Found Akita Winchester VA area

[CVPeg]

Thought this not a bad idea to post here considering all the Northern VA people here.

Just got off the phone with my sister who lives in the countryside outside of Winchester. They have been caring for an Akita or Akita mix for over a week now, and she has tried to find the owners, but having no luck.

The dog is young - light colored (fawn or red?), probably 6-12 months old according to the vet, and apparently no microchip in place. Dog is also not neutered. He seems well cared for.

She suspects he was dropped off as he keeps trying to return to the dirt road intersection down the road. She has called the local shelters, watched ads, and been in touch with an Akita rescue, but they have advised they can only come out to ID the breed, but have nowhere to place him for now.

Sister and BIL cannot keep him, so will be turning him over, with a donation, to the Frederick County VA shelter. PM me if you may know of this dog, and I’ll give you the contact info. Thanks!

[GraceLikeRain]

Sounds like they have tried hard to get the word out. She could also post a found ad on craigslist and call the local vets. Hopefully he is a missed dog and not dumped.

[Anne_FS]

Poor thing. I agree with your sister and think he was dumped off, so his owners are not going to claim him. However, ask the Akita rescue and others if they’ll take a courtesy listing and list him with his shelter information. Might give him a chance of finding a home.

[Bacardi1]

Things may have changed since I resided in the Winchester area back in 1995-1997, but back then the Frederick County Animal Shelter was NOT a “no-kill” shelter. It was basically a pound run by the county. They used to gas a couple of dozen cats every day; don’t know what the dog numbers were. I adopted a lovely Doberman puppy from there that was dropped off by its - ahem - “breeder” - a few days before Xmas because the pup had too much white on its chest to be registered & thus sold for $$$. Owner/“breeder” told the pound to euthanize the dog. Thank God someone there knew I was a sucker for Dobies & callled me. That little girl - our lovely “Liesl” - although a bit on the small side, was the lovliest Dobie anyone could ever want. We lost her just a few years ago to an inoperable tumor. I’d adopt another one like her in a heartbeat, regardless of background.

But regardless, might be worthwhile to check & see if the shelter is now no-kill. Somehow I think not, but I could be wrong.

[Anne_FS]

If your sister could snap a picture, that would be great. There are German Shepherd mixes that people sometimes classify as Akita mixes. Maybe a photo would help get other breed rescues involved.

[chicken_derby]

Esther Boyd, the Fred Co shelter, and SPCA, the Winchester city shelter are both kill shelters. Now, I do not know either way about Esther Boyd, but I do know that the SPCA tries VERY hard not to euthanize any animal without a good reason.

Now, Esther Boyd is a newer, modern looking building and SPCA is run down looking and older, but I know people on the SPCA board and I know they are really trying and do care about the animals. Nothing bad about Esther Boyd, but I don’t have the connections there.

Then, there is the Briggs Animal Adoption Center up in Charles Town. They are no kill but honestly you have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting them to take in an Akita. They are very “picky” about the dogs they take, unfortunately.

[CVPeg]

He has been taken to the Frederick County VA shelter, but sister says the Akita rescue is in the process of trying to find a foster home for him, and get him out of there. Have seen a picture, and he certainly has the wide Akita head, sharp ears, and curled tail vs. a GSD.