Pit Bull in West KY needs help...plenty of ideas, but all of them could have negative consequences...

[Moonpye]

I am at my wit's end, and have finally figured out that I'm not even going to get a good night's sleep until something is done.

My next door neighbors (for lack of a better word) have a pit bull. He started life as a puppy living in a pet taxi on the front porch. He could barely fit into the crate, and he cried constantly. I called animal control at one point because he was lying in his own filth, it was 90 degrees out, and he had no access to water or food. Animal control came and told them he couldn't be kept in the crate any longer, so they used a length of clothesline to tie him to the front porch. He lived that way for awhile until someone moved into the house on the other side of my neighbors and told them they'd have to move the dog because he was pooping on their property.

So...they moved the dog's chain to a tree near my property. For many weeks, the dog slept, pooped, and lived on our shared driveway. He leaped at passersby, and actually knocked them over/mouthed them because he was tethered so close to the sidewalk.

When Animal Control came by again, my heart jumped for joy. I thought for certain they were going to seize him. But no--for the safety of people walking by, they told my neighbors the dog had to be moved.

He is now tied to a tree in the backyard. Fortunately, neither of us have a fence, and my neighbors never go in their backyard, so I have free reign to play with, feed, clean up after, and generally take care of the dog.

He is fed three or four times a week (by the neighbors) and I (unbeknownst to them) pick up the slack. I also give him fresh water two or three times a day, because the chain he has to drag around is forever knocking the water over. He also knocks his food over frequently which then gathers clouds and clouds of flies. I have tried raking down the entire area and spraying it with citronella, which works for awhile, but soon enough, the flies come back and torment the dog without end. He has had an eye infection that I was able to clear up with neomycin ointment. I pick up his poop daily, because unless I do, a). the flies are unbearable b). the smell is unbearable and c). the dog has to walk around in it.

He has a house, but it's just a cheap plastic job that offers little protection from the elements. Because he is chained, he often wraps himself around the trees in the middle of the night and is unable to seek shelter in his house when it rains. The house was only procured after animal control told my neighbors it was illegal to have a dog outside without adequate shelter.

The chain he lives on is approximately six feet long. His boredom and hopelessness is unimaginable.

I go to see him three or four times a day and have bought him several chew toys. We play tug of war and fetch (to the best of his abilities). He is actually quite calm, for an un-neutered babyish pit bull, and loves to just sit and be petted.

When his ACTUAL owners come see him, he is treated with nothing but disdain. Aside from being chained (abuse in and of itself), I have observed them striking the dog repeatedly and attempting to kick him in the ribs.

I am SO ANGRY with animal control. Clearly, they are not at all interested in animal welfare, because they've been out twice now, and they ONLY thing they've done is told the people they would have to move the dog to the backyard so that he couldn't come in contact with the general public. They have many ordinances in place to protect humans from animals, but none in place to protect animals from ignorant humans.

I have recently learned that it is technically ILLEGAL in this city to tether a dog to a fixed point for more than 8 hours. This would appear to be a rule no one is interested in enforcing.

I fear for this dog's life this winter. I am in the process of gathering materials to build him an insulated, weather-tight doghouse with a flap. However, if he's living on a chain, I'm not sure how he'll be able to use a doghouse with a door flap???

I feel like I'm screaming my head off about this and no one will listen--not even those who are supposed to make sure animals are treated with some modicum of care. I am deathly afraid of the neighbors (they have screamed at me on numerous occasions), otherwise, I would go give them a piece of my mind.

I have seriously considered stealing the dog but I'm afraid that a). I would be caught and sent to jail and b). they would just go out and get another one. I have considered asking how much they would sell the dog for, but, again, I fear that they would simply buy another. I am honestly willing to pay several hundred dollars for him, but, again, I'm afraid to reward their cruelty/stupidity. From what I've heard, they want to make some money off of him by putting him up for stud.

Another neighbor already gave them some fencing materials, and they've done nothing with them.

