URGENT! Should I rescue my neighbor's dog?

Question

I know stealing a dog is wrong but it needs help.

I have been renting my house for a year and I'm moving out in a month. My neighbors have a mini poodle that always escapes when they open the door. They have to chase the dog all over before they can catch it. When they catch it they hold it up and beat it and scream at it for a while then take it back inside.

I'm thinking that the next time their dog gets loose into my yard, I should just run out and catch it then hide it in my house (I have never heard the dog make a sound so I'm sure it will be quiet). When I move I can take it with me and find it a new home.

There is no animal rescue or humane society where I live. I have tried to call animal control about 50 times in this past year and they NEVER answer. I have even gone all the way across town a few times to the animal control station and they are always closed. I am moving to another city in a month so there is not much time left.

So do you think I could just take the dog with out getting in trouble?

Answer 1

Do NOT steal the dog. While I understand your compassion, and the lack of resources in your immediate location, stealing the dog could cause more problems than it solves. In addition to contacting an ASPCA office in the next closest city, you can file a complaint with your local police department (most municipalities have animal cruelty laws on the books). Your vet is a good contact point in locating a rescue group that can legally intervene on the dog's behalf. I would also recommend you 'google' poodles to locate a recue group dedicated to the breed. These groups often have contacts in cities across the nation that can provide assistance/guidance.

Answer 2

If I was you, I would videotape them beating their dog, with that, you dont need ASPCA, you can go straight to police for animal cruelty. Not only will they probably get their dog taken away, (which you can offer to adopt) but you may be able to get those jerks a night in jail or at least some fines and the record. If the cops won't help, then I say keep the tape, write down all the information as to who you spoke with on what date at the police station, then STEAL the dog, At least you tried. I strongly reccomend taking the previous advice of stealing dog a week or two b4 you leave. Good luck! Have fun moving. Have fun with your new dog, hopefully.

Answer 3

Whether or not you will get into trouble I have not a clue. But you must do what you feel is right in your heart. If you can take the dog and give it a better no abusive home and lay your head down on your pillow at night than that is up to you. Just think what will you do if they find out th at you have the dog. Good luck with your decision!

Answer 4

You need to contact the police. Tell them that you and your neighbor both lost the same breed and color of dog. Tell them you believe that your neighbor may have inadvertantly taken your dog home due to their similarities. Tell them that you've tried contacting the neighbors but they are ignoring you thus making you think they have your dog. Tell them you'd like one of them to come over and help you out. Is there anything on your dog that would prove she's yours? Any ID tag, collar, microchip, identifying markings? If not, how do you expect to prove it's your dog?

Answer 5

You should take the dog with you if you truely believe that the dog is being abused...how would they ever know...if something ever did come out about you taking the dog you could always play dumb and say you thought the dog was a stray. Sounds like you would be doing the dog a favor by giving him a loving, safe home.

Answer 6

ok, first off...please do not listen to anyone telling you to steal the dog...you can get heavy fines placed on you, and to the user who said to throw away the collar and claim it as a stray....what if they had the dog micro-chipped?? how would you explain that? you need to call your local SPCA and give all the details like the ones you gave here. They will send out an agent and he/or she will invistigate this matter. And who knows...maybe they will find more crimes that the owners did to that dog. I am an Animal Cruelty Investigator for the ASPCA in NYC ....and trust me, they can help this poor little guy. And if the agent finds more crimes they commited to this pup (hopefully not, i hope thats all they do), they will have him taken from them and you can adpot him after he gets seen by the vets.

Answer 7

My Plan A: Call a Humane Society in a nearby city and ask them to solve the problem, if they don't, do plan B:

I think you should get a kennel, and next time it runs out, do it. It's cruel and wrong to beat any living creature! Then you should let it move with you, and if there's a Humane Society there, you can call it.

Answer 8

Of course UR risking getting into trouble but if it were me I would have that little dog somewhere safe next time I saw it. Rescuing it now before you move, you will be less likely as a suspect than grabbing her the day you move.
Good Luck. Bless you for caring.

Answer 9

If someone was living next door to me and my dog disappeared right before the person moved, that would be the first person I suspected. However, if it's getting beaten then it would be hard for me not to take matters into my own hands. If you take the dog, don't keep it. Anonymously bring it to a no-kill shelter.

Answer 10

The answer is clear, you have to rescue the Dog or it may weigh heavy on your conscious if you dont.

It seems like you could get away with it just get a kennele and some dog chow;get prepared for having a dog comign with you and moving to your knew home, this sounds 100% risk free ive goten away with much much worse thing and all i had to do was talk myself out of the situation.