My neighbors poisoned my dogs.

[Frank]

Not too long ago, someone opened the gate to my back yard. Two of my dogs left the yard and went to the neighbors. The neighbor had been haveing problems with dogs getting into their trash; So, they poisoned their trash just in case a dog got into it. I noticed that my dogs were acting strange, all their muscles seemed to be twitching, they were salivating heavily, had loss of muscle control, and difficulty breathing. I rushed them to the Vet. as fast as I could. I live 15 miles from the nearest veterinarian. One dog, Daisy May, made it to medical help. The other pet, Gabby, did not make it and died on the way. The vet could not pinpoint the nature of the poison but thought it was an outlawed oxyphosphate. Daisy was given atropine and other antidotes. She is doing well.

I live in the small town of Richland Springs, Texas. We have no local law enforcement or animal control. The County Sherrifs Department seems to be unwilling to act. The neighbors freely admit to poisoning their garbage on purpose. It should be noted that the neighbor places their filled garbage bags on the open ground and not in any sort of container. My pets are not the only ones affected. What can I do? I have never had a dog poisoned; and I have never seen such evil and cruel people. My dogs may have been outside of my yard and gotten into the neighbors garbage, but they did not deserve to be poisoned. What makes this worse than anything is the fact that my children watched as Gabby, a member of the family, suffered and died from this poisoning. This is a great loss for my family. My two remaining dogs, Yukon and Daisy, are grieving along with myself and my children. Daisy will recover, to what extent is unknown, slowly but surely.

My neighbors are unrepentant and place all blame on me. The neighbor lady stated, "Your dog would not be dead if it had not gotten into my trash!" She said this with a smile on her face. What can I do????????
I fear for the safety not only of my pets and the pets of others, but also for the safety of my children.

[sherry nelson]

http://www.texasforthem.org/2006/index.html#

theTexas coalition for animal protection

[sherry nelson]

pca of texas

http://www.spca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Programs_Rescue_Laws_2005


Texas Cruelty to Animals Statutes

http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/dawson/cruelty/tx_cruel.htm

Texas Humane Legislation Network

http://www.thln.com/

[Jenn]

Wow! Good work Sherry!!! People like you are one of the reasons I love this online community!

[Michelle]

It amazes me how people can be so neglegent when it comes to animals. Then there are people like us who would do anything for them. I'm glad that even though we don't actually know one another, how we can come together as a family.

[Emma]

i am so sorry! try lobbying some other people in your community who have had pets die/get hurt. you could also offer to buy them trash cans. i know it sucks to buy stuff for the people who killed your dog purposley, but then tmaybe they will stop poisoning the trash.

[Shadia Kaibah]

ok first off. Slap a lawsuit on that smiling face. Tell her you're suing for murder. Also the garbage is on the street yeah? It's no longer private property and you can use it as evidence if poison is found in it. I work with a friend of mine who's a free lance agent out to get people like this woman. So I know what I'm doing. Also make sure you have witnesses. Other pet owners who may have had this happen too or a neighbor who witnessed the various confrontataions between you and your neighbor her confession to poisoning your dog, and anything of that matter. Also you can get her if you take picture of the garbage on the street plain as day, because usually the law requires you to have a trash facility for your garbage like a can or some kind of container. better yet if you can confront your neighbor with a hidden tape recorder and get a confession out of her you can totally win your case. Best of luck.

[angel]

i had lost ten dogs in the last year and i just lost another one because my grandpa next door is antifreezing them. i tried to call the humane society and the police/sheriff to help me on how to make him stop. i had taken the first 4-5 dogs to the vet right before they died and afterwards and they proved that it was antifreeze poisoning. i need help trying to figure out what i can do about my situation. I only let my dogs off long enough to go to the bathroom and then i have to put them on chains because in the winter time when it gets cold or if it rains i put them in a shed that we have in the backyard. i can't even let them off for 5 minutes without out one of them getting shot or poisoned by him. i've seen him shoot my dogs and then turn around and laugh about it.

[Dia]

Firstly, why were your dogs digging through your neighbor’s trash bins? Secondly, where were you when they were out of the yard? Thirdly, who would even want to open your gates and why?

I would file a civil suit against your neighbors for wrongful death. You should look up the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures and other various laws via www.findlaw.com. Or you could go to the state website and do the same via a site search.

It’s difficult for the officers to act considering it was in the trash. However, if the substances were unlawful then that should be enough to initiate some sort of investigation. Also, if it was intentional, then it could be considered criminal. Poisoning the garbage is not only dangerous for animals but also for humans passing the area. The police could also initiate some legal action based on that.

Try to file for a petition with your neighbors (pet owners or otherwise) in order for the city to take action or have them evicted from the neighborhood. You could also place public warning about these people via posters, fliers, or websites. Just be careful as to how you go about doing this (so that it is not considered slander and etc). You wouldn’t want them being a danger to other people and animals.

Honestly, I would have punched her there and then. But seriously, file a formal complaint with your local authorities (whether or not the police want to listen) and file for a civil suit if possible. Try contacting the local news! They can provide invaluable help by alerting the public about these horrible (need to be punished) people. If the department receives pressure from the public, then they may be more willing to act.

[Jillian]

Frank, I am so sorry. The same thing happened to me December 7, 2007. His name was Yogi and he was a Pomeranian. My moms neighbor poisoned him with antifreeze. He has been our neighbor for fifteen years. I could have saved him with the right antidote but the neighbor lied and said it was rat poison. Yogi died in my arms two days later. I was singing him the jingles i made up for him over the years.. and as he was given a sedative his eyes dilated as i said "i love you my baby". He went everywhere with me and he was my best friend. Animal control and the police said they couldnt do anything unless there was proof. I hate the world sometimes and i still cry for my baby. I am mostly sad we only had seven years together and that he had to suffer.. i would do anything to take his pain away. All i hope for now is that there is a heaven and that he is in it.

[Ginni]

Jillian, The same thing happened to our golden "Sam" and the antidote didn't save him. My heart breaks for you. I know your pain. Here in Tennessee we have a law that will go in to effect 2010 that antifreeze has to taste to bitter to swallow. Maybe you could try and get this law in your State in memory of Yogi. See www.haleyham.com

[Suzie Laughlin]

Is there a state agency for the protection of animals that you could go to? This is terrible! There are more humane ways to keep animals out of your garbage! Dogs are Dogs, if there is something in the garbage that smells like food, then they are going to investigate! How do these creeps know that it was even your dogs? Someone needs to get these jerks garbage cans, even though the morons probably won't use it. It sound to me like they are baiting these poor animals on purpose! You and your family have mine, and my family's deepest sympathy on your loss. Your neighbors comment to you proves to me that she has no heart, she can't to do something like that! Best wishes to you, and I pray that you and your animals get justice!