My neighbor is totally unbelievable!!! I've had enough of this!! Help me help this...

[sophistacavy]

....poor dog! Here's the story:

My neighbor's original dog was in pretty sad shape. She was an outside only dog, and was allowed to just roam wherever she wanted, the dog was hardly ever tied up or restrained by any means. She looked overweight, and she had horrible, gross shedding problems. My neighbor said she was going blind, and was already almost blind. The dog was "pretty old", but I never found out exactly what her age was. This poor dog was never allowed inside, never. They hardly ever took her for a walk, all I ever saw them do with her was feed her and give her water. The dog was provided a small-looking plastic doghouse for shelter, but my neighbor said that she never really used it that much. I think that was probably because the doghouse was too small, and Lucy (the dog) was too cramped inside. Through all sorts of weather, Lucy had to stay outside, always..she was never even allowed to go in the garage. This dog never saw the inside of a house. If it was way way way below freezing, she was outside. Any, and every, type of weather and temperature, it was always the same thing: outside. The dog died some months ago, sometime during the late summer.

Now get this: My neighbor's husband's (she also re-married sometime this past summer) sister "gave them" (for whatever reason, I don't know why) her dog, whose name I am unsure of. He is a male black lab. Labs are a high-energy breed that need exercise like many other dogs, right? Right. He is also in much better health and is younger (5 years, I think) than their previous dog. First of all, they keep him in a teeny tiny insy weensy caged-in thing (it's chain-link with a chain-link top, you probably know what I'm talking about), that wouldn't even be enough room for guinea pigs. This dog only has room to turn around, he can't, however, stretch out if he were to attempt to lay down on the ground. He has the same little doghouse (which in my opinion is too small for a lab) as the previous dog, and from what I've been observing, he only uses sometimes. He is in the same exact outside only situation as I described above with the other dog. He has never ever been inside, in any sort of sheltered place. He is also therefore outside during any kind of weather imaginable, including right now, in frigid temperatures that no dog would appreciate. Everytime I go by, whether driving or walking my own dog, he is laying down pathetically on top of the dog house, staring at me. He barks at me, and at nothing in particular when I'm not right there in front of the house. I know he's obviously barking because he wants and needs attention.

Now, he never gets to come out of that cage, that prison. He is hardly ever taken for walks, probably less often than the previous dog. I don't know how often they clean up after him in there, but from what I've seen when I walk my dog in the court behind that house, there is always poop in there. So, he has little room to get away from his own waste of either kind, and his food and water bowl are right in there with him of course, but only about a couple inches away from his poop. It is the saddest sight to see, such a young dog's life being wasted like that.

I cannot see how that family cares about him if they treat him like that, and I would love to do something about this.

Now, who do you think I should contact to alleve this situation? I want the dog in a better situation, and if he is to be removed from them, then even better IMO. I was thinking PETA, my local humane society, the ASPCA, who else? People take so friggin' long to get back to me and reply to me, action has to be taken soon, and I don't want a reply that they "can't do anything about it, sorry miss" or some other sob story like that.

Thank you for your help and ideas!

[GP_lover]

weird, cause my neighbors have two dogs. one is a poodle x Maltese and the other is a German Shepard x terrier mix. for one they let the Maltese mix (name is Popie )hair grow and mat up. I cut off a mat so big that it looked like i cut the dogs ear off,(i didn't but it was huge!) and then he has soars on his back from being outside all the time! they only let them in when it rains. When they do its in the Landry room and back out again. he only gets walked when i come over because no one else will get him. they spent $600.00 on a dog that is gonna sit in a back yard and the worse part they got him from a pet store!

Sheba is the terrier mix that is aggressive and has been in the back yard her whole life. only three of the family members(and all of the adults) can go back there(and me she likes me). the younger kids are afraid of there own dog! she has never been walked on a leash. she wont run away either if the gate is open she wont leave. she cant get groomed cuz they cant get her in the car and when they do they tell them never to come back again, she bites.

then in the end they yell at me... i try to tell them the mats pull on the dogs skin. they say he is fine the way he is. what is the point of having a dog if you cant enjoy it?!

[guineapigluver1]

They sound ignorant. I just can't understand people like that. Especially when they don't groom them, since I love grooming animals. I don't know what you can do about it, though.

[GP_lover]

I know i love grooming animals! I think its worth getting yelled at to see how happy the dog is afterward!

[dra&pigs]

I would contact any sort of rescue or humane shelter that you have, even if it takes a while, because that situation is really not healthy or appropriate for the dog. Have you considered talking to them? It's not very likely, however it could simply be because they don't know any better. Even if they do, but are to lazy or "busy" to properly care for the dog, you could always offer to walk him for a few dollars. He would appreciate it, and he would get well-deserved attention and exercise from you.
Now, my own personal ranting and anger toward this type of stuff.
I have a super energetic, purebreed (unfortunatly, but don't comment, please. I regret buying) Border Terrier puppy. She turned a year old on Thanksgiving and she is really a humongous ball of energy. She needs at least two half hour walks a day, plus the time she gets playing with us in the yard. She loves people, and she's probably the most attention-demanding animal I have (although the piggies are pretty close!). Anyway, I also have a life. Soccer, karate, flute, friends, homework and school take up most of my time. However, I manage to take her on at least one of her walks and play with her inside and outside for several hours. I would never hesitate to spend any amount of money or time or affection on her. And yet we have people who don't even let their dog INSIDE? I mean really, if you don't want a dog, why do you have one? Dogs are huge responsibilities and obviously keeping it locked up all day is avoidance, not care.
Back to suggestions:
Could the sister take the dog back? I mean, just until she finds another home for it, that will actually properly care for the poor dog.

