So new neighbors moved in behind me a few weeks ago. They have a mixed breed dog about the size of a golden retreiver which they tie to the fence with a short LEASH, throw food on the ground when they feel like feeding him and a big metal bowl water dish that is sometimes filled with fresh water. I've only seen them let him off the leash once to run around the yard. They are gone so much I thought the toys on their back patio were staged to make it look like someone lives there.

The dog has no shelter, he can lay down, stand up and move around maybe 2 feet if that much. Sometimes he cries, not all the time - most of the time he just lays there. And what they don't know is - that part of their yard floods and I mean FLOODS when it comes a big rain. He was out there in a short lived thunderstorm today so he's probably laying in mud now. When it rains heavy like it does here - it is going to get really weird.

I just don't get people who do this. If they don't want a dog why don't they just give him away to somebody that'll treat him decent and take proper care of him. I don't want any hassles or retaliation from calling animal control on them. And the way their yard is shaped they've got him where none of the other neighbors can see what's going on but us.

We had the same situation with the people on the side of us years ago when their dog almost died because their 10 yr old son who was supposed to be responsible for the dog tied it with a leash to their fence out in the hot summer sun with no water. We called on them. They were fined and had to pay a big vet bill. That family abused so many more dogs in different ways after that and were reported over and over by neighbors. And she's a successful professional who sells insurance. They'd just get another dog and sometimes more than one like the dogs were disposeable - I've never seen one family go through that many dogs and mistreat them all.

It got so bad with them that the lady who used to live behind me (where the new couple moved in) had a screaming fight with her yelling you're supposed to love your dogs and take of them or don't have any! Finally, after years, thank God, they have no more have animals. It was an emotionally draining awful experience that I never wanted to go through again.

And now - here we are - with this new to the neighborhood young couple - with three small kids I'm told - I've never seen anybody but the young man who's the father I assume - moved in and have tied up their dog behind my music room - as far away from their own house as they could get - where nobody can see how they neglect him or hear him cry but us. I can't believe it.

Oh and the dog goes crazy barking every time me or my husband walk out in our own backyard. I guess he's been treated so badly for so long he won't let us get near. So we can't even give him any water. It's a pathetic situation.

Report it

That is so sad and makes me very angry. Also I understand your reluctance to risk being targeted if you report them and they find out.

I would recommend the following,

- Compose a nice ANONYMOUS letter with paragraph #1 warmly welcoming them to the neighborhood.

- But in paragraph #2 state that their treatment of their dog is inhumane and absolutely unacceptable and while you understand they probably have their hands full with their family this is no excuse for mistreating a dog. Further state that you will wait 7 days but if this situation does not improve in that time you will file a complaint against them. Stress how much you would prefer not to have to do such a thing.

- Mention that you live down the street and cannot even imagine how hard this must be for the neighbors directly behind them (this is a little dishonest but could help protect your anonymity!)

- Mention that several of the neighbors have noticed the dog's condition and wondered if it was going to improve.

- Finish in paragraph #3 by repeating the warm welcome. You might even say you are sending this anonymously because you do not wish to embarrass them or hurt their feelings but you are deeply concerned about the dog's well-being.

- Be sure to type or print on your printer both the letter and envelope and send from a public mailbox with no return address on your letter or envelope.

Wait 7 days and then report them anonymously if conditions have not improved!

Report it today. No leeway. The dog is suffering. A letter will not change a heart that cold.

Bud

I agree wholeheartedly. Sending them a letter would only accomplish escalating the situation without helping the dog.

Use the anonymous letter to report them.

2b

My thoughts exactly.

I would suggest that you not be influenced by old neighbors situations to this couples situation. This may be their first dog and they could be as stupid as they appear. With both adults gone a lot it's likely they both work. A young couple, both working and with 3 kids does not usually make for a good home for a dog. Determine the circumstances before launching...

I'm not sure if you're venting or seeking advice but your situation is quite common and I've had some experience on occasion to address solutions as I've trained and studied dogs and their behavior for years. I've got a CDT from a national dog training school and had some really competent mentors.

