Ignorant, stubborn neighbors...help?

Question

Alright, I have a friend that lives in Beloit who is witnessing a case of animal abuse. Across the street from her live two high school dropouts, and they have a dog. The dog has sores on his feet, major fleas, and he stays outside for hours at a time, no leash or anything.

My friend's family has called animal control several times, and they've taken the dog away. But the dog always gets returned to its owners. My friend has offered to watch him for the day, and their to her offer was "Oh, we'll bring him by, thanks." But they never do.

My friend is utterly confused and scared for the dog, as I am. What do we do?

Answer 1

Call animal control. If they don't think the dog is neglected or abused, then let it go. Tell her to close her eyes. It is not up to a single person to be the judge of the earth. Just because she judges the dog as abused doesn't mean that it is. She is not in the profession of doing that. Her motivation is good, but her perception may be warped simply because she doesn't like her neighbors.

Answer 2

This depends on how "legal" you want to be.

You could, in theory, take the dog and bring him to an animal control shelter far away (that is, outside of your main city). Each time the dog gets taken away, the people just go to the shelter, show proof that it is their dog, pay a fine (if there even is one) and get the dog back. But if you take the dog to another shelter, they will have difficulty finding the dog.

I would also stop being subtle. If you wish to remain anonymous, you could leave notes saying that you see the horrible condition of the dog and unless the people change in 2 days, you will report them to the police. If that doesn't work, you could get a petition signed from those in your neighborhood. Drop a copy off with those cruel people and the other copy to the Humane Society in your neighborhood and the local police station and all animal shelters in the area. This may help prevent these people from obtaining another dog. Or you may have to be flat out blunt and tell these people exactly what you wrote here.

Do NOT talk about them being some high school drop-outs or anything else. Do NOT accuse them of anything. Simply state the facts - the dog is off his leash, has sores and has fleas. Tell them that you will care for the dog while they are gone because otherwise it will be taken away and destroyed. Then, follow-up on your actions. The next day, go there bright and early and get the dog. Stay there until you have the dog. Bring your own leash - and be prepared to truly care for the dog.

These are all the suggestions I have. What you do is up to you. Hopefully one of them will work.

Answer 3

Hmm..Maybe try offering to buy the dog? I don't know if they would go for that. Or offer to take care of the dog during the day for free while they are gone. If they don't drop it off, stop by and pick it up. And then you can apply some flea medication (I recommend Frontline Plus). If this doesn't work, maybe steal the dog. If he really is being abused, and you don't think the dog is happy.

I know this probably sounds horrible, but the vet that I work for has a friend who stole someone's dog. The dog was in a similar situation, just left to run around, through traffic and everything. And he was extremely thin. One day while the dog was out, she stole it, and found a good home for it, which happened to by my vet. The owners didn't even seem to care that the dog never came home... Now he is very loved, and very well taken care of.

Answer 4

Im sure animal control would love to nail that case but, they are probably waiting for something that the owners cant give an excuse for...ex:the sores on his feet, they could be telling them a fib like they take him hiking, they could say they TRIED to get rid of the fleas, but couldnt because of high grass, and they could say that the dog prefers to be outside....I believe that dogs need a loving home, so keep an eye on them, maybe even tape them if you really want to get some evidence of abuse...then turn it in to the police & animal control...its the proof that the animal control has been waiting for. If you dont want to wait until something else bad happens, you could ask if you could buy the dog. Just say that you really like him and want a dog really badly, so they dont get suspicious and say no. Sadly, people who abuse animals will most likely do it again.....I hope this issue gets resolved! good luck!

Answer 5

Try to call the dog over to your house. They apparently won't miss him. Isn't it amazing how dogs treated like that will stay on the door step and dogs that are pampered just run away every chance they get. I don't mean really run away but they run for fun never a care if you will come and bring them back. I once took the neighbors sheep dog in and gave her a bath, I know it was her first ever. I realized also she was very pregnant. The miserable old lady who owned her told the kids to tell me to come and get her if I like her so much. If she gets pregnant again she was going to have her son shoot her. I wound up with the dog and 6 puppies, (found a home for all of them) One other neighbors dog, and 2 of my own. I know I'm nuts. You could put some peroxide on his cuts and vaseline to keep flies and bugs off. Flea powder or flea dip , but I don't know if you would be breaking the law by helping or not. It really is a shame. Why do people get pets they don't want.

Answer 6

That poor animal...its fantastic there are still people who care about others animals.
I believe that, at least in my area, animal abuse is a crime and can be reported to not only animal control but the police department. They may choose to have the animal control have to take and keep the animal.
The only thing I caution is that if police get involved it should remain very anonymous. Retaliation by the "dropouts" could be possible, especially if your friend has a pet as well.

Answer 7

omg... that poor thing.. when your friend call animal control.. did she tell them like what happen to the dog like being abuse and having sores like what she see..
if so and the animal control still give back it might shows that they see nothing wrong with them taking care of the dog..
if the dog has been with the owners for long i think they dog is actaully ok with the lifestyle.. if abuse as in not giving the dog to eat and hitting it.. then the animal control must be an idiot.. to let the dog suffer !

why must you wait for them to bring the dog over when you can just go over and say.. 'hey.. how about me taking care of your dog now since i'm free ?' den you can just take the dog away for a good shower.. i mean like playing with it too..
if your friend's neighbour is a dog lover they will not make it suffer..

i support you of being a hero !!
save the dog if you think it needs to be.. all the best !

Answer 8

Have your friend talk to a local rescue group to get better information on how to get animal control to take the dog away permanently before it dies. I watch SPCA programs on Animal Planet and I know a lot of cities are really strict, so I don't understand how a city the size of Beloit could be so lax.

Answer 9

okay what you need to do is find out if there is an ASPCA branch in your area or call the police and ask for a humane law enforcement officer to be sent to the address about the animal. Explain the situation and that it is recurrent whenever the retrieve the dog. This should clear it up. Humane law enforcement doesn't screw around.

Answer 10

No better than this dog is cared for I doubt seriously they would miss it if it came up missing.
They leave it outside with no leash or anything. . . maybe the dog just got up and left. . . . . get my drift?

Animal control doesn't take care of issues like this,a Humane Society or ASPCA is who needs to be contacted IF the dog is there tomorrow. . . get my drift?


Ask me no questions I will tell you no lies.
It's amazing how animals can just get up and wander off.