Originally Posted by pstinard (Post 4708453)

Our next door neighbor has a puppy in a cage with no roof outside at the back of the property line, and it is currently sprinkling and 62 degrees. (See this link for our current conditions and forecast: https://www.wunderground.com/q/zmw:61801.1.99999 ). The puppy is not a Yorkie--it's a larger breed--but it can't be more than two or three months old. It is crying continuously. We are expecting heavy rains beginning at 3 PM. There is someone at home next door who put the puppy outside under those horrible circumstances. My partner went over to check on the puppy and it was wet, crying, on wet ground, with poop all around it. I'm at work--my partner reported all of this to me over the phone. I wanted to call animal control immediately to report this, but my partner begged me not to. He told me to give the neighbors and chance to do the right thing. I will be home in 2 1/2 hours. I told him that if the puppy is still there when I get home, and if heavy rain is imminent, I'm calling animal control to get the puppy. I asked my partner if he was willing to go next door to speak with the neighbor about the puppy and he said no, he doesn't want to cause any trouble with the neighbors :(. Also, he's leery about me calling animal control because the neighbors might know that we did it. How do people recommend I handle this situation?

Originally Posted by JennaPenny (Post 4708459)

I called Animal control on my neighbor- the only one that hasn't bought a condo in our immediate area, but renting. She's retaliated several times, including trying to refuse our emergency plumber from turning off the water for 20 minutes. I actually had to call the ER HOA number. Her son even tried cracking our kitchen window several times.

I would do it over again in a heartbeat. They had a yorkie mix. She was darling, and who was pregnant, and she rejected her puppies. She had abuse before, during, and after pregnancy, too. They left a thing of butter out, and the puppies ate THAT, as well. They kicked the mama for rejecting them. I was told it happened several times. I wasn't privy to the kicking, so I'm not sure how many more times that happened; I was told about it from daughter little best friend who ended up buying in this complex. He saw. I've called on TWO neighbors. One who kept taking her dogs off leash and ended up attacking daughter trying to get to Chewie. She hoped all the dogs were friendly when she took them off leash, though! That one ran- daughter followed her. We tried to civilly work this out, and she was too much of a coward. But this neighbor who is doing that to these dogs? Yes, they might find out. I know. but if they are suffering, it's the right thing to do. I hope I don't sound pushy.

Originally Posted by pstinard (Post 4708468)

Update: The puppy is no longer in the cage and seems to be in the neighbor's house. If I spot the puppy in the cage outside one more time, I will speak with the neighbors first, and report them to animal control if they don't take care of the puppy responsibly.

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly (Post 4708476)

I so appreciate your wanting to do the right thing and agree that if that little baby is left outside in inclement weather or even just mild rain or sun, with no shelter, you must do the right thing and first approach your neighbor, telling them that you are a responsible person who will be a good neighbor but that being a true doglover, you only have only their dog's well being at heart and you are VERY concerned about any dog being outside in inclement or rainy weather with no shelter at all, especially a young one. Puppies and old or sick dogs all have problems regulating their body temp. Poor baby - new to that home, those people, his old pack is gone forever and now he's outside alone in the rain with no shelter either!


Animal Control can definitely educate your neighbor on best practices for allowing a puppy to stay safely outside in the yard and I would request they specifically do that if you do have to call them.

How many people would just be too scared to get involved and let the pup fend for itself! Doglovers can't stand to see any animal of any age, let along a young one, left outside in the elements w/out shelter and bravo for caring and getting involved in that pup's welfare. My hero!

Originally Posted by pstinard (Post 4708483)

I called our local Humane Society, and they told me that the conditions under which the puppy was kept outdoors constitutes abuse. They told me to call them back if I see the puppy outside again, and they will send over an animal welfare officer to speak with the neighbor about responsible dog ownership.

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly (Post 4708486)

Bless you, my friend! Hugs for your wonderful concern!!! ♥♥♥

Originally Posted by pstinard (Post 4708501)

Thanks! I just went out back and checked again, and the puppy cage is completely gone from the neighbor's back yard. I think the neighbors saw me checking around and decided to move the puppy indoors. I'll keep an eye out, but we may have turned the corner on this situation.

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly (Post 4708508)

Good work and I can just tell that you will keep an eye out for this baby's welfare from now on. That pup has a true friend in the 'hood! I know from your other posts you can't help yourself from caring and for that we are all grateful! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Originally Posted by pstinard (Post 4708608)

The mother and son were out with the dog this morning and I came over and got introduced to the puppy. It's a healthy male Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with thick, thick (did I say THICK?) brindle colored hair by the name of Lightning. He's soft, fluffy, and fat, and about three months old (as I guessed). I can tell he's going to be a handful, but hopefully the neighbors will give him the love and care he deserves. I petted him and loved on him for a couple of minutes, and he wanted to come home with me, LOL! He's already as big as Bella, so sorry, Lightning, you can't come home with me.

