Advice needed - Found dog, unsure what to do
For context - a beautiful Aussie mix showed up to my house on the morning of 6/10, he didn’t leave the house all day so we ended up feeding him that night and he has not left since. I’ve posted him on FB and the local rescue has posted him on the county’s lost dog FB group (there’s been a total of about 200 reposts) and I’ve received no messages claiming him. I’ve called the local shelter multiple times to see if anyone has called inquiring about him and each time they tell me that no one has. I’ve also taken him to the vet and he has no microchip. Other than putting up physical flyers I’m not sure what else to do to find his owner. 498
He is a blue merle, relatively well mannered, knows a few tricks and is super sweet. I just can’t imagine that he doesn’t have someone looking for him but on the other hand he doesn’t have a chip, isn’t fixed, has ticks and most likely fleas as well AND I’ve also had zero messages claiming him. I live in an area with about 25,000 people and I live “in town” on 20ish acres with no enclosed fence but we do have a small neighborhood that backs one side of the property that he could’ve come from and on the other side we have other homes without fences that he also could’ve come from but no one has come by asking for him nor has he left our property since he showed up.
I guess what I need advice on is at what point should I just assume that he doesn’t have an owner looking for him?
The other thing I need advice on concerning this dog - I am a young adult currently living with my parents. We already have two dogs between us, would adding a third make a huge difference (besides financially)? If we were to keep him he would be considered my dog which would mean 2 of the 3 are mine and when I move out I would be taking 2 with me. I’ve had my dog for the last 4 years, 2 of which I was living on my own but I’ve never been solely responsible for 2 dogs and the idea makes me a little nervous as I want all the dogs to live their happiest life but I also would feel terrible bringing this dog to our shelter knowing they are already overflowing with animals.
Thank you in advance, any advice is greatly appreciated. 661