Opinions Please

[Cincy'sMom]

My friend at work has an issue with a neighbor's dog...or more with the neighbors. They recently got another dog ( as many previous have been killed on the road), a Rotteweiler named Zeus and he is now a frequent visitor at her house. The neighbor's keep him outside, in a kennel with no shade, little food, and no human intereaction. He can climb out and often does. Sometimes days go by before they come looking for him. My friend is now feeding him, cleaning and putting the medicine on the sores on his rear end(which seems to be getting worse) and I am taking her some medicine tomorrow for all the fleas he has (he didn't seem to have any of these problems when he first started coming around...developed because of neglect!)
She and her family really like this dog, but first, he is not neutered and her three female dogs are not spayed (yet). Second, he marks everywhere, including all over the hay she feeds her horses and want to play with the horses..she is afraid they will accidently hurt him. She does not want to call the dog warden cause she nows a rottie won't have a chance there. She has called the Humane Society (a no kill shelter, cause we thought that is where he came from) They can't do anything unless the warden is going to take him.

What can we do to help poor Zeus?

[delidog]

EEK!!! Tough one Cincys'Mom......
i would say keep in close touch with the no-kill shelter...you're right...poor rottis' don't have a chance at a public shelter......
i don't know the laws in Ohio...but i know that the state is always in trouble for basically allowing alot of cruelty and neglect to happen....unfortunately, i see stories constantly in regards to Ohio.......(nothing personal!!)....

keep trying to look out for him...if it gets too bad you will have to call and press charges...warden or not....have you tried contacting perhaps N.S.A.L.,...see what they have to say...they would at least know the laws........

or Best Friends ...bestfriends.org....they always have quick,and accurate information......
try e-mailing them....

[mugsy]

Talk to the neighbor and perhaps offer to reimburse them for the dog and then keep him and immediately have him neutered and see about finding a way to prevent him from getting to the horses. Then I would immediately spay the females and just get it over with. If the neighbor gets crappy then I would point out that the warden will be called and then they won't get any money at all for the dog and will probably have to pay a fine. Hit them where it hurts the most and for most people it's the pocketbook. Like I've said over and over...I HATE the human race sometimes. Let us know what happens.

[TheAntiPam]

Originally posted by mugsy
Talk to the neighbor and perhaps offer to reimburse them for the dog ...

Thanks for having such a big heart to care about this pup!

A word of caution - be careful about offering money for the dog. A close friend had neighbors with junk cars in the front yard. The city/county would not do anything, and recommended she "buy" the junkers and have them towed away. The neighbors went right out and got MORE junk cars, in hopes of getting more cash from my friend. Sheeeeeesh!

Not every bad neighbor would take that approach, but a solution that keeps them from getting another dog would be ideal. Just wishing *I* knew what that answer is!!! If possible, start with offering vet care help or neutering, instead of actual money for the dog. Good luck to you and your friend at work.

[Crikit]

Couldn't your friend call the warden and when they come to get or look at the dog tell them that she is willing to take the dog in and have it neutered rather then see it put down?

I'm not sure about laws in the states about this kind of stuff sorry.

[shais_mom]

Amy, When your Mom and I were at the dog park the other night we were talking to Carrie (?) Gabby's mom (great dane) and she said that she knew of someone that had a puppy in the backyard and the people were going to make it mean and the person at the shelter told them to STEAL IT! Just as long as they weren't caught and take it to a rescue or no-kill shelter. I hate to say for them to do that, but I am just relaying that story not gonna tell you to tell them to do that!!
And I am the same boat with the neighbors that sold a car and got more !! I was so excited when they got rid of a car that has sat in the same spot for almost 2 years and I had to watch backing out of my garage or I hit it. They sold it and he parked his freakin GMC extended cab long bed pickup there that darn night!!! The car didn't take that much room!!!

Then they moved some people in with them (??? I think Who really knows!!??) and their Tempo sits there 90% of the time. But it is smaller than the pickup. At last count he has 6 vehicles outside and 1 in a garage!!! The cops have been out and they don't do anything and they issue them a citation and life goes on!!

