why is neglecting a dog considered to be legal per se?

Question

You can buy a dog, keep him or her outside everyday and night IF:
1) The dog has food and water
2) There is proper shelter

If a dog has a open garage it is considered shelter-
The dog has no interaction with people on a daily basis and becomes scared thus leading to barking all the time.
Why is this legal?
Dogs left to spend their entire lives in “solitary confinement,” trapped at the end of a chain, small pen, or backyard!
Harsh winters, cold rains & soaring heats that would leave humans dead without proper shelter.

Answer 1

Because the laws/ordinances are seldom that in depth. It is difficult to assign a line where this is right and that is wrong because everyone feels differently about it. However, you mention things like:
Harsh winters, cold rains & soaring heats that would leave humans dead without proper shelter.
There are most likely local ordinances against making animals endure such.
If something is bothering you, why not call your local humane society, let then know what is going on, and ask if there is a suggested remedy? At least you will have tried.

It is not really "legal per se", just not necessarily illegal by the letter of the law. It may certainly be morally illegal, do you want to make the effort to get it nto writing?

Answer 2

The laws were made in a time when people thought that animals had no souls or feelings. They were owned the same way you own farm equipment. Not members of the family or even thinking, feeling beings that needed emotional care.
Dogs were to guard, herd, or hunt, and very little else. Mostly they didn't even feed them, they had to hunt their own food, or eat scraps and garbage from humans.

My mom is still "old school". She thinks it's stupid to spend any money on our dog. She doesn't understand about cleaning the dog's teeth or feeding quality (expensive) food, because in her day they didn't do that. She tells me that when she was growning up, no one took dogs to the vet. The dog was either healthy or if it got sick they took it out and shot it. Dogs ate table scraps and the cheapest kibble at the grocery store. She thinks the pet trade has become ludicrous and spending what people do on pets is almost a sin. The fact that some dogs eat better than some people is horrifing to her.
It's just the changing times and opinions.
Sorry to be so long winded.
Cheers.

Answer 3

there is a push in kc to make it illegal to leave a dog chained outside. Does not matter if they are chained to a dog house or not. however I think the only way it will pass is if they get the public to seet hat this is wear territorial ie agressive behavior stems from. Yeah it is amazing that if the dog is left on the end of a leash and never gets attention, then bites someone it is bad dog, not bad owner. It is the dogs fault and there for the dog is put down and the owner MIGHT have to pay a fine, but then is eligable for another pet as long as they have given the dog food and water.

Answer 4

I cannot think how spoiling a dog can be abuse or neglect unless a dog is given too much to eat and is given too many treats. Sometimes people carry their small dogs because they want to protect them, this can cause the dog to become anti social and overweight. The above could be classed as neglect, people who are new to dogs might do this with the best of intentions. In some respects it could be said that I spoil my dogs, they have comfortable beds in several rooms in the house. They sleep in my bedroom and they are only left alone on the odd occasion, this is never for more than three hours. I am heavily into training and I play train my dogs every day, I also do dog sports. My dogs are never given treats unless they are earned, if they want a cuddle I ask them to do something before I cuddle them. I think that it almost verges on neglect if dogs are untrained and as a consequence are confused. If is daft to say "good dog" if your dog has not earned this praise. People issue commands like sit and if it lies down instead of sitting they praise it. People get a puppy and allow it to use puppy pads because they think that it's too cold outside, then they become impatient when their puppy cannot be toilet trained. On this site, kids and new owners leave their puppies all day and think that they are spoiling it and are being kind if they take it for a walk at the weekend. Just think about what the word "spoiling" means. Dogs need love companionship and fun. Kind and caring owners who over indulge their dogs, without training it or making any attempt to help it to communicate with them are the owners who spoil their dogs. Dogs must be able to cope and communicate with their owners. Without the ability to comminicate, dogs live in a dark world.

Answer 5

Depends on where you live.

In the city/county I live in a dog MUST have a dog house (garage or house access is not enough), said dog house must have a raised floor, water proof roof and at least 3 walls. It is also illegal to keep a dog on a chain/tie-out/cable etc.

I have never understood why people get a dog if they don't want to spend time with it. If they are getting one just to be a watch dog, a dog will be much more protective is it LOVES those it is guarding.

Answer 6

To me that is so mean to do to a dog. I have a rescued American Bulldog now that had been put on a chain everyday and not taken' for walks. The person complained that she was just too hyper. She now has a big yard, and three other dogs to play with. She is not real hyper but can be at times. People just don't understand that a dog needs to be socialized to other people. It is just cruel to chain a dog up.

Answer 7

i never heard of any animal laws that would make any form of neglect legal.where i live,you even leave a dog outside too long without checking on it the dog warden will come and pay you a visit.what you described in your question with your two points is avery good arguement,and i hope it will suffice to say that no real dog lover or breeder would ever do something like that.

Answer 8

Our dogs are barn dogs, and have only been in the house a couple times. They are perfectly fine. Like you said, as long as the dog has food, water, and shelter, they will be fine. Its always important to give the dog lots of attention though.

Answer 9

Watch the animal channels on tv and you'll soon find out. Too many unconscionable people adopt animals and then neglect them, go on vacation and leave animals without food, without water, without veteranary care. They are found with protruding bones, infections, maggots and people should not be allowed to cause such pain in helpless animals, and fortunately they are not permitted to do so and there is your why.

Answer 10

What is the point of getting a dog if you are just going to leave it outside?