Is it wrong under the circumstances?

Question

There is a dog at a house outside of my work that i am like 95% sure is being abused. He has been tied up to the same tree on a 6 foot leash for the last 3-4 years rain/ snow/ hail or otherwise. he is a white dog that looks more brown than anything cuz he is so dirty!! Poor thing. I want to take this dog home with me so bad! He is a very sweet dog too. Would it be so bad under the circumstances to steal him? I would feel awful stealing someones dog but the obviously don't care about him that much and I could give him a loving home. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Answer 1

Unfortunately having a dog tied up outside is perfectly legal so long as he has an enclosure for protection from the elements. If he isn't starving or badly injured animal control will not be able to help you.

Stealing the dog is a crime, but it sounds like he could use a new home... While I can't tell you to take him, if you are sure he isn't being taken care of properly, I would never tell you not to ;-)

Yes, calling animal control could help... but then you could never take him home after that unless he is confiscated by the officers. If you report animal abuse and the dog turns up missing guess who their second suspect is going to be? (after the owners...) You must be careful when reporting animal abuse, unless there is clear, undenyable and easily provable abuse animal control can't and won't do anything but issue a warning. If the dog does not have a dog house, they will make the owners buy one or offer to take the dog off of their hands. Of course, maybe the owners don't really want the dog but just never considered giving him up for adoption, an ACO offering to take the dog right now with no further bother to them could get the dog into adoptions. Plus, if you steal the dog it could have any number of health conditions which you are unaware of. A bad health condition could cost hundreds to treat, but he could also be perfectly healthy physcially, so think long and hard before you decide on the best course of action.

Answer 2

DO NOT STEAL HIM. This is illegal. But you can call the local Humane Society or police and report that this dog is being abused and neglected.

By going on someone's property to steal their dog, you are trespassing and stealing, and can be arrested. You also do NOT know how the dog will react, and the dog could get aggressive, putting you in danger. You also do NOT KNOW how the OWNER will react and this could put you in serious danger.

You can inquire with the Humane Society about the disposition of the dog and ask to adopt him when he is ready to go to a new home. If he is in bad shape, the shelter may need to keep him until he gains enough weight to be adoptable and to treat him for any diseases or illnesses he may have because of his treatment. And the current owners need to be handled by the LEGAL system for their wrongs against this animal.

DO NOT TAKE THE LAW INTO YOUR OWN HANDS< call the authorities.

Answer 3

I think you should call animal control or the humane society and report the abuse of the dog. Tell them exactly what you have posted here, and tell them you would like to adopt the dog. Animal control will definitely come out and examine the dog and if they find the dog to be malnourished or/and mistreated/neglected they will confiscate the dog and it would become up for adoption. If you steal the dog you could get into trouble, plus the dog will probably need immediate medical attention. So let the authorities do their jobs and then go and adopt the dog. Good Luck :)
PS. Reporting the incident can be from an anonymous caller if you want, so don't be scared to call.

Answer 4

Yes, sorry. It is wrong to steal the dog. If you are certain the dog is not being cared for properly, either abused or neglected, then call your local animal control. They will check it out and are better qualified to determine whether or not there is abuse. It is unfortunate, but most state laws merely require that the owners supply adequate shelter (loosely defined in the statutes), food and water. The law usually allows dogs to be tethered but require a minimum length chain or rope be used. Also, be prepared because animal control can do very little without proof that the dog is truly being neglected or abused. It may appear that they aren't doing anything but trust me, they are doing all they are allowed to do. (Pets are property and are not considered to have "rights" as humans do). The AC officer will give the owner plenty of time to correct the situation before they take action against them or seize the animal. This can be frustrating for the observer.
If you see that the dog is tangled in the chain, has no food or water, then take a photograph (date coded if possible) and give it to the animal control officer when they come in response to your call. (It's tempting here to correct the situation by giving food, water or untangling the dog, but you would be defeating your goal). Also, typically, one photo is not enough as nearly everyone's dog is without food and water at least one time in their life. In other words, it has to be proven that this is repetetive behavior for this owner to not provide the basics for his dog. Call in the report that you suspect neglect--at a minimum. Call in a report EVERY time you see an incident that the animal is not being cared for. They will not ignore repeated reports of owner neglect. Maybe, just maybe, the owner doesn't know any better and the animal control officer can educate him or her. At the very least, the owner will be aware that someone is paying attention and therefore will be more likely to pay more attention to the situation himself by doing right by the dog.
(I know it is tempting to steal the dog, but don't do it. Two things to consider, what will you do when you are charged with the crime, and what would you do once you have the dog in your possession?)
Good luck.

Answer 5

Not at all - you go get that poor little dog and take him home. Just don't get caught!!!!! Because that is a crime - animal's and people are both treated the same when it comes to the law - in California anyway - I don't know where you live so the laws there might be different. Anyway - you go girl and get that innocent little dog and take him home and love him. DON'T GET CAUGHT THOUGH - PLAN OUT YOUR SCENARIO REAL WELL SO ALL GOES OK. BE SAFE AND I SURE HOPE THE DOG'S AT YOUR HOUSE BY THE END OF THE WEEK.
If you have time - get back with me and let me know how it goes. Thanks You've got a big heart and I give you a big thumbs up and a big hug.

Answer 6

Call Animal Control and let them know. They will investigate and if they find abuse, they will ask the owners to relinquish their rights to them. If they choose not to, they must comply with the rules of how to own a dog and properly take care of him, if they don't, A.C. can get a warrant and seize the dog and any other animals on the property. If they take the dog, and the dog is adoptable, they will offer him for adoption. Just keep your eyes open to if he ever isn't in that same horrible 6 foot diameter location. If you see he's gone, call inquiring about him. Good luck. Best to do this legally than not. That sounds like a horrible way to live!

Answer 7

Call the animal control officer. Let him know what the circumstances are. He will investigate and seize the animal if it is being neglected. At that point, the dog would go to a shelter. Go to the shelter, fill out the paperwork to adopt him. Two good things will happen. The owners will get charged fro neglect, and the dog will get a loving home. If you just take the dog, most likely they'll just get another and continue the neglect.

Answer 8

More importantly what does the dog think? The dog has been tied there for 3/4 years and you haven't spotted the owner or investigated who it could be. If you believe it is in poor condition and neglected then you have a duty to inform the authorities.

Answer 9

These are the requirements for an animal to be "abused:"
1. No shelter from the weather
2. Lack of food/water
3. Bad physical condition (skinny, malnourished)
4. Infestation (heart-worm, ringworm, fleas, ticks, etc)
5. Cruelty (his owners beat or otherwise mistreat the animal)

If even ONE of these requirements is true for the dog, and it seems that almost all of them are, you have every right to call animal control.

I would not recommend stealing the dog. His owners are probably cruel and heartless if they treat their dog this way; imagine what could happen to you if they found out you had stolen him! Tell animal control that you wish to adopt him, and, more than likely, they will let you.

Good luck!

Answer 10

While "liberating" a dog for moral reasons may be justifiable, it is not under legal reasons. Dogs are unfortunately considered personal property in most states and stealing a dog would be compared to stealing someone's bike out of their yard. I commend you for your compassion and would be tempted to liberate the dog myself but you want the dog with a clear conscience and the only way to do that is report the owners to animal control, your local humane society or a rescue first and try to resolve things that way. Good luck and I'm sorry for this poor pupper :(