Poor Dogs (and theres nothing I can do)

Ok so I was drivng down in the Amish country area of where i live and I went by a fenced in small patch of land. It was weird because it was just a mesh wire fencing like they were keeping a dog or dogs in there. I was surprised because it was miles away from any house and there was like a mudd hut type of thing for shelter for whatever was in there. No food dishes so i pulled out a can of wet food from my truck and whistled and out poped three hound dogs from the tiny hut. It was pretty cold and all thre dogs were shivering like crazy and thin thin thinI mean i have seen skinny dogs but I mean I was really not surprised they could all fit in that tiny hut. There was a big hound a mediam sized and a small hound. I would say the big one looked like a Black and Tan CoonHound infact im sure he was he was friendly enough. The middle sized hound looked to be a foxhound type and the small hound looked the a cross of a Beagle and a Rough Coated Hound. i pulled out five more cans of food and aloud each to eat all were to weak to fight for there food when a man came up and asked we what i was doing he had a bucket in his hand nad by his talk and clothes he was obviousely Amish. I just said looking at these beautiful hounds nad he just looked at me and said "looks like you were feeiding em" when i said no sir i was just looking at them and petting them he kinda softened. And this is waht he told me " these dogs were his hunting dogs and not meant to be pet or fed unless out on a hunt and only if they did well so in other words when they hunt htey eat and not other time because a hungry dog makes a great hunting dog and giving them just enough food to sustain them makes them last longer". I could'nt really fight him back on his words i was alwasy taught not to interfer presonally wit the Amish way of life becasue they do not try to change us so i just kinda said ok and said it would be getting colder soon and he said he would be bringing them out extra skins and straw to keep them warm enough through the winter and told me i need not worry all three dogs were over the age of 5. So i went home and contacted our ASPCA and asked if there was anything they could do. They told me there was very little and that the best the could do was go and ask them to brign there dogs in out of the cold and feed them and check in on them later and if they dogs airn't any better they will take them. But the ASPCA is kinda like my parents the rather not interfere knowing these dogs help put food on the table but they said they would have someone go out and ask the family to bring their dogs into the barn for the winter and feed them a bit better but they rather not take these dogs from this family.

I don't know when this will happen or if it will at all. All I know is i went by and all three hounds were still there standing in the new snow whing and so i broke the rules and gave each dog some food and took off. I just don;t think its fair for these dogs but theres nothig i can do.

 

I don't know too much about hound dogs, but I have heard stuff about not feeding them and feeding them and such, maybe someone else can help you on that.
But one thing I must say is that I get offended when someone says he is amish, he is black he is jewish he is white, whatever the case may be, the problem I believe is the same whether he is amish or not. You think he is not taking care of his dogs, unless he actually said this is the way amish people treat their dogs it is written like that in our sacred amish book, then it doesn't matter. I am sorry I am weird about that, but don't take offense to it.

 

I think that used to be a pretty typical way to treat hunting dogs. They used to say it "ruins" a hunting dog to have a comfortable life. They were supposed to live outside and only be interacted with when they are hunting.

Of course, that is all crap. Many very fine hunting dogs work just fine when they are coddled members of the family. The Amish are typically not up on more modern ideas, however. It probably also takes more work to train a good hunting dog when they aren't starved to perform. But on the other hand, you'd think they would not perform very well when they are starving and weak.

If the dogs are thin enough, maybe the ASPCA can call it "neglect" and force them to feed the dogs more or they will take them away.

 

I have to say one thing. I don't give a GD what kind of religion or ethnic these people are, You take care of your animals, or you don't get to keep them. PERIOD.

I know something can be done. WE siezed 14 horses from an amish farm. They were starving and week and on the Henekee scale the best one was at a 2..... Did I feel bad about taking the horses away? NO not one bit. WHy, yes they helped the families farm. But two, they didn't deserve the harsh treatment, and starvation they endured. Out of those 14 only 8 made it. 1 thats even able to be ridden......

You know what their excuse was??? Get this, a hungry horse will work for its food, and you have to beat the sense into it! hitting = obediance....
Know what I said, "well let me beat the living S**T out of you, and see if you comply with the LAW!".

I've never gotten so emotional and lost my temper like I did that day. We gave him 2 weeks before to improve the conditions and not one single change had been made. So after our weekly inspections for 2 weeks. We loaded the live ones up in the trailer, and hauled butt. The dead ones were put on a flat bed truck and haued off for necropsies.....

SO I don't take to the whole, Its my religion or its against my way of life, bull S**t.....doesn't fly with me....

No where in ANY bible does it say you have to abuse, neglect and downright be mean to any animal for what ever reason.....

 

So what if they guy doesn't go hunting for a few months ar the dogs don't do good on a hunt, they don't get feed for months?

I agree with Sams, It doesn't matter if they're Amish or not, they still have to obey the laws just like everyone else.

