Interesting situation with a neighbor and a dog (Update 7/26)...

[E!!]

I didn't want to put this in the dog room since it is more of a neighbor mini-rant that happens to involve a dog.

There is a young couple that lives across the street in the duplex (next to the shady neighbors who seem to have gotten less shady). I have really only seen them in passing until recently. They have a dog (pit bull or american bulldog see dog mug shoots to help me tell) that they keep chained up in the back. I have mixed emotions because it is obvious this guy adores his dog, but I hate any dog being chained up. However for all I know the landlord won't allow dogs over a certain size inside, so I try not to judge. Well this dog has gotten loose on a couple of occasions. Everytime I noticed it loose I would go outside and get it and go knock on their door. They were home everytime and took the dog back immediately. This happened again on Monday, but no one was home. After what happened to our Lily there was NO way I was going to let this dog just roam around. So the hubby and I decide to put it in our yard and leave a note on their door since we were going to dinner. We totally expected the dog to be gone when we got back, but she was still there. In fact, we had her for two nights. When I came home on Wednesday she was gone, so I figured that was done with.

Well, I came home today to find the dog back in our yard. This of course threw me for a loop. Then I found the note. The girl (who looks to be about 7/8 months pregnant) left a note explaing that it was her boyfriend's dog (they do live together) and that he was out of town for the next two weeks. She said she had no idea how to keep it tied up and since she was staying with relatives she didn't know what to do with the dog. She said that she would come over every day to make sure the dog had food, but she wanted to know if it could stay in the yard until her boyfriend got home. She left her phone number. She isn't home now and i haven't talked to her yet.

I have mixed feelings about this mostly because I don't really know them at all. However, they were the ones that found Lily when she had been hit and they were on the phone with the vet by the time I got there. The guy was really sweet and put Lily in the car for me and even offered to go with me to the vet since I was so upset. They came over later to see how she was and were obviously very upset for me when they heard she had died. The dog itself is sweet and is very friendly to us, our dogs and cats. In fact I would go so far as to say that I think it is much happier here in our yard that tied up in theirs. On the flip side, the dog is still very much a pup (probably arid 11 months) and deaf. I really don't mind helping someone out of a bind, but it also seems kind of presumptuous of her to just put the dog back in our yard.

The funny thing is that I really am not upset at all except for just a touch intellectually due to the "principle" of the matter. It is just a really weird situation. I am not really sure what I am looking for other than just thoughts on the issue. I think I really just needed a chance to put the story out there and hear some reactions.

[~*ChaoticSerenity*~]

it looks like a pitbull/staffy ...possibly a mix with something else...

i do find it kind of odd that she just left the dog there assuming youd take on the responsibility...any idea how long the guy will be gone?

[hairless_love]

It was kind of weird/rude of her to just leave the dog at your place and assume that you would take care of it. Maybe she grew up in a neighborhood where it was the norm to do that kind of stuff though. Or maybe she was just desparate...who knows.

If it were me, I would take care of the dog though. Mostly for the sake of the dog...not it's owners.

[E!!]

It was kind of weird/rude of her to just leave the dog at your place and assume that you would take care of it. Maybe she grew up in a neighborhood where it was the norm to do that kind of stuff though. Or maybe she was just desparate...who knows.

If it were me, I would take care of the dog though. Mostly for the sake of the dog...not it's owners.

 I think she is desperate and young (she looks to be around 19). She is very pregnant which is my guess as to why she is staying with relatives while the guy is gone, she looks like she could go into labor soon. I definitely plan to watch the dog. They were very nice to me the other day and I i just feel it is the right thing to do.

[strangeduck]

I find it very odd.  I wouldn't have a problem taking care of a dog....but for someone to just leave a dog in your backyard without talking to you?  I'm pretty sure that would legally be considered abandonment.  You also might want to mention that it is illegal in most places to leave a dog tied up for more than a few hours (I think it's four here in California).  If they have no other way of restraining the dog, they should consider rehoming it.

Good for you for taking care of this dog, and I understand you feel obligated given how helpful they were when your dog was killed.  Maybe you should invite them over for dinner or something when they come back and talk to them about the proper way to restrain a dog....maybe offer to help them build a dog run or something. 

[dogsnbears]

maybe she is afraid of the dog?
maybe suggest doggy day care or tell her your willing to give her guidence on properly caring for the dog? (if your up to it)
hmm, just an odd situation

[trubandloki]

Can you suggest to them a kennel type set up or such instead of whatever they are tying the dog out with (that is not keeping it tied)?

Gosh, they most certainly do not seem like optimal bully breed owners though.  Sigh!

[julztoni97]

Seems odd but if she couldn't tie the dog up, maybe she was just afraid that it would run away again before she got to ask you to watch it.  Sounds like she was handling something her boyfriend should have taken care of.  Maybe she is just relieved to have someone that she thought would help her.  Desperation makes you do strange things sometimes before you think.

