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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

4945.0. "Hitting an animal" by FORUM::ANDERSON () Wed Sep 18 1991 19:34

    I have been away from NOTES for sometime now, but just managed to get
    it on my system.
    
    Had an experience two weeks ago, that although it probably should be
    put in the CANINE notesfile, having two cats - and being the animal
    lover I am - decided to put it in this notesfile.
    
    I live on a main street and two weeks ago (a Saturday) was watering
    my plants in the front yard when this adorable pup showed up on 
    the lawn.  She was thin, wiry, dirty, standoffish, but playful.
    My neighbor and I called her to the porch and although she 
    didn't come to us...she plopped on the lawn and waited for us to
    come to her.  Lil, my neighbor, found a small ball in the bushes
    and rolled it towards her - at which time the dog promptly grabbed
    it and ran off.  Next morning she showed up again, no ball of
    course, but much friendlier.  We gave her some food and water 
    (she was so hungry) and after about 10 minutes - she eyed a couple 
    walking across the street and ran across to greet them.  In hindsight 
    I should have paid attention more, that should have been a 'sign'
    but I didn't listen to my gut.
    
    Two minutes later - after attracting attention from the 'walkers'
    she eyed me and darted back into the road...whereupon a car hit
    her.  I freaked out.  My daughter tore out of the house - with
    nothing but a sweatsuit on (no shoes) and ran after the dog.  I
    will NEVER forget that sound.  I called the police and the driver
    of the car immediately stopped.  The drive, a young  girl, was
    so upset.  Poor thing, there wasn't anything she could have done
    to prevent it.  Had she slammed on her breaks, the car behind
    her would have hit her...and had she swerved to the left...she
    would have hit an oncoming car. 
    
    The drivers boyfriend ran after my daughter and together they
    found the dog in the bushes of 'her' home.  The owners weren't
    there...so my daughter wrapped her in a blanket and brought
    her to Dr. Moss (Central Animal Hospital).  The dog was treated
    for shock and what appeared to be a badly bruised paw.  They
    could not x-ray her as they need the owners permission.  We 
    went back to the house and spoke with the tenants on the first
    floor and were told the owners had gone for the week-end (this 
    was Labor Day week-end) on Friday and wouldn't return until Monday.
    We left a note saying that the dog had been hit, that we had
    notified the police, the dog-catcher (she will be fined as the
    dog was not licensed) and where the dog was located.  We
    went to visit the pup (she is about 8 months old) on Monday and 
    she was so sore.  She laid down on the cool floor and put her head 
    on Tracey's foot....completely trusting.
    
    We called the MSPCA - and when we called the vet Monday (Labor Day 
    - they told us that the owner had come and picked up the dog. 
    They made an appointment to have her checked in a couple of weeks.
    
    This is not a note to make any judgements.  However, my daughter 
    was VERY angry with the owner and when we called the MSPCA (to find 
    out the status of the dog) she was told nothing.  In all honesty we
    didn't want the owner to claim the dog as we felt that she
    was being neglected.  But perhaps that was being selfish of us.
    
    Two things can happen.  They will pay the fine, bring the dog to 
    vet to have her check-up and shots...and after the "dust settles"
    become complacent again and figure that when the dog is older
    she will KNOW not to go in the street.  OR - realize that they
    did wrong, having almost lost the her - and make a special effort
    to take good care of their animal.
    
    Here's hoping they opt to love, take care and be responsible
    for their dog.
    
    Marilyn, Otis and Tiffany
    
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4945.1These types never learn...BOOVX2::MANDILELynne a.k.a. HRHThu Sep 19 1991 13:2314
    Marilyn -
    
    Thanks for being so caring for that poor little girl....
    Good thing she had people like you around for her.
    
    However, leaving a puppy loose and uncared for so
    as to be able to go off on a weekend vacation, doesn't
    come across to me as them being the kind of responsible
    pet owners others are.....and these kind of people who
    would do this, don't learn.  Keep your eye on that puppy,
    and you will see that she will be grow into an unfed, dirty,
    untrained adult, that is, if she doesn't get hit by another car.
    
    Lynne
4945.2Dealings with the MSPCA?FORUM::ANDERSONThu Sep 19 1991 13:3622
    Lynne, I hear what you are saying, and I have the horrible feeling
    that you are right.  
    
    When we were at the vets we asked if there was anything we could
    do to keep the owner from taking the dog.  Their resonse was 'no,
    if you feel the dog has been neglected or abused...call the MSPCA
    and file a complaint.  She also said that if the dog showed up
    on our lawn, unleased, we could 'claim' her.
    
    What is upsetting to us (besides the actual neglect of the dog)
    is that in dealing with the MSPCA we didn't get any answers from 
    them OR any phone call from them verifying that they interviewed
    the owner or the status of the dog.  Obviously, I am sure they
    cannot divulge pertinent (confidential) information, but it would
    be nice to find out how the pup is doing and that they did indeed
    investigate.
    
    Has anyone in this notesfile dealt with the MSPCA?  Am I expecting
    too much?
    
    M
    
4945.3JUPITR::KAGNOTo cats, all things belong to catsThu Sep 19 1991 14:0429
    My Aunt recently went thru a similar situation.  She found a dog in her
    yard, a purebred Lhaso, scared, severely matted, with burrs and ants
    crawling thru his fur and mouth (he was so riddled with them he
    couldn't eat).  He had on a harness and a CAT collar.
    
    She caught him and brought him to her vets and they fixed him all up. 
    Then she put an ad in the paper to see if someone might be missing him. 
    A woman called and said it was her dog.  My Aunt chewed her out and the
    woman said the dog was given to her by a relative and he was in such
    bad shape that she wouldn't let him in her house.  My Aunt told her
    what she did for the dog... that he was at the vets all fixed up
    (including neutered) and ready to go... and if she didn't want the dog
    she (my Aunt) had 3 people in line who did.  The woman was all
    apologetic and said she really wanted to try and she'd pick him up at
    the vet's office and pay the bill.
    
    I suggested that the vet conveniently raise the bill a few hundred
    dollars so the woman wouldn't want the dog after all.  I'm sure she
    will just take it home and leave it outside all over again (and she has
    three kids who "really want it."  Yeah, sure!!).
    
    These types of people never cease to amaze me!  I never bother with the
    MSPCA... by the time they investigate and such the animal is already
    dead.  I prefer to use my own methods if faced with a situation of
    neglect/cruelty.
    
    Thanks for caring for this dog, Marilyn.  It's people like you who make
    a difference.
    
4945.4WILLEE::MERRITTThu Sep 19 1991 14:3118
    I have dealt with the MSPCA once...and didn't have much luck.  It
    was over an abused dog that stayed outside in his pen day/night
    in the bitter cold, with no water and food every third day.
    And the pen was full of poop....the dog was never let out for
    walks/runs.
    
    The MSPCA did go investigate right away, found the dog to be
    abused, but all they did was warn the people to treat the dog
    better.  That was it...no follow-up.  We even offered to
    adopt the dog...if they would take the dog away from the owners. 
    
    Well I should have listen to my husband who wanted to "steal" the
    dog but I said NO...let's call the MSPCA.   Live and learn!!!
    
    Since then the people have moved away...so I have no idea whatever
    became of this little guy!
    
    Sandy