Many people are totally ignorant as the suffering they cause, to the dog and the neighbors the narcisstic syndrome today is very common. Many young people especially with their hands full, working, kids, the reality of life has finally set in that it's not going to be easy. I'm not sure you could educate, awaken them with a letter, although there are always possibilities. Yes, if they know who you are they'll probably view you are the complaining, pesky neighbor.
It seems that it's not going to improve and it's definitely affecting your life, so I would say you have no option but to rip the bandage off quickly. Might be good to send the letter, so that it appears to come from down the way rather than you, don't mention the seven days, just go ahead and report them immediately. That way they get a "big" wake up call.

It's really hard when it's your next door neighbor, because, well regardless of what you do, they're still next door.

Josie, do you know what your local ordinances regarding the keeping of dogs are? For example, here in Escambia County Florida, the requirements are:



Personally, I would just call animal control and let them know what you found. My experience (but it may not be the same everywhere) is that they will not tell your neighbor who filed the complaint. If they are in violation, they should at least do the minimum to come into compliance. If that results in a fine or more, then they should have looked at the ordinances before taking on dog ownership. That's on them, not you.

BTW, if anyone is interested, here is the Facebook page we set up for our two pups (Charlotte Ann and Bella Donna) at Sisterhood of the Traveling Curs. Charlotte is a Black Mouth Cur and Bella is a Black Mouth Cur/American Bulldog mix (as best as we can tell, as she came from the Escambia County animal shelter with very little documentation - we saved her about a day before she was to be "sent off"). Charlotte is a rescue, also - we got her from the Alabama Rescue Foundation (at the "ARFanage"). Bella is a week away from her two month recovery from torn ACL surgery and will be able to run free off leash again. We luckily have enough property (0.6 acres), fully fenced, so there is plenty of room to run and play. They are crated at night (which they consider their sanctuary) and we keep the crates in the family room so during the day, the doors are open and there is always dog/human interaction, with lots of lap time and play time and bone chewing time and rope pulling time and, well, you get the idea. They get a 40-minute walk in the morning and again in the evening.

There is just no excuse for just leaving your dog out and unattended all the time. They are social animals, and so solitude is just going to make things worse.

REPORT IT!

I ran outside when I saw her with one of the kids finally giving the dog water and leftover boxed chicken. I was nice, told her we were glad to have their family here. I was firm told her all the stuff that they were doing which was against the law and cruel to the dog. I tried to be understanding but not accepting of her excuses. I kept pointing out that all dog owners face those same problems and have to figure them out and this wasn't the way to do it - which is why there are laws. I also told her other people wanted me to report them but I wanted to talk to her first and give them a chance to fix it.

We talked a while. I suggested things to address her concerns about the dog, warned her the dog was going to be in water if it rained hard and she was going to be in deep doodoo if that happened. Told her about seeing her dog out there with a thunderstorm going on yesterday laying in the mud. And I repeated several times that paying fines and vet bills wasn't what I wanted them to wind up having to do. She said the dog is seven years old and used to be an inside dog until her husband developed allergic rash. And I tried to get through to her how important exercise is for the dog and how much like a two year old they are in needing to run and play.

Last thing I asked her was when would they have a dog house for the dog and she said this weekend so we'll see. And she said she'd have a bowl for his food by tomorrow.

I hope I got through to her - I tried my best. I think she's a young working mother, overwhelmed, ignorant and the poor dog got lost in the shuffle. Still, he deserves and is going to get better treatment one way or the other.

I want to thank each of you for the wise counsel. It helped me a lot.

I just pray they follow through.

@John - The Sisterhood is so cute! Lucky dogs!

Josie - Let us know how it works out in the end. When I'm out walking my dogs, I am amazed at the number of off-leash (yet they have tags) dogs I see. As you said, I just don't get some people.

+1 John.... Keep us in the loop Josie.

I thought you handled it very wisely and tactfully. Hopefully, they are the kind of people who will follow thorough and get it resolved. I do feel for young families who have a lot on their plate, but they do need to take care of the essentials.

