I just need some advice on what, if anything, to do...about a month ago, I was out walking my dog and another dog came up to us and just wanted to play. He was obviously a puppy and was very sweet. He had a collar one, but the tag was only a rabies tag. Well, he decided to follow us home and I put him in our fenced in yard and called the vet number on the tag. After calling a couple different numbers, I finally got ahold of the owner. She came and picked him up and thanked me. Well, I walk my dog atleast twice a day and I will walk by the house of the dog who I found. I walk this way because I have mapped out my 2-mile walks...and we don't live in a very big town! This dog is ALWAYS out and not chained up! He will run up to us and try to play with my 8-yr old Beagle...who does not want to play with this puppy! I tell him to go home since it usually happens right infront of his house, but he won't and he just follows us trying to play. I will walk him back and the owners are never outside looking for him or anything, so when he does leave us, I have no idea if he's safe and at home. This happens almost everyday.
He isn't chained up, they don't have a fenced in yard. They seem like very nice people who spoil him, they live in a beautiful house, but I'm worried he's going to get out and get hit by a car. I end up taking care of this dog when out walking and I don't want to...neither does my dog! Is there anything I can do? I've talked to my husband and he said I can report them for not taking care of the dog...I don't know if I can do that though. And I'm not one to go up to them and tell them the problem...they are never out anyway. And I know I could walk a different way, but I shouldn't have to do that.
Any advice would be great! I'm just worried about the dog and don't want to see him get hurt!
You can't take care of the dog or they will keep neglecting it knowing you are there. You have to report them for the safety of the puppy.
If these people were any smarter than a box of rocks, they'd know they shouldn't leave their dog outside unattended. If your town has a leash law, call Animal Control and report these people. They will be cited by the city and given a certain amount of time to come up with a safe way to contain their dog - either it can stay in the house, or a dog run, or they can install an electronic fence or a real fence - but in any case the dog shouldn't be left unattended to run all over the place. It's not safe for the dog, and it's potentially not safe for passers-by, children, other animals (cats, dogs). You should bring it to Animal Control's attention before something bad happens. You would take action and report it if someone's kids were running loose on a busy street - this dog can't speak up for itself. Do what you can to save its life, in advance.
You could do 1 of 2 things:
Talk to the owners about your concerns--call them up and let them know you see this puppy loose every day and you're worried he's going to get hit by a car.
Call Code Enforcment and find out what the rules are regarding dogs. In our city, your dog needs to be confined to a fenced yard or on a leash; some laws say something to the effect of "the dog needs to be in the control of the owner", but even if this open-ended rule is in place, clearly they are not "in control" if the dog is roaming free with the owners nowhere in sight. At this point, you can share the info with the owners, (if they receptive). Or, you can call animal control to get the dog next time you see him loose. In our city, if animal control picks up your dog, you are charged $25 to get him/her release, or otherwise the dog goes to the animal shelter (and will be euthanized if not adopted).
Our neighbors have a dog that jumps the fence, and they were pretty lax about letting him get out (actually, they are pretty lax about dog care all around, but they are benignly negligent, so, what's one to do but bite one's tongue..). Anyway, someone in our neighborhood (not us) called Animal Control 2x on this dog (after 3 times, the penalty fee goes up), and since then, they raised and secured their fences.
You need to call animal control - most communities have leash laws and the neighbors are in violation of it if they do not have their dog under control. The dog could get seriously hurt or killed. And at least it is a friendly puppy - imagine if it was a more aggressive dangerous animal that might go after another dog or a child.
We had an issue with our neighbors too. Dog (small terrier mix) was constantly chained up in the back yard and would escape off the chain. It was kept outside for hours without shelter, food or water. One day this past winter we had to call animal control on them because the poor thing was stuck outside, 10 below windchill, huddled in a snow bank, and again no dog house to get into. Animal control came out, made them bring the dog inside and I'm sure issued some kind of warning. It happened another time a month later and we had to call the police because it was after 5 pm and animal control was no longer available. Then once this past summer, the dog was chained in the back yard, again no water or shade, in blistering 90 degree heat. The dog also got loose from home at least a dozen times. Then a couple of months ago, we noticed that the dog was no longer there. We don't know what happened - if it finally got lost and could not be found, or if it got given away or taken away.
Unfortunately some people foolishly believe that all they have to do is let the dog outside, and it will return home when it's ready or when they call for it. That's just irresponsible. Next time you capture the dog, I would just bring it to your house and call animal control, then let them handle it. And I know from first-hand experience that your phone call will be anonymous.
Many towns have leash laws, so check into that first. If yours does (there should be something about dogs off of their own property) mention it politely next time you speak to the owners. There is nothing wrong with letting them know that you are worried about their puppy getting off the property and hurt, especially since he tries to follow you home. You are not responsible for someone else's dog. They might just need the reminder.
