There’s a dog in my apartment complex whose owners are beyond irresponsible. Today, it’s supposed to snow all afternoon, and the poor dog has been outside since 4 AM. It’s now 10:32 AM. We tried to feed him to lure him in, but he’s too scared to come close, though he cries a little as if he wants to. We know who the owners are and tried knocking, but no one answered.
This isn’t the first time this has happened, and my dad wants to call animal control when they open. I want to help him, but would it be wrong to keep him? Could we get in trouble for taking in a dog that technically has owners?
Micah said:
Please do something to help this poor dog. He deserves better.
We’re trying! My mom, sister, and I are doing everything we can, but my dad insists on calling the shelter at 11 AM when they open. We already have two cats and a small dog, but my mom doesn’t mind taking the dog in. We’re just so frustrated. The dog has a tag, and my dad is worried we’ll get in trouble if we keep him since he technically has an owner.
As heartbreaking as it is, you can’t just take someone’s dog and keep it. In the U.S., dogs are considered property. It’s best to let your dad call the shelter.
Pat said:
As heartbreaking as it is, you can’t just take someone’s dog and keep it. In the U.S., dogs are considered property. It’s best to let your dad call the shelter.
This is neglect, though, and they can be reported for animal abuse.
Pat said:
As heartbreaking as it is, you can’t just take someone’s dog and keep it. In the U.S., dogs are considered property. It’s best to let your dad call the shelter.
Yeah, I’m in the U.S., and that’s why I’m so hesitant. The owner eventually showed up claiming they didn’t realize the dog was missing… SEVEN hours later. It’s infuriating.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if the owners are just hoping someone else takes him. I once kept a neighbor’s dog that they neglected, and they never came looking for her. She became part of our family.
We did this with a dog once. He was neglected and roaming the neighborhood. The owner admitted they were going to kill him for getting into the trash. That’s all we needed to hear. We cleaned him up, gave him a loving home, and he lived happily with us for 13 years. Sometimes ‘stealing’ is the right thing to do when it’s saving a life.
Take him to the vet. Once you have a vet bill in your name, you essentially have proof of ownership. It holds more weight than a microchip in most places. That’s how I ended up saving a neglected cat in my neighborhood.
Since this keeps happening, document everything. Take videos, photos, and notes. Call animal control and explain what’s been going on. If the owners are neglecting the dog, you’ll be doing the right thing.