Did I do the right thing?

[Martha & Cooper]

I took a drive today with a couple of my neighbors and showed them where I used to live as a teenager.   My heart broke when I saw a dog chained to a tree in the front yard.  The chain was wrapped around the tree several times and the poor dog was shivering.   I stopped the car and looked and could see no sign of a water bowl, no dog house, nothing for shelter. The dog look a little listless to me from the car. 

Don't have any idea how long that dog was there, but I came right home and called the hotline for abused animals.   In my mind, I figured that if the dog was just there temporarily, it is better that they check it out, than if the dog is there all the time and nobody calls. 

Would you have done the same?   Was I wrong?

UPDATE:   I drove back over there this morning and the dog and the chain were gone!   Thanks goodness! 

[Martha & Cooper]

That's great that you called the police about suspicious characters too, F.   We have a neighborhood watch on our block and are always checking to be sure people are supposed to be where they are.   Just the other day, there were people going in and out of a house that has been empty for over 2 years, so my next door neighbor went over there and inquired about what they were doing.   They were hired by the bank that took ownership of the property to clean up the place.   I told her she shouldn't have gone by herself though.   What if they were cleaning out the copper and didn't want to be caught!   She should have done what you did.  Ask the police to drive by and check  it out.  

[Susan and Sasha]

I agree...you did the right and in my opinion...responsible thing!

Good for you!

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

I'm standing up with everyone else!!  Good for you Martha.  It is caring people like you that makes a difference.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I applaud your actions.  Now, please go back tomorrow and tell us what you see.  I hope you don't see that poor dog.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I would have have done the same thing !!!!  poor dog :(   I would call again to follow up and see if anything was done just for piece of mind and maybe take a ride past again.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Do you know what the ordinances are in your city? I am going to look up mine now so I can be more aware too. Thanks for taking a pro-active stand with this poor dog. Whether its chained for one day or everyday it doesn't matter as this dog was apparently in distress and very potential physical harm, initiated by its owners, at the moment you saw it. I would have done the same, and really fought the urge to go take him, but who knows how aggressive he could've been so that wouldn't be smart. And possibly seen as trespassing and stealing. It would be sadly ironic if you ended up the one fined for helping a dog by rescuing him from ots circumstances, but it could happen.

[Martha & Cooper]

I did look it up in my city and there isn't a "tethering" ordinance, but there is an animal cruelty ordinance,which would be the case if the animal is left without water, food and shelter, chained to a tree, as this one was.   I do plan to take the copy of the ordinance that Rona posted ealier from Raleigh concerning "tethering" and see if I can get my City Council to address it.   I am pretty friendly with several of the members of Council and our local Mayor, so I know I will at least be able to present it to Council, if one of the Members doesn't want to take it up.