I think the big issue is that the little boy is away at school during the day and the mother is at work, so the dog is left in the care of a rather cranky grandmother who doesn't have the patience for little Lightning. I think it was the grandmother who insisted that Lightning be banished to the back yard. This probably wouldn't be as big a problem if Lightning had a properly constructed heated dog house with a decent dog run. They have the space and money for it, and they also have a big back porch they could set it up on, so there is really no excuse other than meanness or ignorance.

I think that the mother knew that they were wrong to keep the puppy out in the rain yesterday, and she seemed relieved that I wasn't upset about the new puppy. I'll give them a chance and offer friendly advice if I see anything odd going on. At this point, calling an animal control officer would be a last resort.

The attached photo is NOT a photo of Lightning, but he looks a lot like the puppy in this photo, except with thicker hair, if you can imagine.

Originally Posted by yorkiemini (Post 4708497)

There is not question you are advocating for a puppy who has not say in its life!! You are the best:D

I reported a neighbor once in my younger years and went through the tire slashing and when the neighbor tried to spray Round Up on my dog, who was in my years, I managed to get myself between the Roundup and the dog and go a good dose of it -- wonder of wonder, that was called assault and the neighbor went to jail- he,he ,he!

Originally Posted by maxdog (Post 4713521)

Does he have food and water? If not I would give him some. Such a sad face.

Originally Posted by pstinard (Post 4713529)

Yes. One neighbor took over a water bowl, and I took over a food bowl. I'll check both one more time before bedtime. I called the Humane Society, and they told me that there is nothing that can be done before morning, and even then, Animal Control will send someone over to just talk to the owner, but won't take the dog away unless they file paperwork for a court order to do so. In the meantime, a bunch of us neighbors are sad and furious.

Originally Posted by pstinard (Post 4713955)

For those who are wondering how yesterday's incident was resolved, here is an update:

In the evening, I heard a car door slam and the car drove away quickly. I went outside and saw that Lightning had DISAPPEARED. I went around to various neighbors and ask if they knew what was going on. They said no. I start looking around the neighborhood for Lightning, who I thought had got loose from his chain. The mother, her boyfriend, and her son arrive home while I'm outside looking for Lightning, and they are FRANTIC. I tell them that Lightning is either loose, or has been stolen. I take the son and we start going house to house to ask if anyone saw anything. Then the mother gets a call from the Humane Society. It turns out that the grandmother had taken Lightning to the Humane Society, and they turned her away because it was not her dog and she did not have the authority to turn it in. They told her to take Lightning back home. While we are waiting for Lightning's return, the boyfriend is extremely angry. "Oh no, she better not have stolen my dog!" I go back into my house because I don't want to see the scene that transpires when Lightning is brought back by the grandmother. After about an hour, I go back outside and see the son playing with Lightning, and peace has been restored. Another day in my neighborhood. :rolleyes:

This morning, everything is peaceful. No sign of Lightning. I assume that the boyfriend, who is the person who gifted Lightning in the first place, has taken Lightning home with him. I expect that Animal Control will be paying the household a visit this morning. Only the grandmother is home, so I'm hoping that she gets the lecture she deserves on how to care for a puppy in her care.

-----

During all that transpired last night, Bella was extremely upset, running around the house barking and panting. Bella absolutely loves Lightning, and I think she was sad to see how he was being treated by the grandmother. Here are a couple of songs that Bella was singing upon Lightning's return :D:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NuofNHKbVc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM_99DtI0tE

In case those two songs don't load properly in your browser, they are "My Boyfriend's Back" by The Angels and "Leader of the Pack" by the Shangri-Las.

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly (Post 4716571)

Poor puppy, coming into even the most responsible and loving of doglover's homes, newly separated from his mom and birth home can be quite a lot to handle and adjust to but this poor pup seems to have an uneven course at best in his new quarters. Glad he's got you and Bella and other concerned neighbors on his side if bf returns him.

Originally Posted by pstinard (Post 4716573)

The boyfriend returned Lightning to the neighbors, but they are treating him better. He has not gotten loose again, and they don't leave him chained up outside alone all day any more. We're still monitoring the situation. I believe that Lightning's situation with the neighbors is temporary, and he will be moved to a better location by the start of summer.