Our neighbor's dog has chosen to die in my house.

[alittlelark]

She came over about 3 hours ago. She is WAAAAY too skinny, shaking (now in the house a few hours, much better) She is 10 years old, and she is as filthy as I have ever seen a dog. Mariah is not allowed inside the house. We are living in Los Altos - they can afford to bathe the poor beast. My cats are attempting to clean her....

We have had warnings out here for 4 days now not to let your animals out w/o shelter.... She has no shelter and NO LIFE (never has). She lives in a 6x12 'run'. I feel sick thinking about it... and when they return from their trip I do not wish to tell them that their dog is here.

She dug her way out to get here... I am up to denying that I have seen her....
So sad, don't know what to do.

[Renew Deal]

1. When are they coming back?

Either get the pooch to the shelter or keep it. Ask if you need to.

[alittlelark]

5. I've known them for 12 years... they don't give a sh*t

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

2. Keep the dog and turn the neighbors in for animal abuse.

They deserve all the shit that comes down on them. Be sure to take pictures.

[OhioChick]

4. I agree...n/t

[alittlelark]

7. We are unincorporated Santa Clara County

in betwen Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.... A dead animal can be in the road for 3-5 days before anything happens. We are COUNTY.

PS - we took pictures. She is now on a full size mattress pad - she's still very pretty.

[shawcomm]

8. Yeah, definitely. Turn the bastards in.

In no way allow them to get the poor animal back. :mad:

I worked on the computer for a lady one time who, while living in Florida, would take abused animals into her home to care for until they could be adopted into a good one. After she had moved here to the NC mountains, she found out she didn't leave the ugliness behind. She told me that one day while at the vet, she struck up a conversation with a woman who asked her how long she kept her dogs. The question didn't make any sense and when she inquired, she found out, to her horror, that the other woman would adopt puppies and when they grew up and the novelty wore off, she and her family would drive out to the wilderness and dump the poor dog off.

It's appalling how some people treat animals. But heck, this is the U.S. Appalling behaviour abounds. :(

[realisticphish]

42. i cant even imagine that

it kills me when a pet dies; if i had my way, theyd live forever, so i cant even comprehend getting "tired" of a pet

:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[shawcomm]

50. Shelter: Woman brought in frozen dog, asked for new one

http://www.kobtv.com/index.cfm?viewer=storyviewer&id=15448&cat=NMTOPSTORIES

Un-fucking-believable. You know, I had just thought about that woman again who told me that story when I came across this. I just don't have any words for people like this.

[shesemsmom]

52. I can think of plenty words

and none of them are nice

[realisticphish]

55. ...

:puke: thats all i can say about that


:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[Lorien]

3. Well, first of all, I hope you feed her

secondly; I would call the humane society to report animal abuse/ neglect. Let them come and see the dog for themselves. They may decide to seize her and charge your neighbors.

She came to you seeking help; you didn't take her. I hope you can find some way to liberate her from the hell she's been confined to!

[alittlelark]

10. She's been over here countless times over the years.

Mariah is a WAY cool dog - but I have not seen her for 4-5 mo, and when they started their 'pool project' last spring I got her 4-5 times over 1 month's time.

If I report to to the humane society, she will be impounded and 'put to sleep' (possibly the best option). But I cannot do that. She came here for a reason.

[FuzzySlippers]

12. I'm not sure I understand.

Why wouldn't she be put up for adoption?

[alittlelark]

14. She is 10+ years old, limps horribly

and cannot see very well (the cataracts are obvious). She is not an adoptable animal.

[FuzzySlippers]

15. Oh, the poor thing. I saw below that you intend to keep her

and will threaten to report the owners if they demand her back. I think that's very commendable.

[alittlelark]

16. She is 10 + years old, limps to the degree

that you cannot call it walking, and is 4 years dirty (the last time hubby and I bathed her).

[intheflow]

I don't understand why the humane society would impound her

if you've decided to keep her and take care of her. You say she's unadoptable but you'd be willing to adopt her. I think the humane society would be down with that.