[DebW]

It's definately a strange situation, but I'd have to put the dog's welfare first in this case.  It sounds like the girl isn't particularly a dog person and hasn't a clue what to do.  As long as the dog is friendly, I'd hang on to it and then have a talk with the boyfriend when he returns.  If you can come up with suggestions on how to keep the dog from escaping, that might be good to suggest too.

[E!!]

Seems odd but if she couldn't tie the dog up, maybe she was just afraid that it would run away again before she got to ask you to watch it.  Sounds like she was handling something her boyfriend should have taken care of.  Maybe she is just relieved to have someone that she thought would help her.  Desperation makes you do strange things sometimes before you think.

After talking to my other neighbor today it turns out that the dog did get loose yesterday and that is what prompted her to put it back in our yard. I guess she tried to tie her up and came home to find that she had been wandering all over the neighborhood.

It definitely seems like this is HIS dog and she doesn't really know how to deal with her.

As far as the dog being tied (I think stragneduck mentioned it earlier) there are no laws in Tennessee that I know of that limit it. Another neighbor has a beautiful GSD that I have NEVER seen off the chain. I have been looking on freecycle for any dog kennel/runs that i could get for them. Wouldn't you know I saw one a few weeks ago, but realised I had no use for it so I passed it up. I really don't think they can build anything permanant since it is a rental property.

The dog was good last night, for the most part. We let her inside with us until we went to bed. Since we don't know the dog all that well we didn't want to leave her unattended over night, especially since she would have been alone with the cats. We put her out in the yard and she barked for about 40 minutes. I felt awful for our neighbors, but then she was quite the rest of the night.

[Pumpkinseed]

Atleast she DID leave a note and her phone number just incase it wasnt alright..
I think she just knew she could trust you with such a loved member of the family.

[forkyfork]

It was kind of weird/rude of her to just leave the dog at your place and assume that you would take care of it. Maybe she grew up in a neighborhood where it was the norm to do that kind of stuff though. Or maybe she was just desparate...who knows.

If it were me, I would take care of the dog though. Mostly for the sake of the dog...not it's owners.

 I think she is desperate and young (she looks to be around 19). She is very pregnant which is my guess as to why she is staying with relatives while the guy is gone, she looks like she could go into labor soon. I definitely plan to watch the dog. They were very nice to me the other day and I i just feel it is the right thing to do.

Its nice to know that she is at least responsible enough to stick the dog in a safe place. How many people would have let nature run its course and figured if the dog didn't stay tied then then what ever happens to the dog happens.

Hopefully she has the same consideration for her child.

[NutKitty]

Its nice to know that she is at least responsible enough to stick the dog in a safe place. How many people would have let nature run its course and figured if the dog didn't stay tied then then what ever happens to the dog happens.

Hopefully she has the same consideration for her child.

Here's hoping E doesn't someday find a baby in her back yard with a note...   

[forkyfork]

Its nice to know that she is at least responsible enough to stick the dog in a safe place. How many people would have let nature run its course and figured if the dog didn't stay tied then then what ever happens to the dog happens.

Hopefully she has the same consideration for her child.

Here's hoping E doesn't someday find a baby in her back yard with a note...   

Just sell it gotta be worth something.     Can ya tell I'm not a people person. 

[E!!]

Its nice to know that she is at least responsible enough to stick the dog in a safe place. How many people would have let nature run its course and figured if the dog didn't stay tied then then what ever happens to the dog happens.

Hopefully she has the same consideration for her child.

Here's hoping E doesn't someday find a baby in her back yard with a note...   

LOL

[Dearpie]

hehe That made me laugh too!!

As for the neighbor, I too give her credit for at least 'doing the responsible thing' and 'finding a good home' for her dog.  It may not be YOUR plan, but she tried.  What are your thoughts on just getting a crate (freecycle, craigslist, etc) so the dog can stay indoors and be locked up while unsupervised?   

[andrea1970]

Well, that's pretty nice of you to help out. 

One thing confusing me -- how is it the dog can be contained in your back yard but not in theirs?  Why does it need to be tied?

[trubandloki]

Well, that's pretty nice of you to help out. 

One thing confusing me -- how is it the dog can be contained in your back yard but not in theirs?  Why does it need to be tied?

The OP has a fence, the other house is rental and I am guessing does not have a fence.

[andrea1970]

Well, that's pretty nice of you to help out. 

One thing confusing me -- how is it the dog can be contained in your back yard but not in theirs?  Why does it need to be tied?

The OP has a fence, the other house is rental and I am guessing does not have a fence.

   The whole idea of no fence is so foreign to me it doesn't even cross my mind.  Every yard is fenced here.

[E!!]

I finally have an update. The boyfriend came back today. Turns out he is wanting to find a home for the dog. Apparently he rescued the dog and never intended on keeping it this long. He thought about trying to keep it, but with all the problems (Her getting loose and not getting along with their other dog) and the new baby on teh way, he really just wants to find her a better home. I am starting a new thread in Dog Care if anyone wants to come over and give me some advise about Pitty mixes, we are trying to decide if we want to keep her.

Thanks!!