I like Petfinder.com. It will have listings for most of the shelter pets in the region, and you can easily screen your results by breed, age or location.

Sunday, May 6th, 2012
Puyallup Pups & Purrs Adoption Event
http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/pet/2976417132.html
http://www.animalalliancewa.org/

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Saturday, May 12th, 2012
Whiskers, Wings & Wagging Tails Pet Fair*
Redmond Senior Center

8703 160th Ave NE
Redmond, WA

http://www.facebook.com/events/139496612842064/

*I'll be at this one meeting folks to talk about having avians as pets (with one of my own with me). There WILL NOT be birds there for adoption. But, we (NWEBS) will have a couple to visit with and will be happy to talk to anyone that is thinking of taking on this major decision or has questions about care or issues with their current feathered charges.

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Saturday, May 19th, 2012
Auburn Petpalooza
http://www.auburnwa.gov/government/calendars/community/petpalooza_s0_p6854.asp
Lots of animal shelter and rescue groups will be represented at this event. Good for fun and finding out information about local groups. I do not know if there will be animals there for adoption.
NWEBS will be at this one also.

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There are other adopt-a-thon events that occur in King and Pierce County but these are the first events that I am aware of or have seen listed for this year. You will need to check with events happening in a county outside of your residence to be sure that you can adopt an animal from their exhibitors and groups attending.

If you're not finding anything at the shelters try craigslist I just looked and today alone there were several free puppies.

"Barking is a form of communication for dogs. Communication is described as a transmission of information between one animal and another or between groups of animals with the intent to affect behavior. Typically, communication takes place-using signals that may include verbal, tactile, odors (pheromones), facial expressions and body movements. The communication exchange will usually have three components. These components consist of 1.) the animal sending the message, 2.) the animal receiving the message and 3.) the communication signal. The purpose of the message is to change the attitude, mood or behavior of the recipient. The receivers’ response indicates whether the senders’ message, the function of the behavior has served its purpose." http://responsibledog.net/barking.html

I emailed and later called and talked with Michael Bell of the American Bulldog Association. He explained some of the differences between them and said that he would probably be able to tell you if he saw the dog. He certainly would be a great resource to consult for other experts and the appropriate place to have DNA testing done.

I hoped he would register and answer your question here (and may still) but you could always send him an email with some photos and ask directly.

American Bulldog Association
P. O. Box 812
Durant, Oklahoma 74701
(580)931-3331 calling hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 7 days a week CST

Email:
ababulldog@myrhinomail.com

http://www.american-bulldog.com/

Firstly, why does it matter? Hopefully, no matter what kind of dog you have you intend to take good care of it. If this a question of "what kind of dog do I have so I know if I can sell its puppies?" you are an idiot who shouldn't be breeding dogs anyway. Spay and neuter. 

If, however, you need to know for reasons such as a homeowner's policy, then get a doggie DNA test kit. Ask your insurance company which brand meets their standards before buying. Also, if you're investigating for insurance purposes, train your dog and go for a Canine Good Citizen certification. Doesn't hurt, may help, and it's good to have a well-behaved dog no matter what kind it is.

Zip ties. Won't save the tag, but many of those are aluminum anyway.

Maybe a coated metal (like spray urathane or acrylic clear coat) you might be able to find a place online that does stainless steel or as was said above a plastic (I'd be afraid of it breaking though unless you can find one with metal reinforcement inside the plastic).

You can get sturdier jump rings at hardwicks or any hardware store that sells keys.

Also on the pricier side you could get his collar embroidered with the important info ( online or at fru fru pet stores)

The first thing that popped into my mind when you asked was one of those plastic key chains with your name engraved in it. Grampa and grandma get them when their in Florida in the shape of that state's license plate.

But I would think something plastic with the engraving in them would not be affected by salt water.

Best I can suggest. Perhaps they sell them at the vet's office?

You can get a tag that you attach to the collar directly. The one I linked to below uses a velcro attachment; I've also seen ones that you sew onto the collar (I saw that one in the checkout line at Petco last time I went).

I don't know how much that might help, because you might still get corrosion of the metal tag itself, but it would get around the small loop rusting off.

http://www.amazon.com/Collar-Tag-engraved-attaches-available/dp/B003MLBLKC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328219637&sr=8-1

Here's a link about how to pick a rescue/shelter dog. It has a list of local shelters at the bottom.

http://ahimsadogtraining.com/handouts/choosing-a-shelter-dog-hsus.html

And here's another article, How *not* to pick a rescue dog: http://ahimsadogtraining.com/blog/2009/04/16/how-not-to-pick-a-rescue-dog/

Good luck! Any age of dog will bond with you and be happy to be in a good home.

