin. She appears to be young. No collar and no microchip, according to Officer Murphy. Her impound # is A340800:
http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=PSDN.A340800
This is a very sweet, reddish-tan little rough-coat terrier. She appears to be a Cairn Terrier mix, with longer legs than purebred as well as cute, half-flopped over triangular ears.
If you can give this lost waif a home when she comes up for adoption (we doubt that a responsible owner is out there!), please go see her and consider bailing her out. She is a very sweet dog who could fit well into your home and heart.
If any of you see her "siblings" running about, please try to capture them and reunite them with the dog we found by taking them to Pasadena Humane Society. One of the three dogs was lighter colored and smaller, almost like a rough-coated chihuahua. None of the dogs topped 20 lbs. in weight.
Thanks,
Lori
P.S. We hope our neighborhood and vicinity is not becoming a dumping ground for dogs, cats (like the mother cat and kittens Croix and others rescued) and even rabbits, but we fear this is the case. If you see anyone dumping an animal, please try to get description and driver's license. It is against the law to dump any animal, but it is particularly cruel and inexcusable to do so in the National Forest (currently closed to visitors) where there are so many large predators.
