Yorkie and Shih tzu tied to a tree!!! what to do..
 

I have a friend that has a Yorkie and Shih tzu that she keeps tied to a tree in her back yard. She is actually a co worker of my husbands and when Tucker passed away I let her borrow his crate for Macy, her Yorkie. When I got Kallie, I went to get the crate back and she had both dogs chained. I asked her if they were always kept there and she said no that they jsut know how to jump her chain link fence so she has to chain them. Well I have gone by several times and have seen them still chained outside and just trying hard to get off the chains. I ran into her at Kmart the other day and her son was driving her crazy so I offered to take him home with me for a while. Whiel at my house I asked if Macy and Beethoven were always chained and he said they live out there and that when Macy runs off he is the only one that goes to look for her.. And then when I got Stewie, she said " Good, now I can borrow your male to breed Macy with. ??? what??? That will NEVER happen.. What can I do? She will not give them up.. Her ex- husband bought her Macy and I helped him pick her out and surprise her and everything so I feel partly responsible.. Before the divorce they lived inside and now suddenly she seems miserable and doesn't care about the dogs.. She had a chocolate lab too that ran away and she never tried to look for her...She said oh well, she got on my nerves anyways....need advice please...

Can you try nicely talking to her, telling her that these type of dogs do not belong outside and offer to help secure an area in her house for them to stay semiconfined? SOunds like she may be depressed and not thinking straight. If that doesn't work I would call ANimal control just to maybe go over and talk to her. It gets pretty hot wher you live right? Poor babies, Please keep us posted

honestly... if they have food and shelter and are healthy there isn't much you can do. I think it is just awful that they are outside but the sad truth it that not everyone feels the way we do.

Are they tied with a harness on? Gosh, I hope so. I would look outside at night and see if they really are out there all night long. I would talk to her VERY nicely about it, letting her know about collapsed trachea, birds snatching them up, other animals jumping the fence to get them, and so on. If she doesn't seem concerned at all, (maybe she TRULY is in a real depression), I'd ask her if she would like some help rehoming them. I know you said she wouldn't, but you never know. I wouldn't jump to call animal control without trying to help the situation first. Please update, as now I will be worried about these two all the time.

In Texas, it is against the law to leave a dog on a chain overnight. It is also illegal to have a dog on a leash that is over 6x the dog's body length. So if the tie-ups are longer than 6 or 7 feet, it isn't safe for the dog. I would research the laws in your area. These are fairly new laws in TX and I know that they are relying on public reporting to catch the people doing this. If she really is leaving them out with no attention, and isn't willing to rehome the dogs of her own will, then it is time for someone to step in to that situation and save those dogs. If she doesn't seem too upset about them running away, then she might not be too upset if someone else came to take them off her hands. You should be looking out for the dogs best interest, because obviously your neighbor isn't. You might be just the savior that those two pups need right now. If you don't help, who will?

Id go over there at night and steal them. Sorry but i would....I may go to he** for stealing but I'd rest better knowing the babies are not tied to a tree. Sorry if this offends people but Im just being honest and I would hope God knows my intentions and where my heart is. It would not be a defiant act, it's a salvation act IMO.

Call the animal control people, and let them know what's going on. You can do it without giving your name. It would be far better for them to be taken away from her then to live like that. Would you be able to take one in from animal control.

I thought the same thing about making a "night time run" - I know that sounds horrible - but if she no longer cares about the babies, and leaving them outside all the time is an indication of this, then she may not care if they're gone. I read the article on MySpace about the missing baby "Zeke" and cried and now we have this.....

I never understand..how people can have a pet and tie it outside to anything.. I hate it.. What kind of life is that?.. seems very similiar to jail/prison.. Why even have a pet? They get no attention, no interaction and then when they do they get so excited to see someone they jump and bark and then usually get scolded for that.

I would have to do something about those dogs. Obviously she doesn't want to have a pet and doesn't care, maybe ask if she would like you to find a home for them since you feel they are being neglected. Maybe she'll say yes.

Yeah I realize my post may have sounded harsh and very unethical but seriously dogs have very few laws that protect them yes they are there but are they enforced as they would be if a child were tied to a tree?? I look at my fur babies as kids and well If I seen kids tied to a tree I take them too! I would think the police would step in tho if there were skin kids tied to a tree but like some said in here....not everyone looks at these fur babies as we do....I am VERY passionate about ethical treatment of animals....No matter if the owner is depressed, poverty, raised not knowing better, mentally ill, whatever the reason there are still 2 dogs tied to a tree no matter what the reason.

omg that's is horrible! I don't know what you can do, I'm not sure they would do anything if you report them to animal control, but you could try...

