So you have a neighbor who is neglecting their dogs: leaving them to sit outside in all kinds of conditions, never allowing them in the house, not feeding or watering them enough. Leaving them to whine outside the house all night long, and then when the pet is noisy enough, they come out to shout at them to “shut up!”.
Thoughts that have crossed my mind are:
- To call animal control and report the abuse
- To wait until they get out of their yard (again) and then get animal control to come get them
- To secretly feed the animals
I dunno, though. I really, really am not interested in having a dog as a pet. I mean, I like dogs, but don’t want to own one. Our neighbor used to secretly feed the dogs before she moved, but now that she’s not there anymore, they do seem to be getting pretty skinny. And it’s winter, with no dog house. Argh. Perhaps we should do nothing, but I hate to see any animal mistreated.
What would you do?
Report Them
Animal abuse is horrible. There is no excuse for it. If a person doesn’t feel the obligation to take care of an anumal, then bring it to the humane society which will at least give the anumal a fighting chance. Dogs have a better chance if they are pure breed since most breeders will know of a rescue to take the dog too.
It is very kinds to help take care of a dog, but in the best interest of the animal, call animal control and get the dog the help it needs.
Tack A Note
I would suggest using the crushing wave of shame to jump start the neighbor into action. Place a note on the front or back door, as if written to the neighbor from the dog, indicating the intent to run away to the Humane Society if conditions don’t improve. But make the note cute so as not to appear threatening.
Happy..
Remember my cat happy?
He was being neglected by his owners wehen we met him. Covered in fleas, mor efleas than skin. he was wormfood. We took him, gave him a fleabath, and told them they couldn’t have him back unless they wanted us to call the humane socety and the police.
They were actually glad to be rid of him.. said nothing works to get rid of the fleas.
Its been 9 years.. not one flea.. and arguably the coolest cat in history.
Cool Cat
To Happy:
Tuna heist successful. Raven flies at midnight.
Ready to serve, Matthew P. Barnson
Ignoramus..
Do not post so publicly your plans and their connection to me.
The tuna will be delivered to me, and you will mea culpa or by the fiery claws of Garfield, I will reign destruction on you like kitty litter.. cat-astrophic.
You will belong to me, humans.. all of you.
Call them.
–ABSOLUTLY CALL THE HUMANE SOCIETY! Animal control will give both the owner’s and the animals a fighting chance. They will make sure that the owner know’s what is expected of them. Give them a chance to not only take care of the animals but also give them an option to give them over where they can be adopted out. If the owner’s don’t follow into compliance then animal control will seize the animal’s and they will still get the attention that they need. Medical, and emotional. People alway’s have the fear that if they make that call it means certain death for the animal. However that is not the societies intention. Where this does happen, not before every other option has been exhausted. Not only that but by making that call you will no longer feel the guilt of just sitting by wondering what to do. You wont feel as if you now have to be a covert agent just to take care of a wonderful creature. Plus you wont have the confrontation with your neighbor’s that you fear having. All you are doing is making a call in the best interest of the dog’s and the owner’s will never know. Teresa the Flautist and fire dancer
I’d have to agree on this
I’d have to agree on this one. Place a call to Animal Control. I’m pretty sure your neighbor will never need to find out it was you.
I would also say do not secretly feed the animals yourself. What the dog needs is a chance at a real and compassionate owner. As kind as feeding the dog would be, it would be (morally) taking partial ownership of it, which would mean that thereafter you would partially be responsible for its care. Not in the eyes of the law of course, but just in one of those compassion-brings-responsibility things. And since you said you don’t really want a dog, you just don’t like seeing them abused, far better to get Animal Control involved, since it’s their job to take full and compassionate ownership of abused animals.
—————————– “I can kill you with my brain…” (but I’ll settle for a blood-dripping axe in a pinch) Arthur Rowan