Yet another neglected dog-need advice

[dogluver8906]

I went to visit my grandparents earlier today and in their front yard was a female black lab mix and a puppy about 12 weeks old. The dogs belong to their neighbor. My grandmother told me how the mother dog and the puppy are kept chained up all day, without food or water and are allowed to roam the streets at night. Both dogs have fat ticks on them. The mother is infested even more than the puppy with ticks. I will be going over there again tomorrow but I'm not sure if I should remove the ticks myself and call SPCA or leave the ticks on and call the SPCA to report the owners for neglecting their dogs.

[bonnie mae]

You definately need to call the spca. You also cannot leave the ticks on the dogs. Perhaps you could put the ticks in a container to show to the spca but don't leave the ticks on them. Make sure when you take the ticks you don't leave the head behind as the tick will burrow its head into the dog and kill it. I don't think the spca will confiscate the dogs becasue of the ticks but they will for the no food or water. However, they might just warn the family to not let it happen again and leave the dogs. If the spca don't take the dogs and just give the owners a warning then you will ahve to take the responsibility to water the dogs. If it continues alert the spca again but if nothing is done then perhaps you should 'steal' the dogs and take them to a vet and explain they have been left neglected in their yard. The only problem with that is the vet might check the microchip and send them home but they may also send them to the spca which will be a step in the right direction if they are not reclaimed by the owners. If the dogs are left in full sun without water then that too could be used against them. Be sure that the owners are neglecting their dogs though before you report them. ie, maybe inform them their dogs have ticks on them (if they are people ywho will listen-its highly likely they won't be.) Don't mention the spca too them though as you don't want to cause trouble for your parents. I'm sorry I didn't help very much. Goodluck!

[bonnie mae]

ps. You're doing the right thing! :)

[S t e p h]

Poor Dogs!:(

[Punkygirl0101]

I think we should "Accidently" go over to that neighborhood tonight. ;)

[dogluver8906]

I know these people are not the type to listen to someone about the fact that their dogs are covered in ticks. If I see the dogs when I go over there later on today then I will take off the ticks, but if they aren't around there or they are tied up in the backyard I can only call the SPCA. Although, I would love to just take her and her pup. These people have had the SPCA called on them before for neglecting their animals and yet clearly they haven't changed how they treat their dogs.

[VelvetFuzzbutt]

don't remove the ticks until you have photos, and can be sure to get the heads out aswell. Its really important to have proof they were on the dogs, and maybe sneak and take pics of them at the neighbors home? a picture cannot lie (you see them always take photos on tv for a reason). and i'd call the SPCA too.

Good luck. I really feel bad for these dogs. :(

[dogluver8906]

I went over there earlier and while the dogs never came out into the front yard they figured out that there are loose fence boards between the two yards and came into my grandparent's backyard and I took a few ticks off of the mother dog but it was already dark out so I couldn't see very well to take much off. I also went and asked the owners if they are possibly giving away the puppy. The person who answered the door had a terribly bad attitude when I asked so I just walked away and stayed in my grandparent's front yard playing with some neighborhood cat. Then, another woman came outside and asked me if I wanted the puppy she said to go over again tomorrow so I am assuming they are going to give me the puppy :) . Which I am very happy about! My grandparent's actually would like to adopt him and I know they will give him a good home. They will have him neutered and get him his shots right away. I'm still upset that I can't find a better home for the mother dog as well, since they are not giving her away but I will try as best as I can to help her as much as I can.

[bonnie mae]

That is fantastic News! Congratulations! Wow! Well done! Good on you! ha ha! If the mother dog can get into you grandparents yard then maybe they can leave food and water out there for her to get too. If it is a tick area is it a good idea for your grandparents to keep the puppy there? Goodluck! I'll check back later so please keep us posted!!! :D

[dogluver8906]

My grandparents spray their yard for insects so I don't think he'll get ticks again once he is clean. Also, my step-grandmother knows that I know a lot about how to properly care for dogs so I can advise her about which flea and tick medications to use on him to prevent him from getting ticks again. Oh and my step-grandma already leaves out food and water for the mother dog as well as cat food for the stray cats around there.

[bonnie mae]

hey I just wanted to see what happened to the puppy? did you get him? how is the mother dog? what happened when you went around and visited the lady?

[dogluver8906]

I wasn't able to take in the puppy afterall. I am very upset over it, but I really cannot take him from the home. I wouldn't have anywhere to house him, my mom wouldn't let him come here. Also, I found out after my grandparent's said they wanted to adopt him that their neighbors do not like them and so my grandparent's changed their mind about wanting the puppy. All I can do is call the SPCA. I wish I could do more but I can't.

[bonnie mae]

That is sad. What did the lady end up wanting? I am sorry to hear what happened. You were very good to those dogs. They are lucky you were there for them. I wish you all the best with your future :)

[bonnie mae]

Thank Jesus that he created people as caring as you! :)