Out Walking Shippo/Poor Loose Dog

Awww... poor little pup [] I HATE it when people do that! If they'd just get their heads out of their behinds for two seconds they'd realize that punishing a dog for actually coming to them is completely bass ackwards. Our neighbors do that and now that their dog will only come home when he's good and ready.

I can understand how mad they are, I know when Lucy does that I am always royally upset (usually because it only happens when I'm trying to load kids in the car to go somewhere [:@]). But I get over it and ALWAYS praise her and give her goodies when I catch her. If I'm having a really bad day, I'll call her awful names in the sweetest happiest voice you've ever heard. It helps me "vent" and she can't tell the difference between "Come Here you sweet little pup!" and "Come here you !@#$&* dog!" if I say it in the same happy, cheery tone. [] (When the kids are out of earshot, of course!)

Aw that's so sad. I can't tell you how many people have argued with me about the concept of praising the dog when it returns to you. So many people think the dog understands when it takes off and then returns, and you yell and throw a fit. [:@] 

Since you know where this person lives, you might want to purchase a copy of "Really Reliable Recall" and anonymously drop it off. 
 
If I had heard that going on, I think I would have been very confrontational and also called the ASPCA, or animal control.  I wonder how many people have dogs that they truly don't deserve.

Oh, that's so sad. 
 
At where I used to work, my office manager one morning found a lab puppy in the middle of a busy intersection outside the office.  She scooped him up out of danger and brought him into the office so we could track down his owners (he had tags on).  He was maybe 3 months old, very sweet and friendly and cute.  I kept him in my office all day and took him out for potty breaks and played with him.  I kind of fell for him, he liked me a lot too, and I was secretly hoping his people wouldn't want him back.  I would have kept him for sure. 
 
So we finally track down his family and at the end of the day this man comes to our office to pick up the puppy.  We all gather in the lobby to say goodbye, as the little fellow really won our hearts.  So the man comes in and calls the dog's name and the puppy runs to him, tail wagging, so happy.  What does the man do?  SCREAMS at the puppy for getting lost -- you stupid dog, what the he!! is the matter with you, that type of thing.  (And the dog got lost b/c he was unrestrained in the back of a pick-up and jumped out -- totally the owner's fault and he should be greatful the dog's not hurt!)  The nan never pets the dog or seems happy to see him at all, just yells at the poor thing.  We all stand around, horrified, as this guy tells us how he thinks it's bogus that there are laws against hitting your dog, and your children, because sometimes they need a good hard smack to make them behave.  Of course we don't want to let the guy take the dog at that point, but what can we do?  I offered to take the puppy since he was apparently causing trouble, but the guy said it was his son's puppy and the kid would be really sad if he didn't get the dog back.  We all watched as the evil man took away the puppy.  My boss said later he thought the guy would have hit him if he refused to let him take the dog.  It was awful.  I was near tears when he left.  I still think about that poor sweet puppy.  His name was Trooper.   []

ORIGINAL: jenhuedepohl

If I'm having a really bad day, I'll call her awful names in the sweetest happiest voice you've ever heard. It helps me "vent" and she can't tell the difference between "Come Here you sweet little pup!" and "Come here you !@#$&* dog!" if I say it in the same happy, cheery tone. [] (When the kids are out of earshot, of course!)

 
Hahaha... I've done that a couple times...
 

ORIGINAL: Xerxes

Since you know where this person lives, you might want to purchase a copy of "Really Reliable Recall" and anonymously drop it off.

 
Good idea, I might have to consider this, and try to remember which house this lady lives in...  I'm sure I'll end up seeing her dog again... >X.x;<

How did none of you suggest reporting this crazy woman? If it was a child you would do so promptly.
I understand the personal debate about its none of our business or how can we prove it but at teh least it would be on file. What if months from now you see him chained out back and sickly? The AC will already know she is a terrible owner. Worse, this is the kind of abuse that over time will turn his fear into aggression and hurt someone.....and he'll get blamed for it. This is one way our once favored pit bulls become aggressive and turn into monsters, by abuse. We all say how we wish the law would be harder on the owners but thats AFTER something bad happens, if she knows people are watching her you could help save a life.
Please dont be offended but if you can take the time to come post it on here you can make a anonymous call to AC, if they visit and see the dog is fearful that is a victory in its own.

If I were to call now, what proof would I have?    Seriously.  Other than her horrible training skills (or lack thereof), the dog appeared to be healthy.  What would they say to me if I called and told them "somebody is spanking their dog"?  Would they even listen?  Is spanking your dog looked upon as a crime yet or will they just laugh me off the phone?

This was basically a vent, and something I experienced today, while I was walking my own dogs and getting ready for work.  Have you gone onto the other "poor dog" thread yet and told them to call the AC?
 
I will be keeping an eye out though, and I AM seriously considering dropping some kind of training book or video on her doorstep...  If I see anything else like that, I will make a call.

And I apologize, I get emotional around the holidays! I'm not sure how serious they would take you either, poor lil guy

Please let your animal control officer know.  In case there are more complaints he/she will be able to rescue that poor thing and charge the owner with cruelty, because that's what it is.  If it were me, I'd buy Leslie Nelson's $6 booklet on "Really Reliable Recall" and put it in the jerk's mailbox.

Hitting a dog is abuse.  You could call AC and tell them the story and the address.  At least it would be on record.  I worked for an AC and if someone had called and said that they heard someone hitting a dog, I would check it out. 

This dog sounds like a really sweet, great dog who the owners don't deserve. Call animal control and have them yelled at once, because yelling at their dog clearly isn't working for them.