New Neighbors

[dogluver8906]

Just a couple of weeks ago a mother and her two sons moved into the house behind mine. They have two pit bulls. At first both dogs were allowed to roam the backyard. But then I started noticing the dogs being chained up. At first they were just chained up at night. But recently they have been on the chain all the time. One of the dogs is an intact adult male. The other is a puppy...I can't tell if it's a male or female. I went to check on the dogs just a while ago and the adult male has no access to water and he has wrapped the chain he's on around the pole he's tied to so his chain is very short. I can't really see the conditions of how the puppy is chained. The puppy is chained right up against the fence dividing our two yards and there's a huge bush in my yard that keeps me from really seeing if the puppy has water or not. I tried calling my local SPCA right now to report these two being kept chained and the adult not having access to water but all I get is an answering machine and then it hangs up on me. I'm not sure if they even take calls on the weekend. But I'm going to check on the dogs again tomorrow before I go to work and again when I get home from work...if they are still chained then I will try calling again. I took some pictures earlier of the adult pit bull...I can't really see the puppy to get pictures of him now that he's chained. I really can't even understand the point of keeping a dog chained when you have a fenced in yard.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i183/dogluver8906/S5009089.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i183/dogluver8906/S5009088.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i183/dogluver8906/S5009087.jpg

[dbl120902]

Do you think that your local SPCA will do anything? I'm just worried that if the SPCA goes there and they have food/water, their hands are kind of tied. I know that you don't really have any control of timing, but try to get some sort of concrete evidence... the pictures you have taken are good, but try to get some broader pictures of the yard, all the places that the dog can reach when the chain is taut... that way, if the SPCA does show up, and the dogs magically have food/water, then they'll know that there are in fact points in time when they have access to neither.

Anyway, I don't really know... I just thought that the more evidence you have, the more likely they will be to investigate. Some SPCA's are quick to blow people off, while others will conduct a thorough investigation when an abuse claim is made. Then again, if the dogs are kept outside in the scorching heat (I'm assuming that it's uber hot there during the summer) without any water source, that really should be reason enough for an investigation.

Have you talked to the owners? Do they seem to show any interest in these dogs at all? Do they have any other pets ('inside' dogs)?

At any rate, please follow through, and do what you can so these dogs can have some justice. Please keep us updated. Good luck!

One more random thought (sorry).... obviously, these types of dogs do not have the best reputation, and are more than not put down rather than adopted out in confiscation situations. If worse came to worse, and it became a situation where the dogs would have to be taken from the premises, do you think that if the dog is confiscated by the SPCA, that they will likely just have it put down, or would it have a chance to be adopted out? This is just a question because I do not know, not necessarily supposed to be thought-provoking, it's really just something that I am wondering.

[S t e p h]

Poor Things!:(

[AleandraOwens20]

good luck! Hopefully the SPCA will do something about it. Do you know if pits are legal where you live? probably they are but sometimes there not. Does the male seem agressive, like for fighting?

[Chicknesholay]

Just my input here, don't you think it might be best to talk to the family before calling the SPCA? There could be circumstances that you don't know about (not sure what they could be, but you never know)

Are they out there all the time that you can tell? Or do they let them in the house periodically? Do they interact with them, from what you can tell or not? Doesn't look like he's sick (just from looking at him) and isn't thin at all so that's good. Honestly he looks pretty healthy (and so handsome!)

I just hate thinking about people jumping to conclusions and calling the SPCA without talking to the family first.

If someone did that to us because the jumped to conclusions about our male border collie being outside for 14 hours a day without talking to us first I would be disgusted.

Anyways, if there really is something going on and those dogs aren't getting the food, water and care they need I hope you can do something about it and help those poor dogs.

[loye]

looks to me like the dog is in pretty good shape...also looks like there was a bowl of water there....but with him being chained and running around he probably just tipped it over (since it is upside down). I would talk to the family first. Maybe there is a reason they are chained. My neighbors used to have to chain one of thier dogs b/c he kept getting out of the fence.

[loye]

....not saying i agree w/ the dogs being chained...especially in the heat. And honestly...i don't think that dog is full grown (he still looks young and his feet are still pretty huge). They should take more care to make sure these dogs stay cool/hydrated

[dbl120902]

If you are certain that these dogs are not getting food and water, then definitely go ahead and contact the SPCA. If you feel that it's justified, then go ahead and do it. If the dogs are truly being neglected, and you are certain of this, then confronting the neighbors could get messy. It would be best if you get a higher authority involved, if you are truly certain that the abuse is occurring.

[AleandraOwens20]

sometimes chaining your dogs is illegal (like in santa monica) i'd check with the authorities.

[Chicknesholay]

Aleandra, I do believe tethering is unfortunately illegal where she lives.

Loye, good I'm the the only one that thinks that dog looks healthy (and really does have huge paws).

There are reasons that they might have them tied up in addition to having a fence. There are many dogs that can either climb a fence, go through a fence, jump over a fence etc. and so they have tied them up to prevent that. They could have them both tied up because they have two potentially DA dogs and don't want them to interact without supervision.

I also agree with Loye, that does look like a water dish that was knocked over. It just seems like from what you've said so far you are jumping to conclusions.

[1993Kat1993]

The dog DOES look healthy.. But the people need to obey the laws.

If you weren't able to get ahold of the ASPCA, just call the police.. Our A/C is weird and when you need to get a hold of them you call their number and it gives you another number to call and you keep going through that til finally one of the numbers you call says to call 911, so thats what we've had to do in such cases. No dog house also = ILLEAGAL.. So. Police it is.

-~Ketlin

[Chicknesholay]

It may be illegal but she's not the police. Let the police or SPCA do something if they feel they should. If the dog looks malnourished or beaten then that's an immediate problem and she should interfere.

