Neighbor's Dog- What Would You Do

[DanL]

I briefly mentioned a while back that the guy who lives behind me has an American Bulldog that turned out to be deaf. He's a sweet dog but I feel he's being completely neglected. For a while the dog was crate trained and kept indoors. Then one day, sitting right against my fence (and behind the guys shed so it can't be seen from his house) is a dog house and a shiny new post and chain. I knew what was coming, and it's happened. The dog is now chained up outside 24x7. He gets no attention from anyone but my wife and I. They guy comes out and gives him food and water but even that is not consistent. He spends no time with the dog aside from a couple minutes to feed/water him, and doesn't pet him or anything. The poor dog is starved for attention. I'm constantly untangling him from being stuck in one place for hours. The dog house is about a foot away from my fence and a foot away from the guys shed, so the dog goes in between, then gets stuck on the other side when his chain gets caught under the house or on debris. He gets his water in a bucket which is usually knocked over shortly after it's put out, and the bucket has been knocked over the last 2 days so I know the dog has not had a drink except for the rain we had yesterday. His food is probably soaking wet. Since he's deaf, when he's laying there the birds come down and eat it on him. The dog house is pretty nice, but has no bedding. The dog has no toys (aside from a soup bone we gave him) or anything to do. He's at the point now where he's barking way too much- 20-30 minutes at a time all night long. He just wants to be with someone. I have compassion for the poor thing but I can't take over caring for him. He's a pretty rough and tumble dog- easily 50-60 lbs and real thick and strong, and if I brought him in our yard I think he'd hurt Daisy and Bruzer because he's so full of energy and has no training, and Gunnar definitely doesn't like dogs like that and would probably hurt him.

I haven't directly confronted the neighbor about the dog but I've mentioned to him several times about how the dog needs attention, how nice he is and that he just needs some training, etc. but it isn't sinking in. I've decided that I'm calling the SPCA and the town today. The SPCA to get the dog taken care of, and the town to find out if he's breaking any easement/right of way rules with the dog house right against my fence and to ask about getting him to clean up the poop. He's also got a compost pile right against my fence which stinks pretty bad as well. The dog is closer to my house than it is to his and when it gets warm I can smell the poop, which is not acceptable. Gunnar is starting to take issue with the dog being right on the other side of his fence and is starting to act territorial. I can call him off easy but he shouldn't be put in that position to begin with. The dog is probably 6 months old now and I havent' seen him be taken off the chain for weeks, so I know he's not getting vetted and probably hasn't had more than the 1st round of shots, so I'm also concerned for my dog's health around him. It's a sad situation. If we didn't already have 3 dogs we'd take him in, but it just can't happen, our hands are full with training Daisy, and to take in another big dog that is completely wild and untrained is impossible.

 

[Sweet72947]

Calling the SPCA is the right thing to do. There are laws that state a dog must
have food, water and shelter. Sadly, there are no laws saying a dog must live in the house. There might be a law about nuisance barking, you can complain about that too.

 

[ToscasMom]

You are doing the right thing. And that compost pile is only going to get worse when the flies come when it's really warm. I went thru that once and had Codes tell him to remove it. You can't just stick compost piles anywhere you want around here at the expense of neighbors, and I imagine the same will apply to you. But the dog story is so verrry sad. There is nothing else you can do for that poor dog but to seek to have the SPCA intervene.

 

[ACooper]

I think you are definitely doing the right thing. The longer this goes on the more it can affect the dog (having no human contact to speak of) I just hope that it will produce results. Often, as long as the dog is fed and up to date on vacs, and appears to be in decent condition they will do nothing

 

[Barb04]

I agree, you are doing the right thing. The dog doesn't deserve to spend it's life like that.

 

[ToscasMom]

You're right ACooper, they might do nothing. Around here, this would then become a job for rescue "kidnappers".

 

[Doberluv]

How very sad. A similar situation I saw with my parent's neighbors...just heart breaking. I definitely would call the SPCA and remain anonymous. And if they do nothing, personally, I'd be tempted to sneak him out of their in the middle of the night and take him to some other state to find a home for him. It just is so wrong to do that to another living thing. I can't stand people sometimes.