Good Luck, and sorry about my ranting!

[GP_lover]

well if i do anything they will know its me. I'm the crazy dog lover on the block! and yes so many attempts on talking to them but they wont listen...

[sophistacavy]

Ohmigosh!! I love grooming animals too! It's so much fun. Better than those barbie doll heads with the really long fake hair that used to be popular when I was that age! Grooming is sooo much fun, I have a shih-tzu and a ragdoll cat, and I have to groom them every day of course but its fun.
Most people who get a shih tzu, I heard on animal planet that they keep them in the puppy cut so "they don't have to groom" that wonderful lustrous coat...;( I love doing that. Lexie's coat isn't that long yet, we had her shaved a bit for the hot summer weather, but we're planning on letting it grow as long as possible now.

Thats definetely sad GP_lover. I would do the same thing, and if they yelled at me I'd just be like "Well, your cute little dog was turning into a dreadlocked beehive, so what were you all planning on doing once his whole body was encased in one solid mat?" xD Some people...

[sophistacavy]

dra&pigs: I haven't ever talked to her about it yet, my family and theirs are sort of friends, and I don't want to cause trouble if anyone else in my housing development doesn't agree with me (b/c word spreads around my neighborhood, L0L little gossipville here). I will try to talk to them, but how should I start the conversation? I hate sounding awkward....I'll have to call them more likely than in person talking....but there are people working on their house, so maybe one of them would be outside.
Also, there are three little girls there that are "friends" with me, and I don't want them to have a bad view of me in case they don't understand whats so wrong with the situation.

But I like the idea of offering to walk him for a few bucks. Thats a good idea, I could do that for more than one dog in my neighborhood too, but especially this black lab. Maybe they'll get my hint x] I don't know if her sister-in-law can take him back or not, I can try to find out but I'll start with the offering to walk him first. I can't just bluntly ask them that, that would come across as being rude.....but I'll work up to that!

[GP_lover]

yea i had a ragdoll mix that i loved to groom, but he passed recently...

[5guinea5pig5]

If you don't want to take her in maybe you could foster the dog until he can be taken to a nice home.

[auburnmare5]

That is truly sickening.

My neighbors have two German Shepards that are outside overnight sometimes. They are inside I would say 30% of the time. They don't go for walks (or at least I have not seen them), and they bark at the back door CONSTANTLY! It is heartbreaking to hear them.

One of my friends had a situation that reminds me of yours. She called the animal control twice, and no reponse. She went into the animal control, and asked them to come out.

They went to the house to help the poor beagle and the officers said it was an anonymous tip.

Along with them I believe they brought a small dog house, and care instructions.

My friend told me that the people are much better dog owners now.

Maybe all your neighbors need is a good wake up call.

But the SPCA can't necessarily do anything with direct intervention with them. They are doing everything that they are supposed to be doing is what it seems like to me. It just isn't the greatest.

They are providing shelter, food, water, and some form of protection from the elements?

I think the most the officers can do is give them a warning.

I am not 100% sure about that, but based on what I have seen and heard, this is what I think would happen.

[Tserisa]

I'd call an authority anonymously. If it's anonymous then you won't end up on the owner's bad side if it doesn't work out, and may have other options remain open to you. If the local humane authorities can't help (i.e. they keep the pen clean, consider the shelter adequate, dog is always fed and watered) you might offer to the owners to walk the dog for them. If they're open to it, you could at least give the dog some grooming, a walk and love every day.

[dra&pigs]

Sophistacavy, as for starting off the conversation, you could probably just casually mention how unhappy the dog looks sometimes in the cage-thing they keep him in. They'll probably just go "Oh, well, he's fine" (I've dealt with a few of these types of people before), but you could then offer to walk him, to make sure he has exercise and love for at least a little while. Do you know what he's fed, and how often? If they aren't feeding proper foods, you could buy one bag, so he gets proper nutrition, and a lot of foods have care suggestions on the back. Do the owners even know how horrible their treatment of the lab is? Or do they honestly think everything is fine? Oh! Do you have any other dog owners near you guys? Or do you have a dog? If so, why don't you just be extra conspicious about the caring of your/their dog. It probably wouldn't work, but if they see proper care, they may start to mimic it. Has the dog ever seen a vet?

[auburnmare5]

It may not even be their fault necessarily. They may not know what the bred specifically needs. But I think that anyone should know not to leave a dog out in such a wide range of weather, and temps.

dra&pigs- that is a great idea. if you have the time to, see if you can walk the dog, and play with it.

Good Luck and let us know how it turns out.