UPDATE:
I actually tried to go for a walk with my kids this afternoon and had the neighbors dog (young, but very large) decide to accompany us. We had to cut it short because I didn't feel like having him follow us the whole way and was not about to take responsibility for anything he did. He completely ignored my kids (and me) telling him to go home. It is extremely annoying and he clearly has no idea about road safety. Definitely don't put up with it--it is not your responsibility and it would be a shame for the animal to be hit. They should have him leashed, fenced, or somehow restrained/contained outside.
If you care about this little dog you need to talk to the propper authorities. It does not mean the dog will be removed, however if the owner does not controll the dog by either a fence or a cain that dog might be better off with someone who cares. It is not only the safty of humans at stake also the wellbeing of the dog. Just imagine you find out one day that the dog was run over by a car cause he was not propperly restrained. That is something I am sure I could not live with.
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Every time I found him outside unattended I would take him, and go knock on the door and innocently say, "I found your dog out loose and did not want him to get lost or hurt", in a friendly way. Maybe if you do it often enough they will get the hint.
I agree with the previous post. I would also try and speak to the owners. They may be trying to give the dog some freedom during the day but may not realize he is that far away from his home base and that he follows you. I would say that I just wanted to be sure they are aware as I'm sure they'd want their puppy to remain safe. I understand about not wanting to report them - for me that would be a last resort. I would try to speak to them first since they do live right by you and an effort should be made to keep things peaceful - barring they do not continue to endanger their dog. Hopefully it's been an oversight on their part. Good luck!
I would speak to animal control in your area. Even if they took the dog away and had it put down it would be more humane than getting hurt and left to die. This is not being a responsible dog owner. Doesn't matter how much they spoil the dog, if they really cared they would provide a safe environment for him.
Best Regards,
C.
It sounds like from what you say they do care about the dog, just do not realize he isn't going to stay on his own. When you return him, you may mention that your dog really does not like dogs getting in his face and he is a little older and does not like to play and you do not want your dog to scare the younger dog. Yes it is there fault, but this way maybe they will have a reason to think to keep their dog contained. I hate the loose dog running at you with a call of "he's friendly." I don't mind if they did not mean for the dog to be loose, but if it is loose on purpose, I usually yell back "mine isn't" or "mine isn't always." (She has never touched another dog, but will tell them off sometimes if they get too close) If you walk around the same time every day, maybe ask if they can keep those dogs in at that time, so he doesn't come running to play. If you carry a treat or two, throwing one for the dog into his yard may encourage him to run back for it and forget about you. Then again some will keep following you for more cookies.
I have a dog reactive dog, usually she does fine if a dog runs up to, but it stresses her out and she really doesn't not like them in her face. We run into a loose one here and there, sometimes it works to lean into their space before they get to you and tell them to sit. Keep your feet still and just lean forward when the dog is 10-15 feet away even and say sit. It does not always work, but I have found with a couple of neighborhood dogs (whose owners are usually close behind in their yards) it does wonders and they will sit.
I think your best bet is trying to talk to the owners, which may not result in anything, but if you are lucky they can at least keep the dog either attached to something or in the house around the times you walk. I would say ignore the dog, but I know that isn't always safe with a road right there. If both you and your dog are boring the younger one may leave sooner. Good luck and hope the owners soon realize they really do need to keep their doggie contained.
Put a letter in their box about this if you don't want to talk to them in person. You don't even have to say who you are. I am surprised that somebody else has not done something about this already because if he does this to you surely he is doing it to others. And some people don't like dogs or are afraid.
I agree with another poster, that once he starts following you, before you get too far away from his house, you should pick him up and take him up to the door and hand him to his owner and repeat the same thing every day such as "your dog wants to follow me home again". Say it sweetly and with a smile on your face. It will eventually come to their attention how annoying it is for you to come to their door everyday. Eventually, they might notice that its around the same time and make a point of keeping the dog inside until you pass by. Some people no matter how nice they appear are just stupid when it comes to common sense and they need to flat out be told what they are doing wrong. If they don't "get it" after several days, or weeks if you are that patient, find out what the laws are and call animal control. Its not like you didn't make the effort to help them out. Its not your fault they are ignorant, and you have every right to be able to walk your dog properly leashed and not have to deal with their lack of following the rules. If they accuse you afterwards of calling AC, you can come back with "I tried to be a good neighbor, but that works both ways and you were not doing your part, so I didn't have a choice, like you did".
You need to check on the local rules, maybe the SPCA in your county or equivalent. Once you find out the "rules" you will have a better idea of options. BTW - in my area chaining up a dog is considered cruel and creates more aggressiveness in the dog. I like the other peoples suggestions as well.