 

[DanL]

I've thought of kidnapping him already! He is such a nice guy, he really needs a home where someone is equipped to train a special needs dog. When I go over there to see him he's all over you. His tail wags faster and harder than any other dog I've ever seen and he's so excited he doesn't know what to do- lay down and get pet, jump up to lick you, run around in circles. He deserves so much more than he is getting now. I should go give him food and water but that will only put a bandaid on the real issue, which is, the dog should be rehomed.

 

[ACooper]

It truly makes me so sad to think of that poor little deaf guy chained up with hardly any contact. I couldn't imagine being deaf for one, but then to be removed from the world in that way..................**cries**

 

[Doberluv]

While I'm here in Seattle, I visited my folks on Bainbridge Is. Their neighbors have always been such nice people in every other way, lovely neighbors, helpful to my very old parents, really seem like good people.

They got this GSD mix from a shelter about a year ago. They are obviously clueless about dogs, so of course, the dog is untrained. She is a nice dog, very sweet. These people have three small children and they must be very busy people. They have a nice, fenced back yard but they don't let the dog loose in it, probably worried it will get damaged. So, now they tie the dog up on the side of the house where she can't see anyone. The kids will be outside playing and there she lies, watching them intently like she'd like to play with them, but she can't. It is the most pitiful thing. They let her inside at night and I think a couple of times during the day but most of the day, tied up, she barks incessantly almost. No one appears to pay any attention to her and she is never taken for a walk. You can see her from my parent's upstairs bathroom window. It upsets my folks but they just don't know what to do either.

What is wrong with people? Do they honestly think of dogs as a lower form of life that has no feelings or emotions? It's just heart wrenching.

 

[Renee750il]

I'm sorry you're having to see (and smell) that Dan. That's heart-wrenching, to use Dober's most apt phrase.

That poor pup needs to disappear.

 

[Doberluv]

Yes, there's nothing more effective than a little midnight requisition.

 

[Renee750il]

Dog? What dog?

 

[ToscasMom]

Just DO it DanL! You have easy access, it gets dark, you get that pup out of there for another home. It's done all the time, and it's a lucky shot because the dog can be accessed from your property. Then you get amnesia.

 

[DanL]

You guys are BAD!

A/C was just there. I did the snoopy neighbor hide behind the curtains thing. She checked the conditions and talked to the owner, and went to her truck a few times. Looks like she handed him some kind of paperwork, don't know if it was a fine or what. I was hoping he would tell her to take the dog. We'll see what happens. He hasn't been out there yet to feed and water him.

 

[Doberluv]

OH WOW! So, you called them? I'm glad they came out. I am so curious what she told them. But, if you ask, you might be the suspect when you take the doggie for a walk..eh-hem....if you do. lol. Hey! That's another way. You can ask them if you can take their dog for a walk and then come back empty handed. Woops....he got away and disappeared.

 

[ToscasMom]

Find a home first, pick him up, send him home in the same night. Make it look like he broke out and took off. I'm sure the dog won't give you a hard time at all in the effort.

 

[dr2little]

How horribly sad. I just hope that you can get someone to listen and take action. You're going in the right direction, I hope this doesn't end in heartbreak for the dog or you and your family for trying to help.

 

[DanL]

He's out there now cleaning up. Unfortunately I can only see this ending in heartbreak for the dog. He's a bully breed with a handicap- not the most adoptable combo, even though he's friendly and all. I looked up Am Bulldog rescues recently and there really isn't anything close than 2 hrs away. I'm not sure they'd go that far even if I could get him to give the dog up.

I'm not worried about my family, including the dogs. He's scared of Gunnar, and he knows my son is a bad@ss from football and wrestling as he used to work at the high school. He won't mess with a couple guys who are over 6' tall and 250lbs.

 

[Sunnierhawk0]

Atleast there are people in the world like you Dan who try and help poor animals in these cases.

Maybe if the Am Bulldog rescue can't drive for 2 hrs maybe you could take him to them?? I am sure they would have a foster home for special needs like himself.

Im so glad Im not the only person who thought of a little midnight theift! LOL