You,
I bet it doesn’t make you feel good. I bet you don’t even care enough to notice. I bet you’ve simply become accustomed to the comfort of cruelty.
It’s easy, right? It’s just a dog. It’s just a dog. Plus, you don’t have to go out of your way. All you have to do is forget to feed it, to forget to ever bring it inside and forget to schedule that vet appointment. Easy.
We’ve noticed, though. We’ve noticed that, everyday we walk home, we walk past your door and your dog is always there; outside. We’ve noticed that this is always true regardless of weather conditions. We’ve noticed the neglected appearance — the complete lack of energy, the mangy coat, the weak frame and the sunken, red eyes. We’ve noticed.
And so we’re going to tell on you.
We’re going to tell on you because you’ve apparently forgotten — or have never known — what it’s like to be defenseless and so you need to be reminded, even if all we can really do is get someone to come to your house and force your unwilling hand. We’re telling on you because your dog can’t. We’re telling on you because I know what it’s like to have to put a dog to sleep because we’d exhausted all other options and I can’t imagine why you’d simply let yours fade away for no reason. We’re telling on you because as I’m writing this, there’s a dog resting against my leg that I’d fight for. And we’re telling on you because apparently none of your neighbors care either.
No, this is not just some PETA-inspired, lefty rant. And no, we’re not going to get busy with work and forget. We are going to discreetly and legally attempt to take pictures from the sidewalk of your dog outside your home. We’re going to do our legally-trained best to document what we’ve seen. And we’re going to contact each relevant local entity that will listen.
Sincerely,
Frankly, much better people than you.
thank you
Hopefully we can thank a local agency when it solves the problem.
Just the thought of this seriously makes me want to cry. I’ll never understand.
Me, neither. There are so many other choices to make.
Thank you, thank you, and thank you. If only we had eyes that actually spoke (or could realistically speak) every other time they witness the inhumane conditions and treatment on all the defenseless pups out there.Too often do I see dog owners dragging their dogs like it was their dirty laundry and it makes my heart cry- the most I can do is give a dirty look to the owner or stop them in their tracks and hope that that maybe by distracting them and asking if I can pet their pup-and visibly showing lotsa love/appreciation for it, maybe they will remember why they became a dog owner in the first place!!! In your case, because of your actions at least we can hope that there will be one less pup who will be treated poorly. Ugh. Bottom line for me is that people who hurt dogs and children suck and scare me.
Yeah. Definitely wonder what the general family dynamics are in that house.
Good on you. The whole point of animals is companionship, yes? Then why have the dog.? Truly terrible.
The whole point is companionship. If they don’t want that, get a stuffed animal.
I have *never* understood animal cruelty. (I mean, cruelty of any kind is hard to get my head around.) Like Lexa said, why own an animal if all you’re going to do is abuse it??
I just took my cat to the vet yesterday. And although he cried and threw a fit, I must say I felt like a proud little mother, making sure he had all his shots, had blood drawn for testing, had his toenails clipped and his teeth inspected. I gladly threw down my credit card for the bill, which is like 20 times what I have to pay to go see my doctor. But I did it because I love him and want him to have a good quality of life.
I’m so glad you and Miss B are calling the proper authorities about this poor puppy. You’re good people, Brad. Good people.
It does feel so good to make them better/happier. Why these people don’t want to feel that…
I’ve never had a dog, though I’ve always, always wanted one. I can’t imagine finally getting one and treating it like crap. Even if I wasn’t really a dog person I can’t imagine treating a dog like crap… or any animal for that matter. Thanks for your kindness and standing up for an animal that can’t do that for itself.
Yeah. You don’t have to be a dog person to know that’s not how you treat an animal.
This made my eyes misty and my heart warm. Do it. Do it without hesitation. Do it and make the world a better place.
Hopefully we have good news really, really soon.
My comment today is the same as yesterday-Some people are irresponsible, as well as stupid, selfish and shouldn’t be allowed to take care of any living creature-Human or dog.
Good on you for doing what the dog cannot. I hope the scum bag is brought to justice.
I have a hard time understanding how they can look at their dog and not see what we do.
Thank you.
I have a similar problem; neighbours who, as young professionals, live in a small downtown apartment and work insane hours, yet insist on having a large Labrador. I swear I’ve never seen them walk it; they take it onto the sidewalk to defecate twice a day (which is a whole other rant, since baggies seem to elude them) but otherwise leave it alone.
I hate when living things become accessories/home decor…
Living things are not accessories or objects just to have around the house. So true.