Tell her you feel partially responsible for the situation and want to help. Tell her she seems a little stressed after the divorce. Offer to help rehome them. I would take a "helpful" tone rather than making her feel defensive. If she feels like she is being "scolded" she may not cooperate. Tell her sometimes after a divorce people just cant take care of the animals anymore, blah blah blah...whatever it takes to get her to give them up.

Well as for the depression.. I can somewhat agree, but she is the one that left him for another man and then decided she wanted to be single. She works major overtime and is very tired all the time.. As for animal control, they do not care.. 2 reasons. 1. she is doing nothing wrong by this as long as she is feeding them. and since animal control is overwelmed with dogs they see no urgency.. 2. she is a police officer and is good friends with the director of animal control. The dogs have no shelter. they are not tied with harnesses but collars and their rope is barely 4 ft long.. Macy is a larger yorkie but is the most beautiful one I have seen. Now she may weigh between7-9 lbs but she could weigh as much as 11-12. I only got close to her once and she was jumping and going crazy and I had my new puppy in my hands so I didn't pet her.. I am going to see if she will let me have her and find her a good home. As for the Shih tzu, they have had him for years and I know that he is housebroken so she lets him in at night. Macy is not housebroken so she doens't let her in and she said she does not have time to train her.. I am going to drive by her house in a couple hours to see if they are outside since her kids are at school and she is working noone will be home. It is raining here and there is no shelter so I hope she took them both in..I told her that I wanted her to let macy come over and play and she said anytime so I hope I can get my hands on her. Would anyone be interested in adoptiog her if she is willing to let her go??

Can you get pictures of them while they are outside, I have friends that live in Nashville and Memphis. Maybe you can contact the ex husband to take the dogs and give them a good home. This isn't right, what if someone tied her to a tree everyday. She doesn't realize the dogs can be the best stress reliever for her depression if she learns to be a good loving pet owner.

ABSOLUTELY we could rehome her easy....Do you know how old she is?

You should tell her you'll watch the dogs for a bit.. like take them to a dog park... then you tell her they ran away. I know it's mean, but it's better than them living outside chained to a tree until they die. OR you could call animal services and see if there is anything that they can do.

She is most definitely depressed. Even if she is the one that initiated the divorce she is still undergoing some emotional upheval. I was going to suggest that you ask her if the dogs can come over to your house to play but it looks like you already have. Perhaps you could help potty train the yorkie. And you could tell her how happy both dogs are when they are inside and comfortably cool or warm or dry ...whatever the weather conditions are.
Good luck and if you do decide to help rehome one or both of them I am sure someone from here will be glad to take theml

A side note, I also have a shih tzu (Cassie) and can't imagine leaving my two little ones outside on a chain! (Or my monster gsd either for that matter.) That is just plain cruel.

:goodpost: I bet if you could get some pictures and some information someone on here would definitely help! Any update yet?

I have to wake my husband up for work at 12 so I am going to go by after that and see if they are still outside and if so get pictures. I have a great camera for spying that my husband bought me and I can take pictures from afar...I will post with an update when I get back.. thanks..

I am positive they could both be rehomed right here on YT regardless of age. I'd love a happy ending. I do hope this can happen peacefully and willingly. I do believe if it is handled gently that she will let them go (atleast the Yorkie since she does the the other in the house). I am looking forward to your update.

Well I just drove by there and they were not outside.. Nor was the chain or the bowls or anything so I wonder if she rehomed them. I haven't talked to her in about a week and I think that if she were to rehome macy that I would be the first one she called so I called her and left her a message to call me. I am going to act like I want Macy to come over and play for a while and then test the waters and see how she feels about letting her go. Now that she is having to work 3 jobs it would take some of the burden off. Unfortunately I know her and I am pretty sure I know exactly what she is going to say..lets pray for the best.. I will keep you guys updated..

What a sucky situation :(

Boy, that's engough to make me keep checking back. I have to say that it all sounds good to me so far. I'll be looking forward to your next update.

I think you are right!!! I hope these babies get taken care of....

She has not returned my call today so I am going to try and call her again tomorrow.. I will update when i talk to her..

Is there any news on these poor little dogs?

I hope those poor babies went to loving homes!!!

I haven't read the other post yet but from the title I thought you ment the other 'tied':D

Good luck, Amanda. I hope she calls you today, and lets you have Macy, i am sure someone here would love to have her.