What to do?

Post #142,727 by deSitter 2/22/04 7:34:28 PM Reply	What to do? My neighbor has a dog that is suffering terribly - heavy short chain, never any decent food, it's thin. The owner feeds it just enough to keep it from starving, then leaves for weeks. I've called the SPCA over twice. They can't do anything unless the dog is tangled up in the chain (it was once). Short chains are allowed as long as the collar isn't digging in. This dog looks and sounds sadder than hopeless. "Urban people" do this all the time - get a fierce looking dog as property protection and then neglect it. I'm thinking of killing the dog to put it out of its misery. The pitiful howls are driving me nuts. -drl
Post #142,728 by FuManChu 2/22/04 7:36:21 PM Reply	No solution but I share your pain.
Post #142,730 by Another Scott 2/22/04 8:03:58 PM Reply	Don't do that. [link\|http://www.hsmo.org/services/\|HSMO]. You don't want to end up being charged. It sure sounds like the owner can be charged with neglect if they leave it alone for weeks at a time. :-( 578.009 1. A person is guilty of animal neglect when he has custody or ownership or both of an animal and fails to provide adequate care or adequate control which results in substantial harm to the animal. 2. A person is guilty of abandonment when he knowingly abandoned an animal in any place without making provisions for its adequate care. 3. Animal neglect and abandonment is a class C misdemeanor upon first conviction and for each offense, punishable by imprisonment or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars, or both, and a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment or a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars, or both upon the second and all subsequent convictions. All fines and penalties for a first conviction of animal neglect or abandonment may be waived by the court provided that the person found guilty of animal neglect or abandonment shows that adequate, permanent remedies for the neglect or abandonment have been made. Reasonable costs incurred for the care and maintenance of neglected or abandoned animals may not be waived. What breed is it? Would some animal rescue group be willing to help? You need a dog, don't you? ;-) The danger in getting the government involved is that they may eventually take it away. If it's not adopted rather quickly, it would be put down. I feel for you. Thanks for trying to help it. Cheers, Scott.
Post #142,731 by deSitter 2/22/04 8:07:50 PM Reply	Re: Don't do that. Those are the words. In reality, there is little the overtaxed animal control people can do if there is no gross neglect visible. Mental torture is not a checkpoint. I'd like to see the owner on a short chain with a bowl of damp mush. -drl
Post #142,747 by Nightowl 2/22/04 11:10:17 PM Reply	If it gets below freezing And he's still chained outside, that is grounds for them to take him away. If the owner isn't home and the temperature drops again, call them and tell them there is a dog outside in the cold. Nightowl >8# "To become different from what we are, we must have some awareness of what we are." Eric Hoffer
Post #142,757 by Ashton 2/23/04 2:52:09 AM Reply	You wouldn't want to know how common is this sort of unspeakable neglect. Puppies bought to 'entertain' kiddies, for a present. Kid takes no responsibility; puppihood cuteness fades and dog remains untrained, then is moved to back yard. 'Toy' is forgotten - imagine the lesson this makes re later sensibilities. I suppose that such people are automatically attracted to MBA schools; spreadsheet minds with spreadsheet animals. I have friends who are involved in mitigating whatever they can; shovelling Shit against a tide of cluless, insensitive clods. What they do is - save one at a time. Anyway. (Narcissism? this one is about the vanity of ownership of a thing, especially evident re the exotics - like wolves and their relatives. Few people are temperamentally suited to be around many such animals and will invest little effort in learning about them. But $$ will get you one anyway) Sorry, no solution comes to mind. It's an area where one hopes there Is karma. Can you bring the dog some decent food, see there's water in dish? Substitute a bit longer chain? (screw the permission) Just your presence for a few minutes could only be a merciful act. As I know you realize, most animals are more emotionally aware (of human feelings too) than '04 consumers are, of anyone's emotional state. Animals don't have all that human backgound noise, Walkmen and the like. And they certainly feel neglect. Cruelty is the exact right word. Confront owner? Some retain a vestige of 'shame' from childhood, as can be evoked. I do like the idea of the owner trading places, for about two weeks. So it's kidnapping.. So??? Condolences.
Post #142,759 by dmarker 2/23/04 3:51:48 AM Reply	Re: What to do? - Yup what to do ? Not a hell of a lot I guess. Sad situation. Doug

Welcome to IWETHEY!