dilemma- theres a dog that regularly comes to the park

theres a dog that regularly comes to the park [benson]. he is an old overweight collie. his usual condition is this.. severely matted fur, dags on his bum, overweight. he seemed happy enough despite that. well, i hadnt seen him for a while and i saw him today and got the fright of my life. his fur is so matted now that chunks are falling off and no air is circulating around his coat so he is overheating, he has poo running all down his legs that have crusted onto his fur, he cant walk well because his feet are becoming deformed and twisted due to no vet intervention and he is also starting to get cataracts. the poor thing usually potters about the park while the son of his owner ignores him and plays games with his friends. but this time all benson could do was lie down, wagging his tail everytime we looked at and patted him.

now, what do i do? a couple of us regulars are thinking about reporting it to the ranger or rspca. good idea, but, the owner is known to be a complete psycho when someone challenges him. if he were to find out one of us reported him hed 'throw a brick through our windows' as one regular who knows him said. its really sad to see this nice dog suffer. i just wish someone could just take him away. id even adopt him if he had no where to go. should we go ahead reporting, or just leave it?

argh why do i always have to witness abuse and neglect and there is nothing i can do about it :x

 

I'd report it. It's obvious that the dog is being neglected.

I'd get a group of you to report it. If it's just one of you the owner could single you out, but if it's a group of you then you have strength in numbers. If he decides to do anything then he'll have to take on all of you, not just one.

If he does try to do anything you have the law on your side and if other regulars know him to be aggressive or violent it just goes against his character in court.

 

Call me ballsy, but I would confront the SOB, right to his face. At that point I would try to get him to give me the dog.
If it got ugly, I would call the SPCA or whatever you have in your area, right then and there while he is there. I think it would be key to not let him be alone with the dog once the neglect is reported.

It completely puzzles my mind as to why people keep pets, if they do not take care of them...

 

Do they have a regular schedule`? because maybe you could wrk it out that the Spca or the ranger, just happen to show up as they are there and the ranger can ask whose dog s this? And you guys act as if you are just sitting there minding your own business? But I hope the dog gets a hair cut!

 

Report it. the poor dog is sufferng. Just tell the the agent you dont want to be known, that shouldnt be a problem no dog should live like that.

honeybear

 

I'd report it as well. If he harasses you or any of your friends (group) you can file on him as well for Harassment or domestic voilence, terroristic threat, ect.....In the long run, if you don't do anything, the dog is going to suffer and so is your concience for not doing anything.

 

yeah i guess i will report it. i mean hed have to go to ALOT of trouble to find out who reported it, where they live etc and i dont think he could be bothered. we know where he lives so its no problem for inspectors to see the dog. i cant stop thinking bout the poor thing. if it werent for the fact he was moving youd mistake him for a rotting carcass.

 

Let us know how it turns out...

 

Please let us know. If your serious about "fostering" him. Let the SPCA or rescue know. That way theyknowhe's got a chance and won't attempt to put him down....

 

:x Ohh! That makes me so mad!!! I hate that for Benson as well as for you having to witness it. I know how frusterating that is! I called on my neighbor (another Psycho) and I would do it again. I think that Lil96 gave a good idea in the schedule thing and Aqueous' idea about the group. Also, sams advice about letting the SPCA know you would be willing to foster would be really smart.

So, I don't really have any new advice, just wanted to put my two cents in about the great advice you got and to let you know I had to make the same decision and I'm glad I did. Good luck!!!!

 

I guess I'm a little late on this, but i wouldn't have reported it just yet. i would try to get the dog 1st. try "buying" the dog off him. make a big deal about how beautiful the dog is and how much you absolutly love him. See if you can get ahold of the dog. THEN report him. if he is that much of a physco then he might have tried to get rid of the dog before authorites could get him for it. i don't know of that's at all legal though, that's just what i would have done.

 

The probelm with that is then he'll have a good idea as to who reported him. The best thing in these situations where there's an agressive person owning the dog(S) who is known for abuse, brawls and fighting, is to keep your distance and let a professional do it.

You can end up seriously hurt or even worse.
In most cases people that abuse animals will often time abuse humans as well. Most cases start off with animal abuse, and escalate to human abuse.

Kyles did the right thing... Calling AC or SPCA is the right thing to do. I doubt (unless the dog is in that bad of condition) they will sieze the dog upon the first visit. They will more than likely give him a citation and order him to fix the problem and will come back to do checks to insure he's abiding with their orders. If he fails to do so, then they will inevitable sieze the dog.

 

Ok, that's a good point. I guess my worry for the dog would overcome my worry for me, but i guess that isn't realistic.

 

My vote is to report it immediately. ASPCA, or the Humane Society of your city. The sooner the better. The poor dog is suffering, and this owner is not responsible enough to care for him properly.

PLEASE let us know what happens....