I'm sure most humane society workers got into the field because they loved animals, not because they loved euthanizing them. If the dog can find final comfort in your home, why would they take her?

[alittlelark]

37. ANY H Soc person would call Mariah 'unadoptable'

Do YOU want an aged dog w / cataracts, arthritis, and kidney issues? If you do do PM me.

[shesemsmom]

53. They wouldn't put her to sleep if you want her

make it known that you do

[FuzzySlippers]

6. They left her outside in a run while they went on a trip?

For how long? Surely that qualifies as animal neglect. Report them to the authorities.

[alittlelark]

11. Yes, it is neglect, but here in the unincorporated area of Santa Clara

it means NOTHING! As a hint - Courtney Love's CRAZY father lives 3 blocks from me with his gang of pit-bulls.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

9. That is just terrible

If it were me and I had to live next to the people I would; keep the dog and tell them I had it, and would threaten to turn them in if they fought me about it. I know you should just turn them in anyway, but that is a personal choice since you will still be neighbors. Also, I think I would mention if I saw anything like this from them again that I will turn them in immediately.

I hope the dog is going to be alright.

[alittlelark]

13. DING DING DING - that's what we are doing

If they even contemplate another dog my kids will berate them - if that does not work I will deal with the situation.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

18. It's what I did when my neighbors cat came to me with Calci-Virus

She was almost dead and they just left her outside to die alone. To make matters worse she had been attacked by something and had lacerations that needed stitches. I nursed her and got meds from the vet for her. She has been with me for 3 years now. They still don't have another cat. :)

[alittlelark]

19. You are my hero!!!!

I hope your wretched neighbors are allowed no more creatures to torment....

[faithnotgreed]

20. count me in that too! way to go and prayers for all of you. poor little

guy... i seriously thank you so very much. put that dog first before the neighbors. theyve made it tragically clear they could care less

i usually avoid tragic animal threads but i read this one and am glad to see it could have a happy ending. at least something humane and that is ok considering the hell the dog has been through

very best wishes to all

on edit: i meant you alittlelark, you are a hero! of course all who rescue animals are.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

23. If I am a hero

Then you are also. :)

May both our neighbors lives be pet free forever more.

[alittlelark]

26. Some people have NO buisness 'owning' animals

and they are repukes.

[radwriter0555]

47. Listen, keep the dog, and if they try to claim it's theirs, look them s

straight in the eye and tell them to prove it.

Insist you've had the dog for years.

Take some photos, if you can, before you clean her up, and then give her a nice bath, get her all cleaned up, and give her a new name, some nice soft chew toys and as much love as you can.

And insist you've had her for years...

[RadicalMom]

17. How far away is the humane society?

She needs to be placed in a new home, needs medical attention, and the new home needs to be where the original owners won't find her, plus you need to remain anonymous so the humane society can do its job without you suffering retaliation. Be aware that it is difficult to find adopters for dogs of that age, but not impossible. All of the dogs that I've turned into the pound have either been claimed by their owners(on this case, they shouldn't let that happen and may cite them for neglect, then put her up for adoption) or have been adopted before the date when they would have been at risk of being put down. I always follow up on them after I turn them in.

[alittlelark]

21. OK, she is 10+ years old, has cataracts, limps so badly

that one cannot call it walking. Her b*shco owners do not givea CRAP about her. She has never been allowed inside their house. I will not allow her to be 'put down' by some 'unknown' If she must be put to sleep I will have someone come here. She is far too cool of a dog to be left to the 'system'.

PS - the shelter people are most likely lying to you. Shelter animals have almost no chance (under 20%).

[China_cat]

38. That may be true in some places

but certainly not all. Some shelters even have no-kill policies and only euthanize when an animal is truly too ill to be saved and a humane death would be kinder.

Our own shelter here in Charleston used to be a nightmare but it got turned around. They still euthanize but more humanely now and they have a full system of foster care and programs that do everything they can to rehome an animal.

