What would you do?
 

I am so torn and not sure what to do...and not sure if it is my place. I live in New York city and every day I walk home from work I see a woman and her two dogs (I believe they are papillons) sitting down in the same spot of 5th avenue with a sign. Her sign says something along the lines of "need money boyfriend left me 3,000 miles away from home and 6 mos pregnant". It seriously is heartbreaking. She has a small bag with her and always has water dishes out for her dogs. I have no idea what her story is or if she is homeless and if so it is 1) not fair to her unborn child and 2) not fair to her pups to be sitting on a street corner in the middle of summer. I am so tempted to call animal control but I am suprised that no one has done it already. I feel terrible because her doggies are the only thing she must have but at the same time it doesn't seem like she can care for herself, nevermind them. The other thing that is concerning me is that she is sitting on 5th avenue in midtown (in between some very nice shops) - which leads me to believe this could be a scam to get money. What do you think I should do? Should I call animal control? The police? Or should I just try and help her and bring her & her doggies food & water? What would you do?

Wow, I have no idea what I'd do. It's a losing situation all around. I might consider asking her if I could help her by finding her dogs a reputable home so that she can then focus on taking care of herself and unborn baby. She is likely so dedicated to those pups that it's what is keeping her from getting medical care or into a shelter. Sadder still to think what happens on the day she goes into labor and/or has complications. Where will the dogs be then? Likely lost and unfed with no place to go. Then possibly the shelter with only hopes that they'd be adopted before being put down. Sad, sad situation IF it's for real. :(

That is a tough one. There are people that do this sort of thing for a scam. Unfortunately, it is hard to tell if it is real or a scam. I would never give them money. I would not hesitate to give food and water. If she is truly in need, she will appreciate that. Is there any shelter that you know of that would help her and the dogs? As hard as this sounds, if she is homeless, the last thing she needs to try to provide for is the dogs. What about a rescue group? Maybe they could give advice. I am sorry, I am at a loss here.

What is very strange is that I only see her at lunch time when I go home to see Teddy. I usually don't see her at the end of the day when I am walking home from work. If it is a scam, it is very mean to keep her pups outside in the heat like that all day. If I see her tomorrow I am going to bring her some food and water and try and talk to her. What an unfortunate situation either way :(

Yes it is. She may be sitting in that area of town because she thinks that is where the money is. Makes sense any way. You wouldn't sit at the poor side of town to collect money. I think the food and drink is a good idea. It might make her feel comfortable enough to talk to you. Good luck!

I agree with starting with food and drink, maybe breaking the ice. Try to take notice of the dogs' health and disposition, as well as hers. Good luck and keep us posted.

I would also take her food and water for her and also treats for the dogs, they may be hungry. It is against the law to do that here in Georgia (panhandling). Is it ok to do this where you live? She would have already been questioned and possibly arrested here.

After falling for obvious lies & scams before when the same person told me two different things, not realizing she'd already told me one story:rolleyes: I decided to never give money again. If I want to help someone it will be to provide food/drinks & maybe clothes or something to help them deal with the elements.
It is so sad her dogs are involved in this, whether it's true or fake. How do the pups look? Emaciated at all, sickly? If so I'd definitely call Animal Control. If they look good that could indicate there is no hardship, I don't know. If anything I would do what others said-bring food/water for her & her dogs if you can. Even a cheap dog food would be better than nothing.

It's so sad that people take advantage like they do, then when someone really does need help everyone's hesitant to do something.:(

I am thinking it is not legal here either. But we do see it all the time.

I would probably give her some dog food. I would see how she reacted to that and see if she was open to a conversation and try and find out a little more.

I agree with the others that say talk to her and see what she says. Yes, help with food and water but I wouldn't give her money, at least not at this point. Although, I have to confess that I have given people money myself. Maybe you could offer to take her puppies for her for a bit until she gets on her feet? Or find someone else who could do that?

take the pups some water and food...try to talk with her and maybe you can figure things out a little better. but I too do not suggest money

I agree with the others, take her some food and water for both her and the pups and see where she is with that. If she is genuinely in need she will be grateful but if unfortunately she is scamming I think she will be shocked by the compassion that you are showing her. At least I hope she has some consciencous to be if she is in fact running a scam.

Good luck.

Thank you all for your responses. I completely agree I would never give money. But I am going to try and bring her food & water tomorrow on my lunch break. I sincerely hope that this is not a scam because it isn't fair to her pups if it is. It is too hot to be sitting on concrete in the middle of NYC. And if she is purposely putting her pups throught that then frankly she should not be a pet owner. The pups look so sad...they just lie there...it really breaks my heart. I am going to see how receptive she is to the food and water and then maybe I will look into calling animal control or a rescue? I'll keep you all posted.

Such a sweet thing you are going to do - good luck to you :). I think depending on how the conversation goes, you should discreetly inquire about her pups - how old, breed, etc. - that could give you some insight to her feelings for them and how well they are cared for. Her response could also give you a gut feeling of her sincerity.

This is what I was going to suggest. There are so many shelters and organizations that can help, especially a woman and her unborn child. Unfortunately, not everyone recognizes pups as part of a family. :(

How long have you been walking by her? Does she seems pregnant? Is her belly getting bigger? Really wanting to know how she reacts to you offering dog food. I don't know what I'd do in this situation! Being me, I would accidentally offend her, causing her to move to another locale and never knowing what ended up happening!

I'd be torn too :( Because if I look at it as if it were me in that situation and it was for real...my two dogs would be my life and if they were taken from me I'd be devistated. Like they would be keeping me going. So I don't know?
Maybe talk with her and see if you can get info. Maybe bring dogfood?

