I have already called Animal Control. I knew, based on decades of past experience with our AC, what the response would be before I even called, but I had to give the token effort. They said they would have to see and document the fact that the dog had no food or water, over a period of time, before they could even give her a warning. They told me that, frankly, this would be impossible to do with a dog kept in the house. All the owner has to do is say, "I picked up the bowls to sweep." AC basically told me good luck, maybe I could get the dog away from her, but they couldn't do anything.

She does have vet records, and the dog is up to date on shots ... only because her older sister took the puppy to the vet and did it.

This girl is estranged from her mother, my employee and best friend, because her mother is in the process of trying to get custody of the baby. I am totally on the mother's side here, that baby needs to go to his grandparents, no doubt.

I have tried talking to her. She denies neglecting the dog, of course. She swears she paid for it (although I KNOW she didn't). She has had enough past dealings with Animal Control over other dogs that she knows exactly what they will and will not do. She is a piece of work. And I have known this girl for ten years, I know talking, begging, threatening is pointless. I have one option - buy the dog. That's why I only put the two options in the poll - with this girl, those are, sadly, the only two options that exist.