Sundance thank you for being aware and compassionate about the concerns you have for the dog.
You have done the right thing and addressed your worries directly to the owner, hopefully they will take it onboard.
Please don't just let this fizzle along for any length of time if the owner does not provide the basic food, water, shelter and exercise after a few days I would, and have done, reported it to the relevant authorities.
Animal welfare comes first excuses a poor second.

I'm really glad you spoke to them and that it seems like you got through to her! Hopefully the pupper will be OK.

Leftover box chicken will kill the dog

The next morning they had put up a run - zipline tether - and a bowl of food along with his water bowl. He of course turned the food bowl over but at least he has one. The dog looks a lot happier not stuck in one spot. They're supposed to get a doghouse this weekend.

Scott, My eyes probably got big as saucers when I saw that leftover chicken. All I said while watching him scarf it down was, what do you feed him? She said purina - the chicken was a "special treat" til her husband got home with dog food. I was relieved he didn't choke.

I didn't say don't feed him leftover chicken. I had so much to try and get through to her, I didn't want to go too far. I think she was already feeling frustrated and scared. I didn't feel like it was a good idea to go any further than I already had. A person can only take in so much upsetting information at a time. I was concerned she might not hear me at all if she felt she totally lost face.

My husband and I were really happy to see that zip line tether up the next morning.

She knows I'm watching and if they don't follow through I'll report them. I hope I don't have to do that. I'll update.

Josie, congratulations to you for the way you handled this. It appears that your contribution has delivered excellent progress to this situation.
Great job.

<<<
My husband and I were really happy to see that zip line tether up the next morning. >>>


That's a good solution. I hope it's a long one.

"Leftover box chicken will kill the dog.": "My eyes probably got big as saucers when I saw that leftover chicken. All I said while watching him scarf it down...": "I was relieved he didn't choke." I'm assuming here you are referring to chicken bones and not chicken meat, correct?

You did a nice thing.

2b

I had a dog get a chicken bone sliver stuck in his tongue from canned dog food. Our government allows butchers to use power knives to cut the meat from the bone and I surmise they got to close to the bone. Today I will not buy canned chicken dog food. In fact we only use dry dog food now.

You did the right thing and no one should expect more of you when you do that. That’s my mantra

If they can’t afford a dog house I’ll be glad to make a contribution toward it.

J&B

I'm glad to hear that good progress is being made. I know that so much of our lives revolve around our dogs and that we treat them as if they were our own children (which in a way, they are). That's the responsibility one must accept by getting a dog (or two or three).

Good on ya, Josie!

In our role as moderators of the animal kingdom, man(kind) has been found totally lacking.

Well, it's good to see there's a rapid improvement after you spoke with them. I would have had to tell her to STOP and don't give the dog chicken with bones in it. They often splinter and puncture the intestines and then you face thousands of dollars of needless surgery, if the dog manages to survive.

I can't stand to see dogs treated like that. Of course, my girl is an inside dog. She hangs out with us, and me especially, most of the time. She's never been tethered outside when I wasn't there.

Talking first was the best option. You never know the circumstances of the family and reporting them first, before talking, would have been the coward's way out. Glad to see it's working out..... and I hope the dog doesn't have ill effects from the bones..... yeah, you need to discuss that with them so they don't do it again. Not everyone knows about the dangers of pork and chicken bones for dogs.

REPORT IT as quick as you can pick up the phone. Or give me the address and I will.

Best of luck,

Oops, read further and see it has been corrected, nevermind.

Take Care,

Yes. Chicken bones and other bones such as pork bones can be very bad news for dogs. Glad you dog came out of his run in with a bone ok. I feed mine a mixture of dry and canned dog food based loosely on a dog food recipe that's 100 years old.

UPDATE - Dog is loving his run and his doghouse - they bought a really nice doghouse and put a dog bed inside to keep him comfy. They also keep him inside when the weather is going to be really bad. We rarely hear a peep out of him unless he barks at a stranger in the vicinity - he's a good guard dog who appears to be content and enjoying his space.

No need to reply to this. Just wanted all who commented to know everything worked out.

That is awesome! Love to hear a happy ending for a pet story!