What would you do? - Page 1

Carl & I were driving home from the grocery store through a heavy thunderstorm when I saw a dog stuck out on a rooftop. The house was a very nice new-ish colonial with a 1 story garage wing, a 2 story main house, & a 1 story wing on the other side of the house, with a porch roof that communicates between the other 2 first story shingled rooves. The rooftops had a fairly steep pitch, the rain was driving, it was windy, & this barrel shaped black lab was scrambling around on the roof on the left side of the house. The road was very curvy, & I did not stop until I was well past the house on a straight section of road, & then my husband did not want me to return, saying, "If he sees you, he might jump...!" Which I was afraid of as well. All the rest of the way home my husband offered me reasons why I should not have gotten involved, which I didn't; but now I'm......I dunno....I don't feel guilty, but I'm still worried about the dog. And I wonder, what SHOULD I have done? Stop? Call the police? Or nothing?
So I just wondered what you would have done?
Thanks, jackie harris

 I might have called a dept that could have possibily helped. But than he probably would have jumped if anyone stopped.  It being a Lab, I think I may have tried my luck and stopped to at least be there to catch it if it did jump. I would have brought it home with me and came back later to the home with the dog to return him to his owners.  

Hutchins, she said 'barrel shaped' black lab, which I take to mean the dog was severely overweight. If you think you can catch an 80 lb dog in your arms when it jumps (likely at LEAST 12 to 15 ft.) off a roof, you're either dreaming or you're the Incredible Hulk!

I likely would have either gone to the door, to see if someone was home, or called the police, who might have done the same.

Seriously, I  don't think there's a lot you can do in a situation like that.

Call 911.

I wouldn't call this an emergency that would rise to the level of calling 911.  But I would call your local Humane Society or Pet Rescue in your area as that's their job.  I keep their number on my cell because the only times I ever really need it seems to be the times its most inconvenient.

While not saying it's right, the dog might be there by its own choosing....
Growing up, our neighbors had a spaniel that would climb out a 2nd story window to hang out on the roof. When they would close the window, so dog couldn't go out, the dog would just bust through the closed window! They gave up & just let the dog come & go thru the window as it pleased... It never did fall off the roof... 

Personally, I don't believe the dog would jump. Just as if you are horseback riding on a narrow path on the edge of a cliff. The animals know. Like one poster stated, that was probably one of the things the dog did. If a concerned citizen by all means make a phone call but not a 911. PDs also have non-emergency numbers. If unsure call information.

I guess I have to disagree to an extent alboe.  On the high cliff trails they use donkeys or mules because horses do not seem to have the footing or common sense and do fall off. 
We  (not me)had a pup in our little town jump out a two story building window, and have to be put down.

I'm not saying the lab would have jumped though, I imagine he's done his roof walking before but if it was raining he could slip off.   I guess you could have driven to the neighbours house and have gotten them to call the owners.

I was taught that dogs do not have very good if any depth perception. I'm not sure if I believe that, but I wouldn't want to be the cause of the lab's demise by approaching the house. He/she was a really big dog, the legs looked like little matchsticks compared to the body. And I drove by the house again today & the garage door was open, with a black tail & dog rump sticking out, tail a-wagging. So I guess he survived! Thanks for all your responses! jackie harris