Wondering if she is still there, if you spoke to her?

Unfortunately I haven't seen her again...I walk past every day. I am hoping that she got the help she needed.

You know, that kind of thing has happened to me. I see something, wonder if I should get involved, decide, and then I never see the person again. Hopefully, someone helped her get off the street.

Unfortantely I found out last night that this women and her actions are one BIG SCAM!! :mad:

Last night Teddy and I were walking in the park. We met up with a friend of mine and her maltese. We were chatting and she said to me "I solved a mystery I need to tell you about this". She works at the trump building which is right near where this women sits daily with her sign and her pups. She has worked in the building for the last 6 months and the women's sign had not changed. As a puppy owner she felt terrible for the pups and used to bring them water. Well get this, she told me the other day on her way home to brooklyn she saw the women on the subway with the pups. She said she couldn't place her but thought she looked familiar. So yesterday she sees the women leave her house and walk to the subway platform to head into the city (with the pups!) and a tada she realized who the women was. This makes me so angry. I always thought it was strange because if she were living on the streets - one would think her pups would be in bad shape...but they are perfectly groomed which was weird. Secondly I had no idea that she has been holding up the same sign for 6 months saying that she is 6 months prego. Well she is nothing but a sham and a tourist trap on 5th avenue. She does not deserve to have pups - she literally has them sit on the concrete all day in nyc in 90 degree weather! Sorry for the rant! Just wanted to let everyone who is concerend know the outcome of the situation!

That's terrible and shame on her using her pups to scam people!! But you should be proud of yourself that your heart is in the right place and you wanted to help her and her dogs without knowing she was scamming people.

Ugh deadbeat! :thumbdown I think you should call her on it next time you see her. Or maybe now call AC on her since you know her dogs aren't her only things left? She doesn't deserve to have them.

ugh another update on this women! Mind you she is still sitting in the same spot on 5th avenue (with the same sign about being 6 months pregnant and 3000 miles away from home) and of course with her dogs.

So my friend gets off the subway after work tonight and heads into a small grocery store. She spots the women (tummy flat as can be!) and the women is with her two dogs and a friend. They are talking to this guy in the store (and of course my friend decides to listen in). She hears the girl saying that she is paying $800 for rent but could do $1000. She then proceeds to pay for cigarettes with a bunch of singles (which I am sure she collected from unsuspecting tourists). I am in shock. Her dogs always look out of it...I wonder if she is drugging them? Does anyone know whp I can contact in NYC to get her dogs taken away? Will NYC ACC do it? Or will she have to surrender them?

Thank goodness this was not a true story and a poor little child going to be born to this woman and her dogs are apparently being essentially taken care of. If she is a regular, you know the police are aware of her. NYC is policed to the hilt in the downtown area, isn't it? She probably has some mental problem and they are indulging her a while. Hopefully this woman will find her way out of her problems and get a real job. If not, maybe someone can direct her to a counseling program or something as no normal person would do what she is going. Seems like you would have to have something a bit out of whack to beg on the street, like missing a "pride" gene and also she apparently has no fear of scorn. Or she could be addicted and high. Whatever is wrong, she sounds mentally damaged somehow.

I'm so relieved no little child is being brought into this mess I can hardly say much else out of the relief I feel.

Can anyone help?
 

My friend called me last night to let me know that she called ASPCA on this women.

They told her that technically this women is not breaking any laws except for pandhandling. They also said that numerous people have called to complain and that there is an open case on her as we speak. There is also a cop on the case.

My friend mentioned her "detective" work on this women and told them it was all a scam and how she had seen her in Brooklyn and that she is in fact not pregnant. My friend told them the she is concerned because she doesn't have to do this and she is putting her dogs in harm. My friend had also mentioned her concern for the dogs not being fed and that the dogs are probably eating human food (given to them on the street) that may, in the long run, affect their digestive tract. My friend took pictures of her with her camera phone. The rep told her to send the pictures along with a brief description of what she saw to enforecement@aspca.com. She is working on the email now.

In the meantime, I wrote to ASPCA and expressed my concerns for the dogs. Clearly this women is not in good mental health. These poor dogs are laying on the pavement hours on end in the hot summer new york city heat. It breaks my heart and clearly several others as there is a case open on her. I hope if enough people complain something gets done. Is anyone here connected to ASPCA that can help get these dogs away from this women?

Here is a picture of her.
Attachment 351849

I am so skittish of things like that now, since I gave a woman some money for a bus trip and seen her a few minutes later, throw down her crutches and off she went. There was a man down the street from us tried to help a homeless man, only for the man to come back and kill him. He had a cockatoo they said that fought and fought for his owners life but he killed him too. Then, I was just reading in the paper where this man let some homeless people set up a tent in his backyard to try to help them, only to be robbed and murdered. I know its hard when there are real situations where people need help but some wouldn't take it if you offered it. Try buying them a meal. They want cash!!! Sad...

Sadly there are a lot of scammers and using dogs, kids, and signs stating their plight are their tools to get you to give money. We had a woman who would bring her children to a corner to pan handle all the time asking for money for food and shelter for her kids. It turned out to be a huge scam and as a matter of fact the kids were wearing the latest designer clothes. I had picked up a 2nd job as a waitress once and the man who had been pan handling at the freeway on ramp came in to cash in his money. He had made more money pan handling for 2 hours than I had working for 5 hours. He said why should I look for a job when I can make better money just hanging out at the ramp. It is sad that there are so many people willing to take advantage of the kindness of others. I will say a prayer for those dogs as they are innocent victims of this con woman.