Hey you. PAWS is my favorite Seattle shelter- they do a really cool "profiling" to match people up with animals. They're in Lynnwood but well worth the drive. Paws.org

Seattle Animal Shelter is online as well- just Google! And Petfinder.com has really good search criteria and will let you really get specific in your search- it lists almost all local shelters as far as I know (at least it's available to them).

I know a lot of people will pick pets up from Craiglist- but I've heard over and over again how much more expensive that can be (even "free" animals) due to irresponsible pet owners. Shelter babies always have shots, are spayed or neutered, and have a clean bill of health before they can be adopted.

A great way find a pet is to just let your friends and colleagues know that you are looking to adopt one. That's how I got my dog. I had lunch with my brother one day about a decade ago and he asked what I was up to. I said I was looking to adopt a dog. He was fresh out of college working this shitty furniture delivery job driving a truck around Seattle. Next day at work his truck driving partner asks what he's been up to, he says he had lunch with his brother yesterday, brother's looking to adopt a dog. Truck driver says "no shit?" he's getting divorced and can't keep his dog. Sounds like we'd be a real match lifestyle-wise. We meet the next day at a park halfway between our houses, and all of a sudden, I've got a dog. Dude was getting divorced, and couldn't keep him. I probably wouldn't have qualified for a Humane Society adoption, being an umemployed college student at the time.

That was 9 years ago. The dog's been out to the San Juans with me, chased seagulls on the beach on the coast, run around wheat fields in Pullman, swam in Puget Sound and Lake Washington a hundred thousand times. We have a lot of fun together.

The point of my story is, that I got my dog by just telling everybody I knew that I was in the market for a pup. Tell your siblings, your co-workers, the people in your yoga class, the old lady down the street, the guy you carpool with. Betcha they know somebody who knows somebody who has a great dog that needs a loving new home.

Animal shelters or rescues for breeds people think they want because they're popular (search breed plus rescue) please don't go to a puppy farm or a pet store that carries puppy farm dogs). There are Soooooo many unwanted dogs. Give one of them a chance. Animal shelters usually post some of their dogs on line now and you can get an idea of who they have in stock.

Puppies are a ton of work. If it's your first dog think about getting one a few years old. You won't have to train them how to behave and go to the bathroom every few hours ( it's like having a baby, personally I think people should hav a puppy before kids so they can get an idea of the amount of workin one dog year to what you're in for the first 7 years of a kid). If you can't come home every few hours or hav roomates or a really cool job you and the dog will be much better suited with a 2 year old dog that won't destroy your place if you can't come home for 6 -10 hours. Unless you can afford doggie day care

Because they are bitches.

I agree with Tom - call Animal Control or 911 especially for offleash dogs in parks and playgrounds.
-- If you've ever had your dog grabbed and held in place at a Seattle playground, that was probably me. I don't put up with dogs on playgrounds- Whether your dog is nice or not, there are tiny children with serious fears of dogs -or large animals in general- and there's absolutely NO reason to terrorize them. Playgrounds are for KIDS - I will collar your dog every damn time so just DONT.

Especially if it's a older dog I would urge you to go in. Several years ago I thought my dog was having a repeat of a prior fungal infection he'd had in his sinuses and been treated for successfully by a vet where I used to live. So, because it was cheaper, I got the antifungal mister from that vet to save the cost of a new vet office visit to check it out. Same symptoms, like 2 years later, I figured the fungus is back and we'll dose it, and bam, done, right?

Wrong. The dog had sinus cancer which killed him about a year and a half later. I fucking loved that pup, and I quite likely passed up a chance to catch it early and maybe treat it effectively. I dunno, and it breaks my heart to think about it. Don't let it slip would be my take, although I get the $$ concerns. I'm never gonna feel OK about that.

I think off-leash bothers me less than the poop that isn't picked up or the folks that being their dogs into the childrens' play areas.

It seemed like once the weather got cold and rainy a lot of people sipped picking up after their dogs. Cleaning crap off of mine and my kid's shoes has been a thrill, let me tell you.

Because dog owners are like parents: nobody thinks that *their* little darling could possibly be a bother to anyone. Other people's dogs (kids) cause problems and earn them all a bad rap--not THEIRS.

We just love our dogs more than we we love you. We don't even like you.

Seriously, though, I am guilty of this myself but do pick up dog shit and do keep an eye on my dog. He's a complete goofball but intimidating to non-dog folks because he's big. But he's well trained and responds freakishly well to voice commands and actually does much better off leash than on.

Having said that I really can't stand punk ass irresponsible dog owners myself. (I realize I am conveniently and illogically excusing my own peccadilloes but tough shit- if you want ethical and/or rhetorical purity I ain't your guy- hypocritical? Probably.)

Drop a dime on the offenders and call Animal Control. Seattle's AC is pretty responsive to this sort of thing though they do seem to defer to the communities historic use of some parks and open spaces (but only to a point). That goes for lots of city departments.

