Dog Community

A quandry and sad story

Posted : 7/13/2006 12:46:44 PM

This may be a little long winding but I need to get it off of my chest....

My husband and I moved to the country last August - dirt road, no fenced yards, and everyone seems to own a dog. A new built house was sold on the main dirt road we take to get to our house. A family moved in this Spring. Wife, husband, kids...and soon they had the cutest little puppy - a male Weimaraner. I instantly thought to myself "I hope they know all the exercise and mental requirements for that dog!" Then I told myself to shut up and quit thinking everyone are complete idiots when it comes to dogs. Maybe they got it for hunting, maybe they went to a good breeder, maybe they will do field trials. I *hoped* that they would be as good of owners as most of us here are. But I did feel slightly disappointed with the breed of dog they chose. They did not appear to be an active family and by the appearance of their yard, extremely lazy people. I had to tell myself to shutup again....I should not judge others by appearence and its none of my business what kind of dog they get!

When going to work in the mornings and driving by this house DH & I would see it outside, supervised by someone while it was using the bathroom. Days go by, weeks, months....and with every passing day we see the same puppy outside on our way to and from work. At first supervised all the time, then only sometimes, and more recently always by itself. One day on my way to the store it was in the road a couple of houses down. I told my husband one morning "I bet anything that the dog will end up in a shelter or something. I don't think they know how to properly care for it". He of course said it's none of our business and to let it go.

A couple of weeks go by and they put up a line run for the dog. It is now constantly tied up outside - at least every morning and every evening when we drive by. THEN I see a dog house. It is sitting in their driveway for almost a month. We barely see the dog outside anymore.

Do you want to know what they did with the dog house? Put it in the back yard and now the Weim is tied up all the time to it. No shade other than the dog house. It's hard to see from the road if he has water or food. I have no doubt in my mind that it is not allowed in the house anymore. Whenever people are outside, it still is there, tied to the doghouse, no interaction. This pup is MAYBE 7 months old...and I want to do something about it. But not being a next door neighbor to actually see what is going on, maybe I should just butt out like DH says.

But I just have a feeling this dog will sit and rot tied to that doghouse the rest of its life if someone doesn't step in. [

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Karen

Posted : 7/13/2006 12:54:30 PM

Poor dog some people should not own pets.

Have you though about writting a letter to animal welfare stating your worried about this dog and how it's been tied up left outside with little to no shelter and just sign it worried dog owner without putting your name on it. Just a thought.

Rozie Evans

Posted : 7/13/2006 12:57:45 PM

I think you have a right to be concerned.. i mean what kinda life is that for a dog?? The owners are irresponsible and don't deserve him. They don't deserve any dog in fact.It makes me so angry [:@]. Do people not look into the time and care a dog needs before they bring it home??
Its so sad.. i hope you find the right thing to do. At least YOU care.

Dana

Posted : 7/13/2006 1:00:05 PM

Things like this keep me up at night. It breaks my heart. Do you have room for another dog?

Also I would maybe try to get the humane society involved if you can. Can you do me a favor and let me know how this turns out?

I too have the same problem you know. My husband tell me that i can't save them all, but these things can really upset me!

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Posted : 7/13/2006 1:03:47 PM

While this is a extremely sad story this is ahppening all across the world to millions of dogs. While WE would never think of treating our dog that way, a lot of ignorant people think that is what a dog is for.....a novelty just to be brought out and played with at their convienance.
The sadder thing is that if the dog has food, water, and shade even if it is just the dog house then they are meeting guidlines met by local animal control. They cant site anyone for not exersicing or giving love....unfortunatly. If you are friendly with the neighbors you could always ask if their dog wants to play with yours then that would give you a exscuse to scope out the scene.

Prince_Pride

Posted : 7/13/2006 1:07:05 PM

Mallymute - Thats a great idea. I think I will try to get their address today and write a letter to AC. I just am not sure if it will do any good. This is still farm country where I live and everyone has a dog they let roam - no fences, no supervision...it's really annoying when I'm trying to be a good dog owner. Prince is never outside unsupervised and we even recently put up a fence in the back yard (the only fence in a 5mile radius) There is not a local Humane Society - the closest one is about 40mile south. There is however a rescue group that is trying to get off the ground. Maybe I can email them and see what they think.

Rozie - I know how you feel. I had a bad feeling when I saw what type of dog they chose...I have read stories online about Weim's being so bored they drag a log out of the fireplace (still with hot embers) and chew it to pieces throwing the hot embers all over

Lazlowe1 - Unfortunately I don't think DH would like that very much. We are gone 8 hours a day and while Prince is a lazy butt couch potato I doubt this Weim will be as easy going. Plus Prince is male and I don't want any fights when we are not their to supervise. I am going to try other options though.

Caprice Christian

Posted : 7/13/2006 1:18:19 PM

I am not sure about the animal control in your area, but here in British Columbia, I have called the SPCA on a cousin of mine a few times and they won't do anything about it. His dog is kept in a 10' X 10" cage, outside and has no human contact. I try to go there and walk the dog as much as possible. Because she has had no contact she is really hard to deal with. Plus he sometimes 'forgets' to feed her, her water is not fresh, and she runs around in her own feces. I cry every time I think about her. But the SPCA says that she has a dog house, has water and food, so they can't do anything.

