Down the road from me is an empty house with two dogs tied up outside. The owners moved out a couple of weeks ago and apparently left their dogs because last night I could hear the poor things crying and barking last night. So this morning I drove over there to check the situation out. What I saw was heartbreaking. Two medium size dogs were tied up on short chains in the far corner of their overgrown yard. They had a bowl of what seemed to be fresh water. I cant be sure how long the water has been there because we had rain a couple of days ago. And they had no food.
I was unsure if the owners of the house are still coming back to feed those poor dogs so I bought a large bowl of food with me and some water in case they had none.
These dogs have been tied up so long that the small area they can move around in is complete dirt. All of the grass is gone.
Now my question is who can I call to check the situation out. I live out in the country.
Should I call someone or watch and see if the owners are bringing food and water? Even if the owners are coming back to feed them it is no way for animals to live.
What should I do?

the police dept should have an animal control division that will investigate the prob. Poor dogs :(
heather

You are sooo sweet! Maybe wait a couple days to see if they are being fed. Do they have a dog house to go in?

If not you might want to report that to your local sheriff to check out.

Sue

I'd contact the police, animal warden, and maybe a vet if possible. Those poor dogs! :(

Thanks for the replies mamas!
I will making a call to the police station this afternoon and let them study the situation.
I would bring them home but I just adopted two very large strays last week that were dropped off out here. I wont be able to get my new dogs their shots if I adopt these other dogs :(
Plus the female stray gave birth to a little of puppies under my house so getting her spayed is next on my list after I get their shots.

Do they have a dog house to go in?
They have one small dog house. I don't think they can both get in it.

I will update after there is a conclusion to this story.

Please do call. Don't wait a "few days", it could be too late by then. It's pretty obvious by your description that the dogs were either left uncared for, or are still being neglected even if someone is coming back to feed them now and then. That's not ok. Call local police, or animal control, or your local shelter. They need help and today, not in a few days.

Thank you, by the way, for stepping up and doing something for them! :heart: We'd have a lot, lot less of a problem with this sort of crap if we all stepped up and helped and held those responsible accountable. Good for you!!!

I would call animal control shelter or something even if those owners come back to feed the dogs, they are obviously not loved and deserve to be loved. I hate that so much....it's abuse....dog's don't deserve to be tied up and left alone and unable to run around.....arg!!!

If your local authorities won't do anything (as happens in some rural communities...ask how I know ;) ), don't be shy about contacting your nearest television station's news department. Sometimes media attention will make authorities act when a regular call elicits nothing.

Good luck,
Lisa

Just an FYI - my local Humane Society won't do anything if they come to investigate a case of abandonment and there is food OR water - because that indicates that they are being cared for. When I last reported someone, they told me not even to leave food on the ground or they wouldn't be able to take the animal (the renters had moved out and left the dog in the backyard).

Your local Humane Society is not following HSOA laws then. If the dogs are being cared for every 24 hours or less, and have both shelter and food and water, then they don't have to do anything. But lack of shelter alone is enough to take them in, as is the fact that the owners moved and left the dogs behind unless they can prove they have permission to keep the dogs there and are checking on them at least every 24 hours. As for someone else feeding them, yes you still can help and feed them until local law can get involved, you just have to inform them that you are the one who left said food out so they don't assume an owner did. If people waited for law enforcement to take action and did not step in and provide food or shelter before they could get there, many pets would die. It takes sometimes 48-72 hours before animal control in some places can visit the site due to lack of staff and funds and other abuse cases piling up. It is false that you can not and should not feed and help the abandoned pets until they can come get them...you just need to be sure they are aware that *you* are the one who left the water/food out.