I'm glad you're taking care of this dog. Kidney issues and some of the limp will resolve when she's been fed up and has some more muscle mass. Rimadyl or one of the other new drugs will help with the rest. And cataracts are not a big problem once she learns where she is. We had a dog who only saw light and shadow through them and she got around well. You'd never have known anything was wrong with her.

[China_cat]

43. I'm putting this in so you can see

the good a shelter can do (and if you get enough people together, you can make the same kind of difference)

Even 5 years ago this guy would have gotten off with a slap on the wrist, probation at the very most. Now he got 40 years. Our SPCA and their cruelty investigations, push for penalties and insistence on proper treatment for animals have made the difference. And our...the people of this area...work to make our shelter more accountable are responsible.

This is from the Charleston Post Courier, Nov. 24, 2004

Body blow to a blood sport

The conviction of David Tant on a variety of charges related to his involvement in dogfighting sends a stern -- indeed, chilling -- message to those who would engage in this brutal blood sport. Simply put, South Carolina will no longer tolerate its existence.

Mr. Tant, considered one of the most successful breeders of fighting pit bulls in the world, was given 40 years in prison, and has to pay $150,000-plus to Charleston County as reimbursement for keeping his dogs in an animal shelter, following his arrest.

In addition, he will be required to pay the medical expenses of a surveyor, who was badly injured by a booby trap when he ventured on property where Mr. Tant's dogs were kept.

[faithnotgreed]

22. is she really about to die?

i think its great that you will hold onto her and fight for her life. i agree with others here who urge you to stand up to the neighbors and let them know they have no right to her any longer.

please take good care and give her lots of hugs from us! please let us know what happens. its hard for me to hear any bad news about animals but i really want to know how shes doing

on edit: hugs for you and your children and your cats too! im so glad that poor little thing has all of you to care for her. no matter what happens, she needs all this love

[alittlelark]

25. When my kids play w/her she gets attn

but that's it. She is sweet, and we will not allow her to be placed back outside (would you want your grandmother to have to live with no heat). She is a GOOD DOG and deserving of the treatment surrounding the position!

[faithnotgreed]

28. may i ask something

it may be because im on the other coast so its way late here but i was a little confused about this reply

i wasnt sure if you were responding to my post, or what that was. the reference to grandmother and living without heat i didnt follow. sorry about that.

is it me and my bleary eyes? i dont mean to take your attention away from whats important here but did want to check in.

thanks. and thanks again for all that youre doing

[alittlelark]

30. Mariah IS the grandmother

and she may be 'but a dog' but will we accept that she must sleep outside in her condition (10+ lbs underweight, shaking, and cataracts to the degree that she has a hard time finding the food dish I give to her)?

[faithnotgreed]

33. oh ok. thank you. animals are people too and a lot of times

theyre a lot better acting

best wishes again. i hate the whole situation as you clearly do. it takes people like you to give hope to animals like mariah.

thank you so very much. and im sending warm wishes to each of you

[burrowowl]

24. Isn't there a genral ordiance on cruelity

to animals?
The last suggestion on follow up is good. Adopt the dog back if she is turned over to the humane society. Here in ABQ the humane Society is much better than the city animal shelter.
After cleaning and feeding her can you take her to the vet? She may need IV hydration.

[alittlelark]

27. Dude, I'm from ABQ!!! Out here - you do not want to know the death rate.

they claim it is 'illness in the animals' - uh yeah, 80%??????

So sick, so warped.... I can only defend that in my realm at this point in saying "WAKE UP AND GIVE A F*CK!!!.

[roguevalley]

29. keep her and don't tell them. take care of her, bring her back from

the brink. here's your chance to be a hero. this dog is so desperate to be with someone who loves her she's done awful things to get to you. don't let her down, honey, hard as this may be. her life must have been terrible for her to do this. save her. please. God will never forget what you do now.