Is your dog brachycephalic (short snouted) like a pug or bulldog? These types of dogs and their hybrids can get reverse sneezing events that sound and rather look like retching, but usually aren't serious. Google reverse sneezing to get video and audio.

Also, does your dog like toys? Are any missing? Small toys or pieces of toys have been known to persist in dogs' stomachs for months after ingestion, causing persistent yet intermittent problems while they are in the stomach.

To be certain, though, you need to get to the vet. It could be symptomatic of certain kinds of cancer, pica, or any number of things, all with varying amounts of associated costs to treat.

Probably reacting to the vibration through the deck and the low frequency rumble of the engines. Doubt there's much you can do, except feed him a doggie-downer tranquizer well before you expect to cross the ferry. MAYBE that will help. Be careful though.

2nd the below answer. My only addition would be to stay with the dog and attempt to calm him (petting, talking, treats, whatever usually works). I've never had a similar problem, but as with most things that trip dogs out, I think owners can socialize to comfort via the above.

i have nothing helpful to tell you - my dog loves wherever i take him instantly - but i thought this would be a great time to share this comic about the neuroses of dogs who are being moved.  the whole thing is waiting for you here. 

below: the pain of watching one pack.

I believe this issue was addressed in Legally Blonde.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-oI_neM8qE

(P.S. Good luck!) :)

I highly doubt the police are going to get involved in this; they have better things to do. Worst case scenario, your ex takes you to court, but it doesn't exactly sound like he's in a great position to hire an attorney.

If I were you, though, I would be worried that he might try to steal the dog back and would take extra precautions to make sure that didn't happen. Have you changed the locks to your place since he moved out?

If he were more reasonable and responsible about this, maybe you could work out supervised visits with the dog, but it sounds like that ship has sailed.

Get a statement from the vet saying that you are the one that has been responsible for bringing the dog in and making payment for services. To reinforce that take her in for a well-doggie checkup, if it has been at least a year since last visit, keep that bill also.

Be sure others know you are the major caregiver for this dog, neighbors, family members, local community folks. Take her places with you, be seen walking her in the neighborhood, establish your role and involvement.

Call or better yet go in to the humane society office (take her with you so they can see she is well and in good hands) and describe your situation and see what their take on the matter is. Don't worry, they have enough animals needing homes, they don't want her back, if she is in a loving caring home.

Adam Karp is a wonderful and good person to talk with and would be the best person for legal consultation with on this situation.

So, I have been known to watch a little People's Court/Judge Judy in my time (yeah, yeah, I know). Anyway, they always say that pets are property and have to be treated as such legally.

My gut feeling is that if you can prove that you've paid for the dog's maintenance and upkeep, then you can prove you’re the fair owner of the “property” (it kills me to write that so I have to use quotation marks).

Not sure that he’d be up for this, but you could offer to buy out your boyfriend’s share of the "property" (i.e. write him a check that specifically notes that it is for his share of the dog, sign a contract that gives away his rights or whatnot). That could upset him more than just stopping all communication with him though, so tread lightly.

Regardless, I’m sorry you’re going through this and wish you the best.

It can take a little while to get used to new places, but part of it is also training and what the family does to help the dog learn to relax there.

My suggestion is that instead of jumping to legal measures, you leave a note on the door to let the people know that their dog is barking. Some people don't even know until their neighbors complain, because the dog doesn't bark until they're gone.

Recommend that they see a trainer for help and be patient with the owners of this dog, if you can. Training can take time.

Only good things,
Grisha

_________________________________
Grisha Stewart, M.A., CPDT, CTP
Owner of Ahimsa Dog Training http://DoggieZen.com
Author of "BAT for Reactivity"
902 NW 49th Street
Seattle, WA 98107
Store Phone and Fax: (206) 706-0375
Phone when store is closed: (206) 364-4072

Award-winning training by professionals who care about people and dogs!

I'm not a lawyer, and I don't know who the dog is better off with, but personally, I'd fight for custody. Does your dog have a microchip? If so, whose name is on that? Whose name is on the records at your dog's vet? All of that should help.

Adam Carp is an animal lawyer and would be able to give you better advice. http://www.animal-lawyer.com/

I'd think it would be worth the peace of mind to pay him to give you advice on what to do, possibly even get a letter from him to the ex-boyfriend that all communication goes through your attorney.

Only good things,
Grisha

_________________________________
Grisha Stewart, M.A., CPDT, CTP
Owner of Ahimsa Dog Training http://DoggieZen.com
Author of "BAT for Reactivity"
902 NW 49th Street
Seattle, WA 98107
Store Phone and Fax: (206) 706-0375
Phone when store is closed: (206) 364-4072

Award-winning training by professionals who care about people and dogs!