I don't know what to do! Help?
 

So I'll just make a really long story short..
There are people that live 2 houses down from me. They got a new dog about a month ago. Its small, it looks like a mini poodle. They keep it chained to their fence outside (on a very short chain). I've sneaken up to the fence about 5 times (lately) to give it food and water, because it has a bowl, but they never feed it or give it water. I know because the dog has chewed through the bowl (it looks like it did this a while ago), and its been in the same spot for all 5 days I've been there, but i know its been there longer. The bowl is covered and filled (the parts that arent chewed through) with dirt so I know for sure they aren't putting anything in there. Well on top of not feeding it or giving it water, the fur on this dog is HORRENDOUS!!! Mats and dirt everywhere!! I feel really bad for it, because over here temperatures have been as low as 37 degrees (at night) this month. And its a really sweet dog. Not aggressive or anything.
** Excuse me for saying "it" the whole time. I don't know if its a boy or a girl, but I will find out tomorrow morning when I go to feed it**

I want to just take it, and keep it, but unfortunately I'm pretty sure thats against the law. :( (I'm not a thief).

What should I do? should I talk to the owner about the dog? Or should I just go straight to calling animal control? the cops? Idk what to do!! I don't want to have to keep sneaking in their yard. But I do want to help this poor baby.

Thank you for being so kind and helping this poor dog. If you see the owners, maybe you could ask them if they don't want the dog that you would take it in. It's a sticky situation because you don't know how they would react to any suggestions. Good luck.

I have no idea, thank god you've been keeping an eye on this pup. I am sure some of our fellow people here will know what to do, but maybe the first step is call the animal control or human society and see what they say or what your options are.....I hope you can rescue that little honey.....

I've been thinking about knocking on their door to talk to them, but I really don't know these people, and I don't know how they will react (Im kind of nervous about that). I just don't know what I would say. But I do feel that I should at least talk to them before getting the authorities involved. Thanks for the suggestion!!

Thank you for the reply!! I think I may talk to them, but idk what to say, or how they will react. All I know is that if I don't talk to them or if talking doesn't work I will call animal control.

Please be careful going into their yard.... my husband's friend did something similar and got himself into trouble for trespassing. I would call animal control to get some advice.

Obviously they don't want the dog. I think it would be "right" to go and ask them if they would be interested in giving it to you. If that don't work, get animal control involved. They are neglecting this poor thing. Surely animal control will do something.

Thanks, I didn't think about that. I've been so determined to help dog that I haven't even thought about getting caught sneaking into there yard. Its probably better for me to just call animal control instead of talking to them right? I mean I can avoid a potential confrontation, and The dog can go straight to getting help. I will call them in the morning to see if they can come out here and check the situation out.

Ok.. so now i want to do this instead of going straight to animal control... I'm so confused lol.

Sorry. Didn't mean to confuse you. I will be honest. I probably would have already taken the pup. :eek::eek::eek: We had a beagle whos previous owner was abusing him. My DH went to him and said we were interesting in the dog. The owner just gave him to us. He was one of the best dogs we ever had. Rip Charlie Don't hurt to ask I guess. But I don't know what the owner is like. Is he/she hostile?

I have no clue.. I'm the type of person who knows all her neighbors, but I know nothing about these people. :eek: All I know is they are always gone, and they have two kids one toddler and one that looks about 8 or 9. I've never got the chance to even talk to them. And they've been there living there for a while now... And its ok, I need to think this over because I feel that what ever I do I want it to be the right descision. So i'm glad that you encourage me to ask.

Good luck to you! And please let us know what happens. You are being very good hearted to take this on.

Thank-you, and I will definitely keep you updated.

Personally, I don't think I would confront them at all - even in a nice way because if it turns out non-favorable and THEN you call authorities they are going to know who did so & they could retaliate on you, your family, your property, furkids, etc., and may be able to get away with it if you have no proof that they actually did it. It could be a horrible experience if you & they live there for a long period of time. Just my thoughts.....

I think it is wonderful what you have done, I really do & commend you for it. I just would hate to see any retaliation against you when you are trying so hard to just help this poor pup. It is a terrible situation. They need the dog taken away IMHO.

You are so right. This is why I posted here because I knew I was going to be able to get different perspectives of the situation. & you all would make me think about things I wouldn't have thought of on my own. Thanks I most definitely think about what you and everyone else has said. I just hope in the end I am able to help the dog in some kind of way.

What a horrible life for that poor animal..If you are really serious about having the dog live with you I would go to the family and ask....If they say know (an it were me) WITH OUT a doubt I would be on the phone with animal control...from what you have said I cant imagine them not either telling them to improve the living conditions of the animal or remove it from the home...People like this should be treated the same way!! I don't understand why people get animals sometimes....it really irritates me....Please keep us updated on this poor little guy/girl

I'm not so sure about asking anymore, and it irritates me too!! I know the dog doesn't belong to me.. But I feel like I'm obligated to help it. Simply because it can't run to anybody and say "my owners aren't feeding, or they leave me outside when its cold" I mean why would you get the poor animal if you didn't want to take care of it?? I'm going to do something.. I just don't know what... yet.

:thumbup::thumbup:

If this is a house that you own near a house that they own, I'd contact the authorities and avoid any personal confrontation. It could end up very bad and you could end up making an enemy of the wrong kind of person.

Ok, I think I'm sold. Tomorrow morning I'll just call animal control, and see what happens from there.

Maybe when you call animal control, you could tell them that if the owner surrenders the dog, you'd like to be considered as a prospective family for it? Then maybe the AC officer will keep you up to date as the the status and where / if the pup will be available. I really hope it turns out ok for that little guy's sake!!

Good idea!!

Great idea! I mean, I wouldn't mind another furkid. I'm financially capable of providing for him/her and I have more than enough love to go around. Now I'm SUPER excited that I might get a new baby out of a bad situation!!

That would be awesome if it works out!

It would be more than awsome!!! I just hope that the owners are willing to do what best for the dog.

You may be doing them a favor. Sounds like they don't want it anyway. :(

I too would call the authorities without talking to the owners. I would be afraid they would improve conditions just enough to squeak by. If they are totally suprised by a visit from animal control, then animal control will get a more realistic view of the situation.

Many people get a dog, and do not take care of it. But they will not let anyone else have the animal. A couple of years ago while visiting family out of state we saw that first hand. A woman had a dog that she claimed to love. SHe rescued it from the pound. She talked about how she saved its life. But she let it run all over the neighborhood. She just didn't care. Animal control had already warned her, because the little dog was irritating the neighbors. We offered to take him with us, but she said no. She said she loved him. Then later on she said even if animal control took him at least he had lived longer than he would have otherwise becasue if she had not adopted him he would have already been killed in the shellter. As much as we hated leaving him, we had no choice.

Ok just playing devil's advocate here but in the same way that confronting them first and then calling animal control could lead to problems, calling animal control and then a few days later the dog that was removed ends up at the neighbor's (your) house could cause problems as well. A call to animal control is definitely in order, but think carefully about adopting the dog and bringing it back to live next door to the people who were abusing it.

As bad as it sounds I would call AC too!

She said the people are never around anyway, it could be a total coincidence that the op adopted that dog. I would not approach the neighbors, just go to the authorites. If they say no and then animal control is called things could just get more complicated.....keep us posted!