[anna_66]

Wish I could give you some advice, but I'm sorry...I don't have any. I think it stinks that when we call the law or Human Society that they tell us things like, "We can't do anything" or "just STEAL it" and the one I got "just let them loose, they might find their way home"! I don't know if everywhere is like Ohio, but I agree with delidog........you always hear bad stories in Ohio. The news even said we don't have stiff enough laws when it comes to animal neglect.
I sure hope something works out, if nothing else, (I'll say it for you Staci!)I'd say just take the dog! Expecially if it seems to be getting worse as time goes by. Obviously if it's not doing well, the owners don't give a darn about it!
Good luck & thanks for having such a big heart & caring about this pup!
Anna

[Cincy'sMom]

I live about 45 min from my friend and she as asked several times if I want to come get him while he is at her house and she would just tell the owners he didn't come thier way that time. I can't do that yet, cause I know I couldn't keep him (and I wouldn't want to get a rescue organization in trouble by giving them a stolen dog). My friend (Asi) can't relly keep him eithershe has some aggrresion issues between her dogs ( two pick on 1) and adding a 4th to the mix really is not a good idea right now.
His owners came and got him yesterday evening(he had been at Asi's since Mondaymorning), so unfortunatly he didn't get the flea medicine yet...I'm sure he'll be back soon though! Asi plans on having her dogs spayed, but getting the money together takes awhile. Too bad not vets offer discounts for multiple surgeries...that might help control the overpopulation!

Thanks for the ideas...I'll keep you posted!

[shais_mom]

Amy tell you friend to call the local Humane Soc ours offers deals if you get 3 cats spayed then you get a like 10 % or 15 % off. I don't know if they do it for dogs also. But it doesn't hurt to ask.

[Cincy'sMom]

I am bumping up this old thread, becasue it fiamllyhas a happy ending!!

My friend has been watching out for Zeus this this story began...feeding him when he came their way, offering him a bed in their heated garage when he was out for the night...trying to do what they could for him.

Well, it wasnt enough. Zeus's "owners" refused to care for this dog. He was slowly wasting away, his skin was horrible, and his artritis was getting worse all the time.

My friend and her husband decided they could stand no more and talked to the the owners...and they have offically adopted Zeus. He was taken to the vet, got up to date on his shots, started on heartowrm nedicine and a clean bill of health! He is now a happy INDOOR dog, with three german shephard sisters, and many other feline and equine siblings (and two skin kids too!)

Welcome home Zeus!!!

[lizbud]

This is wonderful news Amy. I too, am so happy for Zeus.
It is great to hear such a wonderful update on him.

[schteve_d]

That's great, I didn't realize how old this thread was when I started reading, I was following along trying to come up with a viable solution, but I'm glad to hear it all worked out. Now just hope the neighbors don't get another dog as I doubt your friend can rescue another! I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again: I just can't figure out why people who don't want dogs keep getting dogs!!

[Oggyflute]

Originally posted by Cincy'sMom
I am bumping up this old thread, becasue it fiamllyhas a happy ending!!

My friend has been watching out for Zeus this this story began...feeding him when he came their way, offering him a bed in their heated garage when he was out for the night...trying to do what they could for him.

Well, it wasnt enough. Zeus's "owners" refused to care for this dog. He was slowly wasting away, his skin was horrible, and his artritis was getting worse all the time.

My friend and her husband decided they could stand no more and talked to the the owners...and they have offically adopted Zeus. He was taken to the vet, got up to date on his shots, started on heartowrm nedicine and a clean bill of health! He is now a happy INDOOR dog, with three german shephard sisters, and many other feline and equine siblings (and two skin kids too!)

Welcome home Zeus!!!

Thank heavens it turned out OK. People who get dogs and mistreat them like that really make me angry. It must have been so distressing for your friend. In Aus I would have immeadiately got on to the R.S.P.C.A There pretty good in acting swiftly on mistreated animals.