What can I do?

[Virgil Night]

Just last night I witnessed something that chilled me to my marrow - My dogs started barking at the fence and I walked over to see what the fuss was about. When I followed their train of focus, I saw my neighbor's young son with their small dog on a leash in front of his house. This boy was roughly jerking the dog around. He then dragged it over to the driveway right up against a vehicle (I'm guessing where he could be less visible) and at that point I saw his arm go up and come down several times - I knew he was hitting this poor dog because I heard it yelp! It gets worse - he then dragged and jerked the dog toward the street, stopped and pulled the dog's back against his legs and pulled up, both choking the dog and bending it almost in half backwards until it cried out. Watching in absolute horror and disbelief up to this point, I started screaming at him to stop, shouting, "STOP! What are you doing? Why are you doing that?! How would you like someone doing that to you?!" At that moment, his mother burst through the storm door and started yelling - no, not at him, mind you, but at me! Unfortunately, my dogs went into such a frenzy I couldn't make out a word. It's important to note that this family lived here before and left for another military installation two years ago. I truly hoped they wouldn't return because there was an ongoing problem with them abusing and neglecting their previous dog (a dog which mysteriously vanished one day...) I and other neighbors called the local ASPCA constantly to report this dog howling & being left out in the most extreme weather conditions, day & night without food & water. Nothing was ever done to stop this cycle of abuse because the prerequisite doghouse was in the yard...anyway, last night after this happened I called ASPCA to file a report, but then had to beg them not to dispatch an officer because I'm terrified these people would retaliate by somehow hurting my dogs. I can't imagine how dysfunctional a family would have to be have a young child be so obviously cruel to an animal, and yet, their track record makes it no real surprise. I can't live with knowing this sweet dog is being mistreated but don't know how to take action without them guessing it's me and possibly doing something terrible to my babies... what can I do?

[Virgil Night]

Dear Bernie,

I absolutely will keep posting on this. Thanks for the prayers- much needed & appreciated!

Virgil

[Cordelia Jones]

Dear Virgil:

I am truly sorry you had to witness this as well as how afraid you must be that by the time anything gets done that they will have killed that poor little dog. But there is hope because you are doing all that you can do right now to help him or her. What a shame the parents do not do the same for their own son. And, the Sargeant is correct, if they did anything that night for the dog, the cruel neighbors you have, would have known it was you that made the complaint and might even have killed the dog to hide any evidence. And, your fears of retaliation against you and your pets could have been greater. Maybe if some of your neighbors complain to the owners of the dog today and tomorrow, then the parents might stop the child and there is safety in numbers. Also, they would not narrow the only complaints to you. Then, again, that might backfire because it is obvious that the parents do not care that their child is torturing a poor defenseless dog, but they might try and "get ride of the dog" before the ASPCA can remove the pet from their home. This is animal cruelty at its worst and I cannot believe DE law does not provide for the ASPCA to act upon this immediately and remove the dog. Cordelia

[Elyse Orecchio]

Virgil, I see you live in Delaware. I just want to clarify that the ASPCA is only in New York (even though it serves nationally). You are referring to your local SPCA. It's a common error that people make.

[Virgil Night]

Oops, quite right, Elyse - my apologies for that error!

[Gillian Miller]

First of all it is great to see someone stand up and do something but it has to be done properly. Keep a diary, take photos and ask anyone else who is concerned to do the same thing. I'm not sure about the US but in the UK a diary is acceptable in court as evidence. If you know other people who also are concerned ask them to do the same. The more the better and also it would give a better background in court or for any agency who may become involved. Discuss this approach with the SPCA for legal advice.

Secondly, be devious. I assume that the child goes to a school that takes all of the children in your neighbourhood. Call the school and ask for whoever deals with child welfare and explain what you have seen. The school will have a relationship with the social services and, if they feel that it is appropriate, then they will involve them. It is possible that the child's behaviour at school may be giving concern and your information will help them in investigating it. Again, after a period of time has passed and you still feel nothing is being done, chat to your police department or social services for advice. At this point you ought to have a reasonable amount of evidence to show them. A child who does such things to small animals often grows up to do it to children and/or his wife.

The mother knows that the child is not behaving normally but will not accept it. You will not be able to reason with her and if anything happens it will be your fault! It is possible that the father &/or mother is abusing the child (if not, the atmosphere would be extremely damaging) and, at the very least, this is the child's way of being frustrated and taking it out on something which is weaker. Children have trouble expressing themselves or knowing what it is that they want to express. The military are known for having difficult relationships because they go to war (and that definitely does something to them) and it is possible that the child and family behave like this as they have no roots as they are forever being moved.

It happens here in the UK too. Many cannot adapt to life outside of the army and there are quite a few charities who work with service people and their families both serving and afterwards (are there any in the US? If there are could you approach them for advice or help?). Many of the service men who lived in barracks just down the road from where I used to work abused their wives. I helped a couple of the wives who were victims of domestic violence and had run ins with the military. In the end, if I became involved, they would immediately move them with instructions not to talk or have any contact with me. I can't think that the US army would be any different!

Good luck with this, I will keep an eye on the discussion to see what happens. At the very least you will help a dog and you may even help the child. I often pray to God to help the helpless & the hopeless regardless of who or what they are, I hope that He will help here.