Some advice..................way off topic!

memaw66
memaw66 Posts: 2,558 Member
edited September 18 in Health and Weight Loss
Okay, so I think someone is hurting my dogs. I have 5 dogs and they stay outside. I live on top of a big hill and the closest neighbors are about 1/2 block away. So anyway, about a month ago we come home from work and my little min pin's eye is all messed up. We just automatically assumed it was a dog fight. So we take her to the vet and he says he doesn't think it was a fight because there are no bite marks. He says "Blunt force trauma". So she loses the sight in her left eye. She is now living inside with me. Then 2 days ago I get home from work and my male Italian Greyhound has this HUGE (3 inches long, 1 in wide and deep enough for my entire finger) gash on his shoulder right below his neck. Again, I assume dog fight or something. So I take him to the vet. Well, $450 dollars later, the vet says he doesn't think it was a fight at all due to the angle of the wound and the fact that there are no other bite marks on him. Also his collar is missing. I thought maybe he got caught under the fence and either broke his collar or it got chewed up. Well, I went back out and walked around the yard. None of the fence is damaged and I found his collar-UNCHEWED, NOT BROKEN. It was just removed, actually opened. It is too tight to just slip over his head and there is no way he could have taken it off. And 2 of my cats are now missing. Any suggestions????????????????? We work all day so they are there by themselves all day. I don't know what to do. I hate the thought of someone hurting my animals. I can't leave 5 dogs in the house all day!!! I don't have a garage. What should I do to protect them?
Memaw
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Replies

  • memaw66
    memaw66 Posts: 2,558 Member
    Okay, so I think someone is hurting my dogs. I have 5 dogs and they stay outside. I live on top of a big hill and the closest neighbors are about 1/2 block away. So anyway, about a month ago we come home from work and my little min pin's eye is all messed up. We just automatically assumed it was a dog fight. So we take her to the vet and he says he doesn't think it was a fight because there are no bite marks. He says "Blunt force trauma". So she loses the sight in her left eye. She is now living inside with me. Then 2 days ago I get home from work and my male Italian Greyhound has this HUGE (3 inches long, 1 in wide and deep enough for my entire finger) gash on his shoulder right below his neck. Again, I assume dog fight or something. So I take him to the vet. Well, $450 dollars later, the vet says he doesn't think it was a fight at all due to the angle of the wound and the fact that there are no other bite marks on him. Also his collar is missing. I thought maybe he got caught under the fence and either broke his collar or it got chewed up. Well, I went back out and walked around the yard. None of the fence is damaged and I found his collar-UNCHEWED, NOT BROKEN. It was just removed, actually opened. It is too tight to just slip over his head and there is no way he could have taken it off. And 2 of my cats are now missing. Any suggestions????????????????? We work all day so they are there by themselves all day. I don't know what to do. I hate the thought of someone hurting my animals. I can't leave 5 dogs in the house all day!!! I don't have a garage. What should I do to protect them?
    Memaw
  • mkeithley
    mkeithley Posts: 399
    It might be some mean kids/teenagers. You may have no choice but to crate them inside during the day or install an expensive security monitoring system. Or stake out your own house and try to catch them in the act. I would let all of the neighbors in a the area know of the situation for 2 reasons 1-to protect their animals and 2-if they are the ones responsible or know who is it might encourage them to knock it off. Maybe call the local PETA or Humane Society chapter and ask them fo ideas too. Mean people SUCK!!!
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    Former animal control officer here and my advice--find some way to keep them inside. Anytime you leave your dogs outside and you're not there to watch over them, you're asking for trouble of some sort. Either them getting loose, having fights among themselves, or someone hurting them. It sounds like if someone is hurting them that the violence is escalating and you are risking having someone seriously injuring or even killing one of them.

    Find someway to get them indoors. Even a fence is not protection against someone who is determined to do harm to your dogs.
  • FatDancer
    FatDancer Posts: 812 Member
    Set up a surveillance camera and notify the animal control...animal abuse is illegal...so sorry you and your animals are going through this and I pray for resolution.

