Today I reported them

[SarahFair]

So my neighbors, I reported them for dog abuse. It kinda upsets me the lady didnt really sound concerned..She kind of just like 'Whats you name, number, addy, their info, and whats going on. I mean ya I guess thats standard ?s but come on, sound like you care a little bit.
Saturday one of the dogs broke off their chain and tried to run in our house. I was gone but my boyfriend said he could see its ribs and back bone and all the hair on the neck had been rubbed of by the chain. Does this sound like it should raise concern?

 

[skittledoo]

uhhh... ya it sure does. If the fur is being rubbed off and the dog is clearly too skinny then yes you should have a high concern.

 

[Storee's Mom]

There is always two sides to the story though, so they have to keep neutral. I was 'reported' for my pup being in poor shape a few weeks ago, because the people across the alley found her (the two dogs had gotten out) and they thought she was being neglected because she's tiny, was covered in mud from climbing under the fence, had a hot spot on her neck and so on. I get that a lot with her because she's not the typical tall moosy golden that is overweight, so people assume she's neglected and underfed (she eats MORE than the other two combined). The people even fed her a huge amount of leftovers from their fridge, which she proceeded to puke up for the rest of the day (she was out of the yard maybe 20 minutes and I think had been fed about 10 cups of mixed stuff - at least that's about how much came up between the 6-7 times she was ill). I was polite to them but grabbed her and walked her back to the house right away which is why I'm assuming they reported me for being 'mean' to the poor dog. When I train with her I will play rough with her as a reward, so being walked a few feet by the scruff is nothing out of the norm for her nor does she shy from it (she's been known to body check me in agility).

I'm sure they will investigate and do what they can. They likely get hundreds of calls like that a day so it would be hard to get emotional with them all. It is crappy because that sort of thing happens too often too, and there really isn't a lot that they can do if the dog has the basics of water, food and shelter (even if it's rainwater, a can of dog food in the can - no bowl - and a car to live in, which is how the neighbor kept his dog)

Lana

 

[BostonBanker]

Definitely don't be upset by the lack of reaction from animal control on the phone. As a former animal control officer, I can promise you that almost all of the calls I received were well-meaning, but not abusive. So you get a little dull to the stories you hear until you can actually back them up yourself.

 

[SarahFair]

OOh ok. Well I have another ?. Do they need permission to go in their backyard to look?

 

[SarahFair]

and one more..
If they think one dog is worth taking will they take all??

 

[BostonBanker]

OOh ok. Well I have another ?. Do they need permission to go in their backyard to look?

Animal control laws vary a lot from place to place; I would not have needed permission. I worked through the police department, and had the right to check out situations that were reported.

and one more..
If they think one dog is worth taking will they take all??

Again, laws vary from place to place. It was very, very hard for me to take a dog; the one time I had to, it was like pulling teeth. Our laws basically said that if the dog is provided with food, water and shelter, than it is adequately cared for. Keep this in mind - the animal control officer can ONLY follow the laws that are written. I had people get furious at me for my lack of action in certain situations (one person wanted someone's dog taken away because they used e-collars to train it, for example). If the animal control officer says there is nothing they can do, find out what YOU can do to get the laws changed. A group of people were meeting with the local law-makers towards the end of my time as ACO to try and get more specific laws on neglect and cruelty passes. But don't get mad at the ACO if they can't just take the dog away; they are bound by the law.

 

[ACooper]

I am glad they are at least going to come out and have a look. Some places give them a chance to make changes for the dogs if the abuse isn't too extensive. Either way, they will be on record and perhaps either give the dogs up or shape up.

Good job for getting involved.

 

[SarahFair]

Well I dont think they made it out today...
Everyone seems worried about my wellbeing since I reported..
I have to admit I kinda am too. But I guess if they would have taken proper care of their dogs this wouldnt have happend..

Boston where do you live?

 

[2BlackDogs]

For us animal control sucks! We had a neighbor who owned a dog who would bite anyone or anything. I was warned about him by the owners too. They kept him chained out back and one day he got loose. Came over to my house and jumped on my window trying to get to my dogs. I couldn't let my daughter who is 4 or my 2 dogs outside for 7 hours. I could not get ahold of the owners or a neighbor who knew the dog to take it away.
I was shaken after he jumped on my window that I called animal control upset and scared. They calmly asked the questions you said they asked you and said they would have someone come out. No one did! The dog ran loose for 7 hours until a neighbor came home. Once they secured the dog they got an ear full from me. The next day animal control called them and told them 2 people reported the dog to them. But no one ever came out to check with 2 different callers?!?
She turned the dog in that day. Sadly he was probably put to sleep. But he was unsafe to be around.

If no one comes out, call again! Make sure someone follows up on the dog.

 

[BostonBanker]

Boston where do you live?

I'm in Vermont.

And to be honest, the job absolutely sucked. The moments of feeling good that you helped out an animal were far outweighed for me by the treatment I received from a lot of the people. Nobody ever seemed to understand that a) I was bound by the laws with regard to what I could do and b) I was not on call 24/7. I got paid for 12 hours a week, and those were the times I could respond to their calls. The rest of the time, emergencies went to the police dispatch, and they had to prioritize calls. A totally normal acting raccoon in your backyard is not going to rank very high for them.

Which is not to say that you shouldn't have reported this, and that you shouldn't follow up on it. Stay on it until you get a response, just be polite and try not to take out your frustrations on the ACO.

 

[SarahFair]

So should they call me back w/ what they thought about the dogs? I cant watch their house 24/7to be sure they came by..
I want to make sure but dont want to call ACO bothering them all the time..

 

[BostonBanker]

I don't know if they will call you or not. I don't think there is anything wrong with calling again in a few days and just letting them know that you are concerned for the dogs and to please let you know when they have spoken to your neighbors.