GOOD! Aagh poor dog. I am a firm believer in telling on shit animal owners. They don’t deserve the love and loyalty of a dog.
Exactly! They don’t deserve their dog.
That poor dog. This made me cry. Some things are truly awful – and so much of the time, no one says anything at all. I’m glad you’re standing up the defenseless.
No one has been saying anything for a while now.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS. It’s so important that we stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. I don’t understand what would make a person do this. I feel bad if I don’t give my dog enough attention every night after work…I can’t imagine leaving him out in the elements every day.
I know, right? We feel guilty over so much less; so much less.
Good. Some people deserve to be told on. And, frankly, the dog deserves an advocate. Lucky it has you.
And the owner deserves… something.
Good for you! As someone who would do anything for my dogs (and believe me, we have) I will never understand these people who don’t care for their dogs. They don’t want to feed/play/love them, but they are offended when someone suggests letting someone else care for it.
Both of my dogs are rescue dogs and even two years later our oldest still cowers at the sight of a broom… and it makes me want to cry. So thank you for helping to get that poor thing out of the hands of a monster.
Miss Bianca got our Cody from a shelter years ago. There are places to take dogs people don’t want. They’re not usually great places, but they are often better than the alternative.
Interestingly, I just read a book from the perspective of an officer of the Humane Society up on NY Ave. Yes, OFFICER. And apparently, they mean business.
I hope justice is served quickly.
I’ve seen that show on Animal Planet. They look serious.
*hug* You are my hero.
Have to thank Miss Bianca. She noticed long before I did.
It’s really great to hear stories like this, because it reminds all of us that sometimes you have to say something, even when it’s easier to just pretend you didn’t see an injustice. Good for you both. Let us know how it turns out!
Will do. Hopefully the follow-up is good news.
I’m sorry- I couldn’t even read the whole post because the images will haunt me.
Thank you.
Please call. You will have to make multiple calls (trust me, you will- I know this from experience) but please keep making them.
The dog would thank you if it could. It really would.
Not surprised that it might take more than a few calls. But we pass the house every single day so we’ll know when something happens.
Please, please, please, call Washington ASPCA… People who do this to animals make me want to beat them up. For real. Animals are our responsibility, they depend on us, they love us unconditionally, they do not deserve to be treated like this, and those owners do not deserve that love. I hope ASPCA puts them in jail for animal cruelty.
I don’t understand why the neighbors are cool with it.
Brad, I knew I loved you but now you have just gone beyond that. There is nothing that hurts my heart more than people who abuse their poor innocent animals. Thank you for taking action!
It just doesn’t make any sense. Have dog; love dog. It’s that simple.
ugh. good for you. and just.. UGH. i don’t understand people. a lot of the time. i feel.. curse-y.
That’s exactly how we feel: curse-y.
I really don’t get why some people have pets if they’re not going to take care of them. Good on you for calling them out! I hope that pup gets a better home.
We hope so, too.
it just boils my bubble when people do this! WHY have an animal if you can’t – or won’t – take care of it?!
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I don’t get it either. Just don’t take on the responsibility if it’s too much.
You are sure this dog isnt addicted to meth?
kidding.
You can really tell alot about a man by the way he treats animals.
No way. I’m sure the dude would keep the meth to himself. Selfish bastard.
Thank you for doing that.
It’s the least.
Ugh, this breaks my heart but I’m so very glad that you are doing something about it! Kudos to you for doing the right thing. xoxo
Breaks ours, too.
Dude, I’m late to the game as usual, but thank you for doing something. I mentioned to a friend recently that being involved in dog rescue makes me feel like a freak, and he said, “It’s really sad that doing the right thing has become so rare that it seems freakish.”
It’s true. So thank you for not turning a blind eye. I’ll cross my fingers for the pup.
My friend got one of her dogs from an owner like that. Only the authorities didn’t do anything, and the owner continued to leave his Italian Greyhound (which are almost NAKED) outside in the winter, so one night, she just climbed the fence and kidnapped him. Elvis is 11 now and spoiled rotten and happy and I’m really glad she had the balls to do that.
Not that I advocate stealing dogs but if it was a choice between letting it die and stealing it, I’d be over the fence in a second. I really, really hope the authorities do something in this case.
i can’t even understand the thought process that causes people to abuse animals like this. this really makes me want to cry. and honestly, i’d probably kidnap the dog… but calling the authorities is the smarter idea because these people will get the punishment they deserve instead of having a favor done for them by having their dog taken away.
oh…that literally makes me cry.
i want to save all of the animals, all the time.
good for you for doing something about a situation which is SO WRONG.