Canine couple together to the end

Joanne Kelley, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 11, 2007 at midnight

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When it comes to puppy love and heartbreak, rush-hour traffic can wait.

A male chow mix laid down in the middle of a busy street this morning to keep watch over its companion, a female German shepherd mix, after it was hit and killed by a car on Chambers Road near East 52nd Avenue.

The dogs lacked any identifying tags and had been reported running loose together for the past two days, according to Denver Animal Care & Control director Doug Kelley.

"When a companion animal is hit, they'll stand vigil. It's sad," Kelley said of the dog. "It's kind of uncommon to see it in the middle of the road."

He speculated the two dogs, neither of which had been spayed, had been involved in a "romance."

Denver police officers were called to the scene just after 6:30 a.m. to help direct traffic until animal control officials could respond to the situation, according to a police department spokesman.

Patrolman Bill Tyler said two "good Samaritans" helped out at the scene. One driver blocked the lane with a car and turned on the vehicle's flashing lights after a couple of cars narrowly missed hitting the chow and its lost love.

Another person was able to get the surviving dog onto the median between the north and southbound lanes of Chambers, Tyler said.

"The chow didn't want me to get anywhere close to the dead dog," said Tyler. "I guess you could say (the dog was upset)."

The male dog wore no collar, while the shepherd had a blue nylon collar. Animal control had received a call about the dogs on Monday because they were on the loose in the area, but officers were unable to find them when they responded.

The chow was "not real friendly" when animal control staff arrived to take her to the shelter, Kelley said.

It continues to be "snarly and standoffish" when approached, behavior that disqualifies it for a possible adoption.

An assessment of its behavior and health will be conducted on Saturday. If it passes certain tests and has not been claimed by an owner at that point, it could be available for adoption on Monday.

"I hate to get anybody's hopes up if he isn't adoptable," Kelley said.

Denver Animal Care & Control offers dogs for adoption daily, Monday through Saturday. For more information: www.denvergov.org/animalcontrol or visit 678 S. Jason St.

Denver Animal Care & Control officials will assess the chow's behavior and health on Saturday. If it passes certain tests and has not been claimed by an owner, it could be available for adoption Monday, though its behavior at the moment isn't promising.

The city agency offers dogs for adoption daily, Monday through Saturday. Information: www.denvergov.org/animalcontrol or visit 678 S. Jason St.

Anyone take a photo?

If you happened to see the dog guarding his dead companion this morning and took a photo with your cell phone, we’d like you to send it to us to share with our readers. Email your photo to photoed@RockyMountainNews.com.

kelleyj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5068

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