But a tethered dog is not a emergency case, especially one that looks healthy and that she doesn't seem to have much info on. She also hasn't said yet if they are out there all the time.

Punky has more animals than is allowed I believe. That's illegal also, but since she is taking care of the animals I don't believe anyone should call the police or SPCA on her. If they were neglected or beaten then they should be turned in. (Just used this as an example because it was the first one that came to mind, not trying to say you are doing anything wrong in my opinion punky)

[1993Kat1993]

Well, Since we've got a AC officer as a friend of the family, we've talked about many issues with him. And these dogs are in a situation much like that of the dog next door.. Tied up, no shelter, don't see any food or water. If the dogs going to flip its water bowl over something needs to be done to prevent that, put it in something bigger or heavier. And if can be proven that the dogs go 12 hours without food (they need water at all times, obviously) then that will get them in even more trouble. The dog will need to be watched closely, because even if he does look healthy there is always a chance that they just got the dog (Maybe where they were before they couldn't have animals and they moved and got the dogs) which means, maybe the dogs came to them healthy but that does not mean they are going to stay that way.

-`Ketlin

[Chicknesholay]

But see that's just it. She doesn't seem to know much about them and we know even less. Those dogs could be tied up just for a few hours everyday or they are keeping them out there for a lot of the day while they get settled in.

There are a ton of hypothetical situations that could give reasons for them being outside, good or bad.

Jumping to conclusions to me doesn't seem like the right thing to do in any situation. They have only lived their two weeks (and if the dog wasn't getting fed or having any water for two weeks he wouldn't look like that). I don't think she shouldn't keep an out of but not jump the gone and go to the authorities.

I'm also not saying that there couldn't be something going on that shouldn't be. Thats a very real possibility, but I'm not going to just see a tethered pit in a backyard and assume abuse and neglect

And seriously, are we going to start dictating how many hours a dog can go without food? Hannah and Kaylee will go 24 hours without food sometimes.

[AleandraOwens20]

See, I've never chained Sandy up because it's illegal, but I could understand if they were chaining the dog up because they were gone and the dog had issues. Sandy eats molding, doors, windows and yesterday when my mom left the door open so she could go pee outside, she jumped the fence and ended up in the neighbor's yard 4 houses down:(

[dbl120902]

Hmmm... OP?

[dogluver8906]

Sorry I haven't gotten on here in a while. I'm at work all day and after 8 hours on my feet all I want to do when I get home is usually sleep or watch TV with my dogs. I found out the gender of the puppy, it's a girl. Oh and chaining a dog for longer than 3 hours within a 24 hour period is illegal in California. Owning a pit bull is not illegal but you must have your pit bull spayed or neutered. However, most people do not abide by either of these laws. I still see many people breeding their pit bulls and still see many dogs living on chains and being neglected. Anyways, That same day...shortly after I got off the computer I heard someone go into the backyard to pick some lemons off their tree...I went to check on the dogs after the person went back into the house. The male dog still did not have water. When outside (which from what I can tell is sometimes all day and/or all night) the dogs are either kept on the chain or in a large crate together. Although I have noticed the past few days that sometimes they just are not there. Whether or not the family has any other animals I don't know. I have spoken to the mother of the boys once but it was to ask her to keep her boys from throwing rocks and lemons over the fence at my dogs (I actually witnessed them do it and have caught them doing it still). I will continue to keep track of the dogs but at this point unless I notice something more serious I can't even report them because the hours that our SPCA takes calls I am at work. The only other number the SPCA says to call is 911...but only in emergency cases. The next time I see the dogs chained or without water I will go to the front door and inform the owner. I would also like to ask them why they keep the dogs chained or crated. I probably won't be on for a another few days...probably not until Friday or Saturday...so I apologize in advance that I won't be able to respond right away.

[AleandraOwens20]

so you've never seen them feed the dog? i would just wait and see and if he gets skinnier i'd say call.

[dbl120902]

I'm glad that you are paying attention to the situation. Definitely keep us posted, I am interested to hear what you decide to do. :)

[AleandraOwens20]

does anyone know what happened?

[dogluver8906]

I haven't reported my neighbors yet. I will probably call next week. I haven't seen the dogs gone anymore at night like before...and I haven't seen them in their crates anymore...just on the chain.

[AleandraOwens20]

do they apear to be getting skinnier?

[dogluver8906]

No, they don't. It seems they are getting adequate food, my only concern is them being kept chained up.Oh and I am very happy to say that I reported my sister's boyfriend yesterday morning to our local SPCA for keeping his pit bull chained up without cover from the sun (despite it getting over 90 degrees recently) and usually without water. However, I also had to report my sister's small dog because now she is keeping him chained up also without shade and without water. I can't even understand how she and I are related...while I pamper my dogs she doesn't even bother to ensure her dog has adequate water and shade to stay cool in this heat. I don't know if the SPCA has actually gone over to see the dogs yet though...since I'm sure she would have asked me by now if I had reported them (which I'm going to deny or else she'll be really mad at me).

[dogluver8906]

Okay...update on all the chained dogs I know. My sister's dog and her boyfriend's dog are no longer being kept chained! I was so pleased when I saw them a few days ago running freely in their yard! I still haven't reported my neighbor's dogs because there is a problem. The fence dividing my backyard and my neighbor's backyard is very old and is actually leaning over and has many loose boards. I am afraid that if the two pit bulls living behind me are let loose they could get through the fence. The female actually doesn't bother me...she seems very friendly...but the intact male acts aggressive when he sees my dogs peeking at him through the fence. I am putting away money from work and will probably be the one to pay to repair the fence and once that is done I will be able to call and report the dogs being kept chained.

[AleandraOwens20]

well thats good about your sisters dogs!