OT: Found a dog that needs to be saved

[safehorses]

I am currently house shopping in the LA market for a home. Tonight I went to see a house that seemed like a deal too good to be true. I met my realtor over at this house and took a look around. I was right, it was too good to be true...the place was a dump (but will probably sell for close to $400k anyway) and I was quickly not interested. But when I went into the backyard I saw something that really pissed me off and upset me...

There was a small tool shed (maybe 3 feet x 3 feet) in the yard. On top of the tool shed was a labrador mix dog (looked young, but it was dark and I couldn't see him too well). He started wagging his tail and crying when I went up to talk to him. I asked the woman who was the current owner how the dog got to the top of the shed. She replied that her son had put him up there because he kept getting out of the yard and her neighbors were complaining. I asked her how many hours a day that he was having to stay up there and she replied that he stayed up there pretty much all the time.

It was all I could do to not pull that dog down. He kept watching us walk around the yard and wagged his tail everytime I came over to him. My realtor was getting uncomfortable because he knew I was not happy with what this woman and her son were doing to this dog...so I bit my tongue and got out of there as quickly as I could...but it's more than 2 hours since I saw this little guy and I'm still angry.

I think I should call the city and inform them of this situation, but I don't know if that's the right thing to do...what would you all do? What if they come and take him to the city pound? What chance would he have there? This lady and her brood are looking to move to Riverside...so perhaps he'll get a better space to live in once he moves. Who knows...but one thing I do know, his owners are completely clueless, to the point of being cruel. I hate not doing anything to help, but not sure what the right thing to do would be. Any advice?

[rainydayride]

Oh geez... that's a really hard call. How about calling a local humane society and see what they suggest doing?

Could you see food and water bowls up there?

[cardicorgi]

In my younger and more brash years, I would have, umm, arranged for the dog to get "out" of the yard again permanently. Poor boy!

I second RDR - call the local humane society. If they're not interested in going out to educate these people, then call animal control and see what they say. At least where I live, they prefer to educate owners and do follow-up visit/s.

[lildunhorse]

Boy, this is a tough one.
Years ago, I was working for Visiting Nurses as a Chore Aid. I had one client who had an adorable little puppy that she treated HORRIBLY!! I complained to my supervisor and she said that I was this lady's 5th
Chore Aid because they were not allowed to interfere and it was too hard for most folks to deal with.
The next day, it became the 6th Chore Aid's problem, because I told her if I went back, that puppy was going home with me.
I didn't like that job anyway...

[safehorses]

Well...I slept on it and then called the SPCA this morning. I'm waiting for them to call me back, but their website makes the point of stating that most neglect and cruelty is the result of ignorance (which sums up the lady of the house fairly well) and that their officers will offer consuling and education when appropriate. I want to speak to them to tell them the whole story and ask them not to seize the dog unless they feel he's in danger (which is probably what they do most of the time anyway).

He did have bowls on the roof, so they are feeding him and watering him, but he's also had to relieve himself up there as well. He's desparate to get off that roof! I was seconds away from offering to take the dog off her hands...if the realtor hadn't moved me along I probably would have.

[safehorses]

Okay...well, the SPCA called and will go pay this poor little guy and his idiotic owners a visit. I guess I've done my part.

[schwung]

Will they give you a follow up report?

[safehorses]

Well...I doubt it. The officer basically took the information and didn't give any indication what he thought of it. He then thanked me for the information and told me that his office would pursue it. It sounded pretty final...I wanted to ask, but he wasn't the most "giving" individual so to speak. I have no doubt that they will check it out though and that these people are on their radar.

I'm sure these guys say as little as possible on the chance that they will be hauling someone to court.