Lucky might be lucky..

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

After years in a basement, Lucky the dog might finally be catching a break

By Nancy Bartley

Seattle Times staff reporter

A dog that's been living in the basement of a Shoreline house for most of four years — the past two months with its owner out of town — might be closer to being freed, a spokeswoman for King County Regional Animal Services said Tuesday.

Christine Lange said the agency is working to get a search warrant to enter the house in the 14700 block of 23rd Avenue Northeast and rescue the dog. But she said the agency also has been in contact with the man who has occasionally feeds the dog, and is attempting to have him release the dog to a shelter so it can eventually be adopted.

"If negotiations break down," Lange said, "then we'll go ahead with the search warrant."

The fluffy white-and-black dog, named Lucky, barks and throws himself at the walls whenever he hears humans nearby.

It's heartbreaking for Gerry Harris, a dog owner next door who eight years ago complained to the owner about the dog being left alone in the back yard to bark. In answer to her complaints, the owner locked the dog in the basement.

Harris said she complained to the owner about the dog's treatment to no avail.

Two months ago, Harris said, the owner left town, leaving Lucky in the basement to be sporadically fed by her ex-husband. Harris said he has seen the man open the sliding glass basement door about a foot, pour dry food through, add a can of wet food and quickly leave.

Lucky has had no human companionship, neighbors say, and is living in his own waste.

The dog came to the notice of King County Regional Animal Services this week when neighbors became increasingly concerned about it and told authorities they had not seen the owner for some time.

Monday, animal services went out to the house and left a note on the door asking the owner to call. When there was no response, they began seeking solutions.

Kelly Page of the rescue group Dogs Deserve Better has pressured animal control to remove the dog from the home and not simply ask the owner to take dog-training classes, which was the agency's first inclination.

"It's not a matter of food or water for the dog," Lange said. "We're just trying to find the best possible outcome."

source

[SivartM]

Poor Lucky. I hope they can get him out soon.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I hope so, too!! He looks like a nice dog!

[Gail]

:( I'm glad the authorities and media have gotten a hold of the story. I think Lucky's chances got better when that happened.

[phkrause]

Yes hope they can get the dog out of there.

[Dottie]

If they are successful, his name will come true for at least one dog mistreated by an owner.