Your Neighbor Won't Feed Their Dog - What Should You Do?

Animal abuse and neglect is rampant in the United States today. In some cases, people fail to provide adequate food, water, or shelter for their animals. If your neighbor won't feed or water their dog, should you stand by and watch it die, or take matters into your own hands?

This issue is one that has recently hit too close for comfort for me and my family. A miniature daschund by the name of Buddy, which officially belongs to our neighbors, has been living at my house off and on for the last year. In some cases, he would come and go at his discretion, and we would provide food, water, and affection during each visit. In others, he would not show up for weeks, only to return in horrible health, skinny, and obviously neglected. As heart wrenching as these truths were for us, we kept our noses in our own business. That is, until last week.

For whatever reason, the neighbors decided to chain Buddy onto a very short leash and provide him a less than adequate dog house. He barked and whined incessantly for three days. During this time, I did not see anyone give him any food or water, nor did he seem to be receiving any attention whatsoever. And then, things took a turn for the worst. The blizzard of 2011 came to Oklahoma! The dog was left outside, with these same original conditions, but with 3 feet of snow and below zero temperatures.

It is important to note at this point that, prior to being tied up, the dog had stayed at our house for two weeks straight of his own free will. And, because of our year-long relationship with him, we had grown quite fond of his visits and personality.

As I watched the blistering storm dump tons and tons of snow on our yards, my mind continuously thought of poor little Buddy outside, in the cold, alone, without anyone to help him. Needless to say, it took every once of restraint within my being to not go and get the dog and bring him inside my home myself. After all, doing so could be considered theft, punishable by fines, jail time, and/or a criminal record.

What was I to do? Should I call the police department to report that my neighbors would not feed their dog? Should I contact the ASPCA, Humane Society, Animal Welfare department, or local animal shelter? Should I mind my own business, forgetting about the dog, leaving him to whatever demise might befall him? Should I risk going to jail or being fined? All of these questions ran thru my mind. One thing was clear, however - a helpless tiny animal would certainly die in the frigid temperatures and conditions if somone, anyone, did not intervene.

Now what I did may seem extreme to some people, while others may applaud me. They are entitled to their opinions. I have yet to come face to face with the neighbors over my actions. I am sure that one day, sooner or later, we will have a confrontation. Or maybe, just maybe, the neighbors will decide that they really don't want the dog and give him to us.

I decided to go over and give food and water to the dog myself. My first trip to see the dog occurred on day 4 of his incarceration on the short leash, and after the blizzard of 2011 had come to an end. I found Buddy shivering uncontrollably. He had no food and no water anywhere near his enclosure. He nearly ripped the bowl of food from my hands, carrying it in his mouth into his house and gobbling it down, as if he were starving. He then drank an entire bottle of water and was begging for more. Based on his behaviors, it was obvious that my observations were correct - he had indeed been neglected! Not only did the neighbors not feed their dog, but judging by the lack of footprints in the snow leading from their house to Buddy's house, they didn't even bother to check on him when 3 feet of snow surrounded his house!

As of this date, nearly 3 weeks have past since the neighbors tied up their dog. To this day I have yet to see them actually give the dog any water. He is lucky to get water if and when it rains, or if snow/ice melts from a surface. Only twice have I noticed them feeding him. This situation deeply hurts my heart. I know that I cannot actively do anything to prevent this type of neglect, but I do plan to continue to check on him, at least. And, I won't let him go without food or water, to the best of my ability.

Sometimes I wonder how anyone could stand by and watch an animal starve to death. I have heard of animal cruelty cases where neighbors have called the appropriate authorities about dogs, cats, horses, or other animals that were starving to death. I have also read that, in the majority of these cases, the reports are never investigated. Why didn't some of these people do something, such as providing a basic diet and clean water, rather than watching the animal suffer and die? Then I think about the law, and how it scares people into not taking action when action is due, not only in animal neglect issues but in other areas as well.

What would you do? Would you mind your own business? Would you call the authorities? Would you sneak food and water to the animal? Would you confront the owner? Would you steal the animal from the neglectful/abusive owners? Would you take pictures? Do you consider animals as nothing more than personal property, an object, a mere possession, or do you think of them as a fellow living, breathing being on planet Earth? Do you feel that how someone cares for, or does not care for, their animals is totally up to them? Or, should animal owners be held to a certain degree of general animal care?

I want to hear from you! Tell me where you stand on this issue. The floor is now open for discussion.

UPDATE!!! -

Jan 29. 2012

For the last 3 months the family has allowed the dog to run free. I think the couple split up, because the wife and kids haven't been seen for a long, long time. The husband is barely ever home. I think that the dog originally belonged to the kids. When the wife and kids left, the dad just turned him loose. He now stays at my house 100% of the time, of his own free will.