Animal Neglect?

[Kim]

OK Doodlekisses friends!!!!  I am fuming right now.  At the building where I work, there is a tenant who leaves his dog (German Shepard) in the back of his truck cap all day, with 2 slider windows (like that in a Van).  Not only does he leave him all day - he supposedly left him ALL night.  I called Animal Control yesterday who told me that someone called the day before and they sent an Officer out and the Officer said that the dog looks healthy and has water and the windows open so it isn't against the law - there is nothing they could do.  When walking into work today I noticed the truck parked in the same spot, and co-workers told me that the truck broke down yesterday and the owner left the building and they hadn't seen him return, so we are assuming the truck and Dog was there all night.  So I called Animal Control AGAIN... who sent another Officer over and when he got here the Owner showed up!  He opened the truck cap and the Dog had to jump over a ton of garbage to get out and IMMEDIATELY pooped, the Officer barely looked in the truck... the owner brought out a huge paint bucket to show that the dog has water.  The Officer talked to the Owner for about 10 minutes and then LEFT!  I don't know who else I would call regarding this because they are acting like it is no big deal!  It was 80+ degrees the past 2 days so I just feel awful for the dog.  Please if any of you could help direct me to someone that would care enough to do something about this awful situation.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Can a breed-specific rescue organization help? I wonder if there is a German Shepard rescue org. in your area? They could possibly "go to bat" for the dog, so to speak. Maybe some of our DRC friends have an idea?

But I agree that this is 100% animal neglect. Really abuse because if it gets much hotter, the poor dog could die. We all know this. We are all probably on the opposite of the spectrum - my DH wouldn't even leave Peri to run into the convenience store...on a 75 degree day (that is extreme).

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sadly, there is probably nothing anyone can do. The law considers animals property, and it takes an awful lot for anyone to be able to remove a dog from an owner. All the law requires is that the dog have water, food, and "adequate shelter", which is open to interpretation. Unless you can prove harm, it's his dog to do with as he pleases.
Your best bet is to call the local humane society, some areas do have a team that will go out to investigate. They are better able to assess a situation of abuse or neglect than the police.
Poor dog. It breaks my heart. We think Jack spent much of his time in an SUV before I got him.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Interesting - this makes me so sad. That is a good point though, that the Humane Society might be better than Animal Control.
Breaks my heart too. I would hate looking at that on a daily basis.

[Kim]

I ended up calling Animal Control again, because as soon as the Officer left, the owner got in another car and left again! I spoke with the Officer that came out here and he said that it's the same thing as an owner leaving a dog in a crate for 8 hours while they are at work. The trash that was in the back of the truck when he opened it was disgusting. The Officer didn't even really look like he cared. When I asked him when it might be considered neglect, he started saying if a few hours goes by and the dog isn't let out - so I said "so I will be calling you in 3 hours to let you know that the dog hasn't been let out because the owner is GONE!" he said, "well it depends on the dog, some can be left alone for 8 hours." so I told him I would personally see to it that I watch for the next 8 hours (even after my shift), which is when he basically told me there is nothing he can do and to call the Local SPCA - which we have already done who told us to call Animal Control!!!! It's a big circle. It's obvious that they don't care.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Humane Society is different from the SPCA. And you're right, they really don't care. Most municipal animal control departments are concerned with the health and safety of the public, not the animals.

[Lorraine Bromley]

Try the local news station! Complain about the agencies. Explain this dog as a direct link to the agencies inability to protect the animals. News will want an issue to run with not a personal attack against one owner who is not guilty of any wrong doing according to the law. I would set up a video camara to catch the dogs conditions so that they have something they can use to show that the agencies don't find any issue with the condition the dog lives in. Get as much information as you can about the agencies policies so that you can show that there is nothing but a big circle of passing the buck involved here. Write down the conversations that you had with each agency so that you can show what their reactions were. That others have called about the same situation and nothing has been done is one aspect that shows it is not only you who is getting the run around. Anyone else that is invloved with you can help get the information you need to approach the media. Hopefully that is all you can do. Otherwise emplore people you know that see this happening to also call the agencies. Document any and all calls made and ask others to do the same. DO NOT HARRASS THE OWNER or you will be the one on the news. Do this from a distance of the owner in case the owner leaves and no one is there to watch the dog and try and get help.

[Kim]

Good idea! We were talking about that earlier today. Right now I'm keeping track of if and when the owner lets the dog out of the truck, because I realize that in regular people terms I might be over-reacting. My dog is alone hardly ever. We leave her to go to dinner some times. I send her to Doggie Daycare - which is absurd to some people - I know.

I don't know the owner - other than in passing which is extremely rare, so there is no harassment going on between myself or anyone else and the owner. I know he was told by the building manager to not park in our building's parking lot if he has the dogs in the truck - so now he parks between our building and the building next door - it's their land. That is the only contact that I know of between him and anyone else.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Keep us posted - good luck!
Many of us on here may seem "absurd" to others (I do dog daycare too!), but really, I don't think you are overreacting.

[BG and Gavin]

There was an instance in our town where people parked their car in the Humane Society parking lot (next to the park where they were) and left a dog unattended in the car with the windows closed and warm temperatures. A police officer happened upon the scene and when no one returned to the car within a few minutes he broke the window in and rescued the dog. The owners were some mad as they said they were only gone a few minutes. They tried to make the city pay for the smashed window. Too bad, so sad, pay for your own window. They also had to pay a fine to the Humane Society to have the dog returned to them. Good on that cop, shoot first, ask questions later. DH says they have access to the shelter at all times and routinely pick animals up and place them under the society's protection. Everyone knows that if your dog is missing, you phone the humane society.

[Kathie and the gang]

Unless there is law in the city or county were this is, you have done all you can. Where I live there is now a law that animals can not be left unattended in a car, truck etc. Animal Control will come, take the animal and you will be fined. This law has been on the books for two years. I think it is working, but it also means that you don't take your dog with your while you do Saturday chores. You never know if someone is going to see the dog in the car and report you. We don't have that many animal control officers, but it may be that the police come first. I don't live in a high crime area so the police could be there very fast.
This law was passed after several animals died when left in car during hot weather. But it did take years of no one really caring before this happened.

[Natasha]

Perhaps you can contact your local shepard rescue and you can leave a note on the guy's window saying, "we have a great home waiting for your beautiful dog - would you please consider helping us rehome him?"

[Kyoko]

I would also keep calling the police until they get tired of it and actually do something.