Some dogs are more adoptable than others. Kai is one of the others.

An online rescue group is working against time to save Kai, a 12-year-old chow in the county pound. Kai's owner is looking for a home herself, since the place she's been staying is to be demolished to make way for new construction. She turned 90 in June and is heartbroken at the thought that Kai may have to be put down.

Moore County Animal Control Officer Frank Ringelberg has promised to keep Kai at least until Monday, Oct. 29, no matter what. After that, the dog's fate will depend on available space. Staff makes difficult triage decisions every morning, he said.

"There is no maximum," he said. "Make sure people know: There is no time limit. Every morning two or three people go around making decisions based on how full we are. We get filled up. We can house 100 dogs and cats, but we have days we bring in 15 or 20. We already have to make decisions. If we believe an animal will be not adoptable, we have to do what we have to do."

Some animals are just more adoptable than others.

"Size is not important," he said. "Age is kind of important. Most dogs don't make it to 10 years. The best age is to a year, and then special interests people are looking for. After this, it is really the behavior of the dog."

People always want a friendly dog, but Kai has not been around people very much. He is a handsome dog, but he would need loving care and retraining if he finds a new home.

He had been in the care of his elderly owner's disabled son-in-law, who lived in a run-down house on an unpaved drive in Taylortown. He recently moved to Wilmington, and Kai remained behind in the fenced lot and its large doghouse. The man's mother-in-law came every other day to feed him, but at her age was just not physically able to keep Kai groomed.

Last week the property owner decided he no longer wanted the dog there. He called Animal Control and officers seized Kai.

Kai is healthy, but apprehensive and antagonistic to strangers. His coat was badly matted.

There is no chow rescue agency in North Carolina, Ringelberg said. ChowCharmer, a South Carolina rescue organization, would take him, but has no room at present. They've created a Facebook page online in hopes of finding a new owner who can rescue Kai by Monday.

Contact John Chappell at (910)783-5841 or jfchappell@gmail.com.