Several people I know have offered to steal the dog, but, again, I'm very much afraid that I would be connected to the crime. I've laid awake night after night thinking of scenario upon scenario, from simply offering to walk the dog daily (which I don't think they'd even let me do) to stealing the dog in the dead of night (it would only be too easy), driving it over state lines, and handing it off to a pre-designated rescuer. And, again, I fear that they would simply go out and get another dog.

I don't know if anyone has an idea I've yet to tap, but anything you can suggest would be greatly appreciated. At this point, stealing seems to be the best option, but, again, I don't want to be charged with a felony at the age of 26. :(

I spent 8 years working at an animal shelter, fighting this brand of cruelty and neglect. I absolutely can't stand living next door to it without the authority to do anything.

Thank you so much for reading this. Hopefully someone has some secret stone I've yet to overturn. I wake up at all hours of the night just to check on the poor thing, and countless times I've had to put on my clothes and go outside to untangle him, turn his house right side up, and keep him from barking/crying. I think this stress has taken about ten years off my life!

[2sun]

please contact http://dogsdeservebetter.com/reps.html

there are several Reps in KY.

you could ask them how much they would sell this dog for, so at least you know. (who knows, maybe
they won't buy another)

[2sun]

which city is this?

[Moonpye]

Paducah. I'll definitely check out that website.

Thanks so much. I'm getting ready to go rail at Animal Control, hopefully for the last time. I need them to listen to me and UNDERSTAND what has been going on for the past 6th months....I have so much anger in me, it's making me ill. :(

[2sun]

are you going to talk to animal control again this week?

[Moonpye]

I am. I'm going to request a face-to-face meeting with them where they will HOPEFULLY sit and listen to everything I have to say. They WROTE the laws...it is their DUTY to enforce them. Period. If they will not, I am not sure at all what I should do.

I have also sent an e-mail to all of the KY reps for "Dogs Deserve Better." What a fantastic organization!!

[2sun]

I don't know if you;re up to to it, but would you consider asking neighbor how much for dog? Does dog get adequate food and water? If not, then animal control should step in!

[Moonpye]

The dog definitely does NOT get food and water from the owners. I provide it daily. I have strongly considered buying the dog. I have very little money, but I'm willing to spend it all to buy this animal's freedom. HOWEVER, I'm very much afraid these people will turn right around and buy another dog, and that is absolutely something I cannot deal with.

[2sun]

Well, then the APL, humane society, animal control or even law
enforcement ought to be made aware of dogs condition. I know you tried, but what did animal control say about food/water?

[Moonpye]

Food must be provided once a day, and water must be available constantly. Were it not for me, he would have neither. In the summer, his water bowl would get so full of flies, no water surface was visible. It had to be changed several times a day.

People have suggested leaving him without food and water for several days to make a point to animal control, but I am in my backyard constantly, and I could not BEAR seeing him hungry and thirsty for three or four days. That would be utterly cruel.

I have kept a daily log, though. I feed the dog around midnight (after the neighbors have gone to bed), and I overturn his food dish when he is done. I know he is not being fed, because the dish remains overturned all day long, until I feed him again the next evening. The log details when I find the dog wrapped up so that he cannot move, the hours that go by without water being brought, and, of course, the fact that he is rarely, if ever, fed. My fear though is that I will be accused of inventing this log, though, surely, I have much better things to do with my life! I've also taken time and date-stamped pictures showing the overturned food bowl on a day-to-day basis.

The point is, though, that what they're doing is against city ordinance, plain and simple. I just have little faith in the city's willingness to enforce those rules. They have only two animal control officers for the entire county, and while I understand that they're under pressure and stress, this dog's life is not going to get any better unless something is done.

[2sun]

have u gotten in touch with Dogs Deserve Better?
if they try & kick him in the ribs, & don't have enough food/H2O, then why won't animal control do anything?

[2sun]

maybe have friend or neighbor also file complaint w/animal control

[2sun]

Updates?