    Before I retired I had a situation where there was a homeless male that used to come hang out with my dog when I was at work...I had to put a bark colar on my dog before I left for the day, my dog is a very agressive guard dog and I didn't want him to hurt anyone when I wasn't at home...he's off duty when I'm not at home...I would rather be robbed than have anyone injure or kill my Sam...anyway, the guy was harmless thankfully, but it still scared me when I came home and found that he had taken off his colar again...my boyfriend finally caught him and I haven't had a problem since.

    Hope you have a resolution soon...I'm very concerned for you and I hope you'll keep me posted.

    My Granddaughter calls me Memaw too...
  • neverbeenskinny
    neverbeenskinny Posts: 446 Member
    I would definitely report this to the police, just so it's in the records, in case you catch this S. o. B. then there would be record of prior incidences. Then I would set up a couple of camera around your property so you can see, webcams aren't too expensive, and you can keep an eye on the place.

    I've had a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy killed by someone once, and they left a message that I shouldn't have brought a Pitbull into the neighborhood. They didn't even bother to do their research to find out if it was a Pitbull, and didn't bother to talk to me about it first. And even if it was a Pitbull, you just don't do that. The poor thing was only 8 months old and was the sweetest puppy. I never felt so much like killing someone before, but didn't know which neighbor it was. It was years ago and I lived in a different place. And now I have 2 wonderful dogs, but it was years before I could get myself to get another pet.

    Good luck...do everything you can to protect your pets and find out who's doing this.
  • yoginimary
    yoginimary Posts: 6,788 Member
    I've volunteered at a local spca for over 10 years - in all capacities, so I've dealt with this issue before. First off, most the time the local spca is privately run and has no authority over criminal acts. These must be reported to animal control (the animal police :happy: ). Go ahead and file a report. Really, the only thing you can do is keep them inside. Also make sure all your animals are microchipped - if any animal is stolen, it will prove your ownership. Knowing where you live, the cats could have been attacked by coyotes. This is very common in Texas, especially among cats that are not afraid of "dogs".
    I agree with mkeithley, to tell all your neighbors - maybe there is something going on in the neighborhood.

    For me, a little accident in the house is worth piece of mind.
  • jenbar
    jenbar Posts: 1,038 Member
    You have to keep them inside. If you don't have crates, just prop a gate or something in a doorway and keep them maintained in one room. Maybe you can have a neighbor come by during the day to let them out for a bathroom break. It's cheaper than the vet bills!
    So sorry to hear about their boo boos! Dog and cat lover here too!
  • lilmandy89
    lilmandy89 Posts: 323 Member
    Try to teach your dogs to bark at strangers if you can, then maybe they will be to scared to hurt them. Also they may think if someones home if the dogs start barking it would alert the people in the house so then they may just leave them alone.
  • lilmandy89
    lilmandy89 Posts: 323 Member
    I just looked at your pictures, i wouldn't be going near your yard, 5 dogs, and that doberman look pretty big.
  • fatsis
    fatsis Posts: 1,117 Member
    Add a pitbull to your collection of animals. Seriously file a police report they may know of someone in the area that could be the culprit. The site of police car my scare them too.

    I hope you catch the person or persons and sentenced them to Michael Vicks house with meat shorts.
    :explode: :explode: :explode:
  • rethun01
    rethun01 Posts: 167
    My step mother in law is a Pet Nanny and she helps in situations like this alot. People mostly hire her to attend to their animals while they go on vacation, but she has a few households where it is her job to go and spend time with the animals every day to keep people from coming on the property and hurting them. She rotates the time she goes so that it is unpredictable.

    From living in an affluent community where the spoiled kids feel there are no consequences for their actions, this sounds like it might be cruel kids. They think its funny to exert power over another being.