[alittlelark]

32. problem is they are next door and sadistic

I already had a n issue w/ casey (now dead) who kept coming to our house. They told everyone that Casey liked messiness.... uh, yeah. These are not 'real people' that you are mentioning.

Some people live sooo out of mainstream as to be caricatures....I live next to at least 4.

[HuskiesHowls]

31. You're doing the right thing

by taking care of her. Just keep it up. If you can keep her, and take care of her...by all means do so, since they don't care. It'll be just one thing that wasn't on their minds to start with that they don't need to be concerned about.

Dogs have SOOOOO much love to give, and they can show us all how to live, if we have the eyes to see. And, they are so very forgiving.

One thing that is interesting....spelling dog backwards does mean something!!!

[alittlelark]

34. They care about what the neighbors thimk

It will be difficult to keep Mariah cloistered - but we will do what we can!!

[roguevalley]

35. this bothered me so much, I had to reboot and see what would

be done. Since it appears you are keeping the poor little darling, I want to thank you. Bless you. The same thing happened to us about twenty or thirty years ago. A neighbor was neglecting and starving a little dachshund, so my brother went over and got him and told the owner he'd beat the living crap out of him if he ever tried to get Fritzi back. He needless to say 'gave' us the dog and we had his darling little butt for a decade. He died in a loving family with a full belly and all the hugs he could ever have wanted.

If we hadn't of done that, it would have haunted us forever. Your poor baby is seeking you out. this dog used reserves it doesn't have in a final bid for protection and love by coming to you. You will *NEVER* in your lifetime have a better or more loyal and loving friend. I am in tears about this. God bless you for keeping her. Now I think I can go to sleep. :-)

Oh, and tell them if they want her, that you will give her back and take all your digital pictures to the authorities. Don't tell them what ones. Just say authorities. That should just about do the trick. Hug her for me, the little sweet baby.

[alittlelark]

36. We have enough dirt (and not just doggie)

to keep them away from her. If they attempt to get another animal we will be ALL OVER them. Sick.

[REP]

39. I Don't Know Which Sickens Me More

That the abuse has been going on so long or that you have been living next to the abuse, doing nothing, for so long.

I, too, live in Santa Clara County. I know where the emergency vets in the county are, open 24 hours, who can hydrate the dog and tend to her immediate needs or euthanize her if she is indeed dying. They are listed in the phone book if you care to look for them. You can choose to end her suffering, and you can do that by taking the first step in seeing if she can be made well.

[Piperay]

40. So glad you

are keeping the dog, makes me sick to think of people like that with an animal. The doggie came to you because she knew you were good and would help her, THANK YOU. :hug:

[LagunaSlick]

41. I live very close to you...

and I'll take the dog if you need to hide it someplace. I will also take care of its medical needs. PM me.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

44. Welcome to DU!!

:hi:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

45. You are great!

And I'd keep her. Have you bathed her yet? What kind of a dog is she?
Good luck, I hope everything works out!
Duckie

[Cerridwen]

46. Thanks for taking her in and doing what you can.

It always give me hope for the human race when I read here and other places of people willing to help animals in need.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

:yourock:

[Demonaut]

48. You've done the right thing, Keep her, love her and never look back

those that abuse animals need a special place in hell, I would've done the same thing as you but watch out they dont retaliate with meat soaked in antifreeze or go after your cats, notify your other neighbors if they're friendly to keep an eye on your cats and the abusers. God bless your gentle heart.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

49. Take the dog in, give it love and fuck revenge.

You have been given a gift.

[shesemsmom]

51. Don,t wait

report those folks right now to the ASPCA. That dog deserves better. It still had the strength to escape, and next time might not be so lucky.People who mistreat animals make me angry and sick,:grr: :puke:

[skygazer]

54. I've never understood people like that

Why have an animal if you're going to keep it out in a run or tied to a tree for its entire life? Why would you have it at all? It just infuriates me.

Poor thing. They have no business having a dog. There has to be someone you can report this too - they should not be allowed to have that poor animal back. And good for you for taking her in. :hug: for Mariah.