I don't understand how people can treat any animal like that. It breaks my heart.[

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ewin0210

Posted : 7/13/2006 1:24:37 PM

I can't imagine any dog grabbing a firely log out of a fire. I'm hoping that is not true!

It kills me to hear about these kinds of stories. But its even harder when its a breed that you own. Weims need to be with thier people. They are not outside dogs. Please pay attention when it starts to get colder out. Weims do not deal with the cold weather at ALL if left outside all day everyday. Even with a coat Scout only lasts 2.5 hours at the most and that's with HARD activity. It would be cruel and inhumane to leave him outside in the winter. I look at my dog and he literally has no hair on his belly or on the insides of his legs. I know several weim rescue people in michigan. Please let me know if you need any contacts. Geez 7 months and little to no interaction is going to turn into a big problem quickly. And his behavior(as I'm assuming that typical weimy puppy behavior got him banished from the house) is only going to get worse. Geez, what is WRONG with people! Please let me know if I can help!

Prince_Pride

Posted : 7/13/2006 1:25:01 PM

I'm starting to think that nothing can be done until the dog is skin and bones and severely neglected....

alieliza

Posted : 7/13/2006 1:32:17 PM

If you are friendly with the neighbors you could always ask if their dog wants to play with yours then that would give you a exscuse to scope out the scene.

This is very good advice, Sheprano. Maybe, even if you've never spoken to them, go over and make friends, even if its only the dogs. Then, as you get to know them, you could just drop suggestions here and there, trying not to make it seem like youre stepping on their feet, and when they start to trust and get to know you, maybe they will relinquish the dog to you, improve their ownership technique, or rehome it in some other way!

Prince_Pride

Posted : 7/13/2006 1:33:04 PM

Emily - I think of you and Scout whenever I see this poor baby!!!!! It totally breaks my heart knowing he has the potential to be a great dog like Scout...but is just rotting there.

I know about the short coat problems. I am owned by a Dobe and their coat is probably the same if not less than a Weim. Prince won't even go outside if it's raining and in the winter...forget it. He runs outside, uses the bathroom as fast as he can and then runs (and I mean RUNS, no sprinting or fast walking for this guy) to get back inside. I think I need to get him a coat.

...anyways back on topic. I am definately keeping an eye on him and am going to try to get him out of that situation ASAP. He still has a chance at being that great dog if he's saved in time.

Prince_Pride

Posted : 7/13/2006 1:44:52 PM

These people live about a mile & 1/2 down the road from me. So I'm not right next door. We pass their house as we are driving to the 'main road' to start our drive to work.

Here is the excerpt I found about the destructiveness of a Weim:

[size=3]"When a Weimaraner doesn't know what it is supposed to do it can be counted on to do all the wrong things. I have known Weimaraners whose owners had not bothered to train them or teach them manners to go through a plate-glass picture window because they had been left home alone too long and were bored, bless them. I knew of one that dragged a charred log from a fireplace and pulled it from room to room chewing charcoal off as it went. It took a professional cleaning firm to repair the damage. It could have burned the house down. That kind of flaky behavior must be seen in contrast to the well-managed dog, however, or it gives a distorted picture. A well-trained Weimaraner is a regal accomplishment of canine genetic art, and as intolerably ill-behaved as a mis-managed specimen can be, that is how extremely good, solid, and reliable a properly raised example will be. It is one of those dogs, and this is so often true of the sporting dogs, that it is what you want it to be. Few dogs can be more of a nuisance than an Irish setter, a vizsla, or a Weimaraner that has had its vital energy levels, its need to perform, and its exuberant love affair with life ignored. They need exercise, they need training, and they need opportunities to participate in vigorous, ongoing events. You ignore those facts at considerable risk to your property. I have known very few sporting dogs that had anything at all wrong with them except their owners. "[/size]

[font="times new roman"][size=3]I will continue to look into options, keep an eye on the dog and family and see if there is anyway I can rescue him. Maybe I can print a few things off about Weimaraners and leave it on their doorstep. They probably won't listen but maybe they will....? If I have to I will offer to 'purchase' the dog from them if when the temps start to drop he is still out there! In 2 months the temps will be down in the 40s...thats way too cold for a short coated breed. [/size][/font]

Thank you guys for listening to my rant....

Bari

Posted : 7/13/2006 3:17:11 PM

I would really like to know why they got a dog, much less, a Weim. To leave it outside would mean they want the dog for protection and that is certainly not the breed for that. It would be great if it could be dognapped and rehomed.......(you didn't hear it from me).

sharismom

Posted : 7/13/2006 4:05:59 PM

Thank you for caring so much.

Kara

Posted : 7/13/2006 4:20:08 PM

http://www.unchainyourdog.org/Talking.htm

This is a site that might offer some information. Heck you could even print out some of their material and mail it to them, anonymously!