Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / July 2006

No way to tell.  You can do vaccine titers, which might be supportive of
vaccination, but they are expensive.  Best thing to do is assume she hasn't
been vaccinated and get all her shots done!  Even if she's been vaccinated,
it's safe enough to do another set.

Deborah, DVM

..........A week isn't long enough.  I don't know what craigslist is, but if
it's on the computer, I think you'd be better off putting an ad in the local
paper to run at least a  week (usually free), notifying the animal shelter
and humane society.  While the animal shelter and humane society need a
complete description, I wouldn't describe the dog fully in the newspaper ad,
as there's lots of people out there trying to get free dogs for awful
purposes.  Example:  found brown/white small dog in such&such area  -
describe to claim.  Don't mention the sex of the dog either.  If they can
give you the approx. age, color and sex of the dog match, they're most
likely the owners.

.........I suggest you also notify the area vets.  They may be familiar with
this dog and the owners. Sometimes people even post pictures of lost pets at
their vet.  If the owners aren't interested in the dog any more, then at
least you'd have a history.  If you can't find the owners, I'd discuss what
shots are appropriate.  I don't think there's any rational reason for a
puppy series (3 weeks apart, or whatever it is) as this dog has a more more
mature immune system than an 8 week old puppy, who still has maternal
antibodies.

it was a very well groomed clean dog when we found it

........If this dog looks well nourished and groomed, they might still be
looking for him.  There have been a couple of dogs I've found in my life
that I really wished could have stayed with me, but alas it was not to be.

buglady
take out the dog before replying