Properly - or not at all !?!?

[bonster]

Here's a bit of a rant, a bit of confusion.

A local guy I pass/speak to occasionally has taken in a stray dog (pup from an abandoned litter) directly - not from a shelter, its only a really tiny cross breed, but recently I've seen it tied on a long lead on his porch a couple of times.

The other day when passing this little dog was crying really loudly -- it was (unusually) bucketing down with rain and the dog was tied outside to a patio table leg.

I couldn't see anyone around and went to fetch this dog... and found it trembling, soaked through and very upset. Poor thing virtually jumped into my hands - its really small, I'd guess 5-8 months. Although it was tied on an extended lead it couldn't get indoors or to shelter nor did it have any water. I wasnt sure whether to take this dog home... when I found this guy -- in a local bar!!! I asked if he knew it had been raining (it had been fine earlier) - he said he thought the dog would have found shelter under the table - which it was probably scared of due to the drumming rain. And anyway, why leave a little pup like that outside anyway, especially after resucing it? I'm baffled.

Why bother to take this dog in then treat it like that!! When I've spoken to him before he seems to care for this little dog and proud that he'd taken it in, so I don't get why he would do this. Any ideas for how to tackle this guy if I see this kind of thing again?
I wonder if this poor dog gets left outside because he's at the chewing stage?

 

[Barb04]

I don't get some people. To brag about rescuing a dog and then not caring for it. You're a good person in trying to help the puppy. I'm not sure what the next thing would be to do but I know someone on the board will have advice for you. I just wanted to let you know I'm behind what you did. It would have broken my heart to see that puppy crying in the rain like that.

 

[Renee750il]

Well, you might ask him, in a non-combative way, why the little one is tied up outside. It might very well be that it is in a chewing stage, or isn't house trained. That gives you an opportunity for a real conversation with him and who knows, it could turn out that he just doesn't know how to deal with those types of things. Even if he's not willing to take the dog inside, at least if you're on a friendly basis he might be open-minded about making sure it has a dry house and food and water. You might even get him and his puppy to join you and Bonnie on some of your walks occasionally. Seeing how the two of you interact together might make him want the same relationship with his pup.

 

[Debi]

Hey Bonster, I would have been upset, too. But, IF this guy seemed so happy to get the pup....maybe he just doesn't realize that wasn't a good situation. He may need a friend that could help him be a better dog person. Agreeing with Renee...maybe you could just chat with him, and casually mention some vital information about what you do for your dog. I've found it generally doesn't work to ever be combative......the person will just become defensive and the situation won't be helped at all. But, most people love sharing info and tips from a friend. Who knows, given some helpful, friendly suggestions may bring this fellow around and be really great for everyone.

 

[bonster]

Good ideas - thanks. I don't want to have any "combative confrontation" and guess it is probably ignorance, laziness or the wine !!! that led to this situation -- as you suggest, I'll have a friendly chat and at least try and ensure the little pup at least gets shelter and water on hand.... in the summer we'll have the opposite problem to this rain... with blazing sun and 100F+ day & night --- if he's tied up outside then I will intervene !!!! I'll dig out some training books I have.... if I get the chance to lend them it might put him on the right path....

 

[pitbulliest]

I'm probably just a B****H, but I would have called animal control of the Humane Society and told them what you had seen. This dog is clearly much too small to be left outside..and in the rain with no shelter and water? That's illegal here...and the shelter could take the dog away if they see that kind of thing happening.

Although he took it in, he clearly doesn't care much...to think the dog would find shelter under the table? Give me a break...I think you should talk to him one more time and keep a close watch to find out whether the dog is left outside again like that...if I saw it again I'd make sure that dog DOES NOT stay with the guy. It deserves a better home...

 

[bonster]

Thanks Pitbulliest, I know exactly where you're coming from. If I was back home (England) that's exactly what you would be able to do - but I now live in rural Spain and things with regard to pet ownership are often quite different sadly... see my "Dog Rescue Spain" post in the Rescue section....