Need some advice

[shana1]

Okay 3 days ago my kids saw a dog that lives behind us that didnt have any shelter and it was over 100 with heat index, there was no food and the water bowl had about a inch or two of water in it and it was green with yucky slime and bugs. I had my kids sneak over there to get me pictures to turn into the authorities, well after my kids did that my husband and i told them to bring some fresh water and food to the dog, while they were doing that the lady of the house caught them and told them that they hated the dog and if we wanted it to take it if not then get off her property. So my kids came back home and we told them to go get the dog, she is a pure bred boxer and has the best personality possible, well 3 days go by and the dog has bonded with us and after eating and being taken care of well is completely happy.

Today while im sitting on my porch the guy i guess that is the husband to the lady i guess walks into my yard and without even saying hello says im here to get my dog. He immediately goes to the dog we named Ginger and takes her off her runner where i had her playing while we had a yard sale. The dog runs from him as soon as she saw him but couldnt get away, so when he got her off the leash she comes running to me and will no go to him no matter what, it even got to the point that she dug her paws into the ground and refused to go. He had to carry her home.

What can i do, i WANT!! this dog back, she is not in a good place and she was completely happy here. Can he just come and take her back, i have no proof like a bill of sale etc. I am heartbroken and sad, we have even contimplated stealing her one night and putting her in hiding at a friends for a few months till her gives up looking for her.

She wasnt in a good place there, no shelter in this heat, not a tree or anything, no drinkable water , no food to be seen, she did have some icky looking hay kinda scattered around but it was very thin, enough to see the cement slab she was on, she also was tied to a electric pole with a rope and she had gotten herself all caught up on it.

She isnt terribly thin so that makes me think that she does get food but the shelter or lack there of and the water has got me upset, she could of died from the heat. And she was scared of this man, it took her about 5 minutes of chasing her to get her and even then she fought him, she wanted me and would keep on running to me for protection, i feel as though ive let her down.

What should I do, i know stealing her is not the way to go, but how do i get her then? what should i offer in money? we are not in a financial spot to offer a lot, my husband was injured in Iraq and is in a wheelchair now we are living on a very small retirement pension and have 4 kids to support.

HELP???? i live in a very small town so no big help like a organization etc, they are a hour away and dont care.

[zoey]

This happened to me, but in my case, I'd cared for the dog for 2 years. :( I know the heartbreak of it, and I'm really sorry this happened to you and Ginger.
At that time I learned something very important; To always get it in writing if someone releases an animal to you for adoption. Then immediatly get the registration changed.
I would have called the police when this man came on your property. They could then have sorted out if the dog is registered, has vet bills or any proof that the dog is his, legally. They could have animal control look at the condition in which the dog lives to judge if they should get fines/warnings and such. The woman gave up ownership to you. And you'd cared for the dog for days. This dog could die of heat exaustion in hours, by the sound of it.
If the conditions don't change, call animal control. You really have no choice. Good luck to you. **hugs**

[Karen]

How heartbreaking. I am glad you took the pictures, keep them, and document everything you see. Give the pictures to Animal Control, then explain what happened. At least Ginger knew love for a few days. If you notice that the "husband" has gone out, maybe you can talk to the "wife," about giving up custody if the dog's conditions do not improve, but I sounds like she doesn't want the dog but he does, which puts you in an awkward spot.

[shana1]

ya lessons learned about getting things in writing, i havent been in this type of situation before so i didnt think about it.

My next question is if i call the humane society on this man and they do take the dog away, how hard will it be for me to get her? will she be put up for adoption asap or do they have a waiting period? if i go up there in lets say 48 hrs after pick up will she be there and i can pay for her and take her home? she wasnt a fixed dog and we estimated her to be about 5 months old so i dont know what they would do to her first.

Our whole family wants her back, she was happy and to me that is a important thing. My oldest daughter has witnessed the man hitting her with a stick on the head but i didnt see it so ive got no proof, i guess she got off her chain and started running back here, he caught her and called her a few choice words and smacked her. Other things have happened but my husband told the kids to only tell him because he knows it just tears at me that she is suffering and i cant do anything.

I am hoping here really soon to be able to come up with some money and go and see if we can buy her from him. I dont know how much boxers go for but she is worth a lot to me at least, this is one time i wish i was rich.

[sanford8916]

I would start calling Animal Control everytime the dog doesn't have water and shelter, and take lots of pictures while still on your own property so you don't get yourself in trouble. Report him right away if you see him beating the dog and try and get pictures or video of it. This dog is lucky to have neighbors that care so much! :)
In my area the only time they but a hold on an animal is when it is a stray. I would think that you would have to go through their adoption process, so maybe you should check and see what it is. Some places require you to get preapproval to adopt a pet, maybe you should fill out one of their applications right away if your neighbor does get the dog taken away or signs it over. And let the adoption coorninator know that you already have a history with the dog and would love to adoted it if at all possible! Good luck and keep us posted!