I would have paid to see that! It always amazes me at how ignorant some people are.

 

My sister lives near Amish people and she says they all treat their animals poorly as well. Apparently they are stuck in the antiquated notion that you need to beat an animal to make it behave. I wonder if they beat their children, too...?

I agree with everyone here, though. If they need the animals to support their way of life, then they need to learn to properly care for them. I don't recall the Bible advocating mistreatment of animals. They are God's creatures and we are their caretakers.

The Amish need to comply with humane treatment of animals. It does not violate their religious beliefs.

 

Jamiya, Yes they do beat their children into submission as well. There was a little girl there that had bruises on her arms and legs....
CPS was called out on them, though I don't know the out come of it.

One of my hardest and biggest problems in this "job" is not loosing my cool. But I've gone off on a few people, and have gotten into phyisical fist fights with them before. never have I thrown the first punch, but I have ended it. One time, had it not been for my Best friend, I would have gottne the crap beat outta me. The guy was like 350lbs, 6ft2 and had a REALLY bad attitude.... I was walking away and he kicked the back of my legs so I fell, but when I got up, I came up swinging. I got in two good hits before I hit the ground again.. Had Dave not been there, It would have been real bad for me.

 

Problem is they may be protected by their religious freedom to do what they are doing with their children and animals. It is true religious freedom wins out in this situation... Many people who don't beleive in Doctors are allowed to let their children suffer (not sure what relligion (sp?) but it happens)

 

I think thats Jahovas Whitness... but in a case where the childs life is at stake, they will step in and take over. As far as animal abuse and neglect goes. we have yet to have a problem getting a seizure warrent and searchwarrent to take the animals from amish, or anything else.

I know people try to hide behind that, but in this day of age, it just doesn't fly anymore. I personally don't give a rats a## what religion you are, you know better (you meaning people as a whole not a singular person) and you know right from wrong. I don't care what your taught.

Just like serial killers, and murderers that try to blame their bad behaivor on their parents not buying them that bike when they were a kid, or the dog that bit them when they were younger....I don't buy into all that crap. Frankly, you are who you are, and you make your OWN decisions.....

 

I agree with you 100% except where serious documented mental illness is a cause of problems... That's just a sad situation all around though...and a problem the state hospital gets to take on...

But you can still withhold medical attention for your child behind religious freedom except where child will die without it etc... A degree of neglect is allowed...the laws need to fixed in that respect...

 

You're walking in a more grey area with the medical stuff. I suppose you could say I am "neglecting" my dogs because I refuse to get annual vaccinations. However, they were vaccinated as puppies and I believe that injecting them year after year when they are already immune is dangerous to their health. After all, humans aren't re-vaccinated every year. So I guess it depends on what sort of medical procedures you are talking about.

 

A person can choose to vaccinate their children or not to vaccinate and neglect is not part of that equation...if that makes sense...I'm talking about serious procedures for illness...like Cancer etc... Many times they don't have to intervene based on religious freedom and in court it could go either way in favor of the family or the child...it's sad but true...

 

Please call someone to help. I would remain anonymous, but these dogs need help and they need it now. There has to be someone that will take them out of that place they are in and give them to caring people. I cannot stand these kind of stories. I live close to Amish country, too. I am close to Lancaster, PA. Where is this place you talk about?

 

Oh no. Don't take me wrong. I understand that aspect clearly. I'm neglecting my dogs in that scense as well. I don't rabies vaccinate every year...I see where its not needed. However if a situation comes up like did a while back wehre an outbreak of disteper came out, I gave boosters....

But if a child is in desparate need of a blood transfusion and its life or death, and their parents (I believe its Jahovas Whitness that doesn't belive in this) won't approve it, I can see stepping in and staying Whao, this kids gonna die and I'm not gonna let it happen....

But back to the original post. Amish are just like everyone else, only they live a diffrent life style. That does not discount their responsibilities to take care of their animals.....sure they don't have to let them live in the Tash mahal and feed them filet mignon, but come on!!!

 

I lived in the mid-west near the Amish settlements called the Amana Colonies. My Grandmother came from a more modern sect of Amish called Menonnites. They believe animals as beasts given by God to do with at will. They have a Doctor that treats family members as well as deliver a calf if there's a problem. The Doctor is paid by produce and a place at the Sunday Gathering Feast.

There are no pets, only beast of burden. A horse will plow, chicken lay eggs, a dog will hunt. They are only given enough to sustain life. This is their way of life, usually nobody interferes.

As of lately questions have come up on child abuse. But, yes, Amish law is just that and it's even hard for modern society to interfere with the way Amish discipline their children.

A child interested in animals as pets are considered weak and having to much time for frivolous things. It's a sin to "want" anything. Work is all you do and the fruits of your labor is your reward.

I suggest not looking, or drive by on the sly and throw them some food, and then go home and hug your pets real tight.