case of neglect? what should I do?

[mrslee]

I got a miniature schnauzer in today that I suspect is a neglected dog. He was emaciated (we could feel his spine and every rib in his body), filthy, had a bad ear infection in his left ear, and this is the kicker: his left eye was matted SHUT. He couldn't see! His right eye was bad, too, but not as much. When I managed to get the hair clipped away from his eyes, we noticed that both his eyes were infected, too. I cleaned up his eyes as much as I could, but didn't clean or pluck the ears... should I?

Is this neglect, or just a really ignorant owner? I work in a store, so I don't want to cost business by raising a stink, but should I report them to the humane society? (maybe anonymously on my day off?)

[lvdobes]

I would check what the local laws are before I did anything. In some places since the owner brought the dog in to have it cleaned up they have corrected the neglect and can no longer be charged with anything. Now since the dog was also very thin there may be a medical issue that would still be valid unless the dog has seen a vet and is being treated. Neglect and animal cruelty can be very hard to prove. Several years ago there was a puppymill raid in a city not far from us. Since there were several Dobermans involved we (Dobe Club) agreed to send money every month to the vet where the Dobes were housed to help with their support and if the dogs were not awarded back to the owner then we would take them into our rescue program. There were over 200 dogs seized in this raid and when the trial and everything was over the miller was convicted on 11 counts of cruelty. When I asked why so few I was told in all likelyhood they found 11 bodies during the raid and that was all she could be convicted on.

Lisa

Lisa

[Pixie]

Sounds like neglect to me. Did you mention to the owners that you felt the dog really needed to see a vet, that you had concerns about him? That you felt he was way under weight, his eyes were infected, ears infected? No I wouldn't have plucked the ears either. Maybe you should have told them that you would call the humane society if they weren't going to do anything. How old was the dog? Could any of this been from age?????

[pamperedpups]

Edited.

[minkyboodle]

I wouldn't do anything under the company name. Now you can place a random annoynmous phone call in about a really skinny dog to animal control, that might get them at least out there. In a few months you can always call to report a badly conditioned dog since the dog will most likely be in that condition again.

Really since they actually brought the dog in then its been "corrected" and they can't do anything. Hopefully the owner will keep up with the coat and it was a one time thing.

[diamienono]

I would take pictures of that stuff. Also, did you tell them about the eyes and ears? Did they say they would take the dog to the vet? I would call the vet and see if they were in. Then I would tell the vet about it.

[Sweetpea]

hmmmmmm....

I wouldn't jump to conclusions about the dog being neglected from his weight. I'm only saying this because I can relate. I have a doberman/rott that I got when I was in the 3rd grade, I'm 25 now! She is very skinny, you can see her ribs, she eats twice a day just like any other dog, she gets 2 scoops in the morning and 1 scoop in the evening. She's been taken to the vet, we had blood work done for her and the vet said she doesn't have cancer or anything, it's just because she's so old. I had a new neighbor move in behind me and this idiot was basically accusing my dad of neglect because "his dog didn't look like that". He just popped his head over the fence and starting assuming things that were waaaaay off base. Needless to say, my dad was very hurt by that and so was I and the rest of my family once we found out. That's just my experience. As far as the matting and the eye infections.... I don't know. If you have a gut feeling, that this dog is truly being neglected, you should find a way to take further steps and investigate.

[k2p1e]

True...about the skinniness. My mom has a mini poodle that has a protein intolerance and diabetes to boot, he is quite thin, much thinner then his sister (who is fat due to a heart condition....my mother learned the hard way of why you NEVER get puppies from BYB!!!!!!)

[sheilabgroomer]

I think the only thing you could really have done would be to suggest a visit to the vet. For all we know this is a new owner who is "turning" the dog around, or maybe the dog (or owner) has been sick and that is why he was in such bad shape. As far as being skinny, as has already been noted, that can be caused by lots of things that are not related to neglect. Maybe you can do a "follow up" call to check on the dog and suggest a vet visit if they have not gone already. Since they have brought the dog in for a grooming that does suggest they do care for his wellbeing so I would hesitate in reporting them to the authorities.

[jovi]

I had the same thing happen with a toy poodle.She came in so matted/eye infection/ear infection/fleas/ticks...you name it she had it and on top of all that the owner told me that her daughter drunked the dog in bleach to try and clean it!! I had to shave it down with a 10. I told them the dog needed to see and vet and they asked for a name of one because none of their dogs have seen a vet. I gave them a card and followed up with the vet to see it they made an appointment-they never did. I took pictures before and after the groom and then I called Animal control and reported it as me, not through my place of employment. I wanted to make sure the other animals in the hosehold were being taken of also. Animal control went and said everything looked good at the time. A girl I worked with told the family she would buy the poodle from them for $200 they turned her down telling her that " NO this dog is going to make us some money". I think they planned on breeding her to death. Animal control checked on them the next month and took the dogs from them for neglect. The poodle was blind in one eye from the bleach. But she has a good home now as does all the other dogs. The owner never got them back- they couldn't afford all the vet bills. So I guess you have to follow your heart and do what you think is best but do it as you and not your place of employment. Check with animal control in your area.

[Kim in SD]

I've had to call Animal Control once. Since I don't work for someone I had no problems telling them who I was. But this was a little different. I'm mobile, I get to the house, dogs are housed about 2 blocks away in a nasty kennel. Flies everywhere, both dogs had Fly Strike, half the ears were gone. The got taken away. Emaciated, could mean hypo thyroid problems, cancer, etc. Follow your heart.