    I hope you catch whomever it is a prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. No one has a right to hurt animals. I mean, I hate birds but that doesn't mean I'm going to go out and abuse them. Let alone hurt someone's pet!
  • lilmandy89
    lilmandy89 Posts: 323 Member
    My step mother in law is a Pet Nanny and she helps in situations like this alot. People mostly hire her to attend to their animals while they go on vacation, but she has a few households where it is her job to go and spend time with the animals every day to keep people from coming on the property and hurting them. She rotates the time she goes so that it is unpredictable.

    From living in an affluent community where the spoiled kids feel there are no consequences for their actions, this sounds like it might be cruel kids. They think its funny to exert power over another being.

    I hope you catch whomever it is a prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. No one has a right to hurt animals. I mean, I hate birds but that doesn't mean I'm going to go out and abuse them. Let alone hurt someone's pet!

    That would be such a fun job, i love animals!!:bigsmile:
  • DBranchaud
    DBranchaud Posts: 827 Member
    It makes me soo sad when I hear about things like this. So sad when I think that people like that exist in this world.:brokenheart:

    I have little dogs and my family doesn't let them outside when we are gone. One time we did that and some young kids let the out ( "we're sorry. we just wanted to see the puppies") and Mugsy and Puppet turned up three blocks over. When my boys get loose, THEY GET LOOSE!! Another time my next door neighbour bought a Shiz tsu puppy (Winnie) and Mugsy broke into thier yard to play.


    I think the idea of putting them in a room with a baby gate is good, unless you have a dog that can easily jump that. Maybe one on top of the other? Or keep them in a closed room? A basement maybe?
  • Life_is_Good
    Life_is_Good Posts: 361 Member
    That makes me sooo mad!!! Sounds like somebody's shooting at them. I would definately keep them inside. We only have one dog & he has free roam of the house when we're not home (I don't think I would do that with more than one).

    How about sectioning off an area in your basement for the dogs? Maybe your laundry room. Anything.
  • GTOgirl1969
    GTOgirl1969 Posts: 2,527 Member
    I agree with the poster who said to install a surveillance camera. Videotape doesn't lie, and when you catch the *kitten* who's hurting your animals, kick their butt up around their shoulders!!!

    People hurting kids and animals...wtf is this world coming to??
  • fynendandi1
    fynendandi1 Posts: 122 Member
    I am so sorry to hear what is going on. I agree to make a police report, that is not going to stop this but at least it is documented. ANd then bringing them inside is the only answer right now. You know ....when i left my husband i had to leave my dog with him until I could get on my feet. He got out of my husband house and got hit by a car witnesses, told the police that a man actually swerved to delibrately hit him. My bough was my best buddy through my very emotional marriage. And to this day 2 years later I still cry over him, in my eyes he was murdered. Please protect your dogs the best you possibly can. People are so cruel I will never understand what has come of the human race.
  • Manda86
    Manda86 Posts: 1,859 Member
    some people are so mean- when I was younger I had a dalmation/blue heeler mix (made for a VERY high energy dog) named Gloria, and some sick freak I went to school with let my dog out of the fenced yard, shot her, and dumped her body in the dumpster behind my house. It's sad that there are people out there that hurt innocent creatures for no reason, but I wish I would've had surveillance up, so at least we could've prosecuted that little *kitten* to the fullest extent of the law
  • greekgyrl02
    greekgyrl02 Posts: 123
    I would kill someone if they hurt my dog! Keep them inside if you can set up a camera for a few days and see if anyone comes by just looking in or something. If they are doing this its only going to get worse ppl are sick. Are there any wild animals around that area that couldve gotten in?
  • mjfer123
    mjfer123 Posts: 1,234 Member
    Just agreeing with everyone that a surveillance camera should be set up. Most stores/gas stations have pretty cheap models that reset every 24 hours.
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    The law is all but useless in most animal cruelty cases, as most states have very light to non-existent laws on the books. And, even then, if you catch the people doing it, the judges usually give them a slap on the wrist and that's it. I persecuted many people for cruelty and saw my fellow officers do the same when I was an ACO--some were horrible cases--and no one ever went to jail and very few even got more than a $100 or $200 fine.

    Best bet is still to keep your animals--dogs and cats--inside where they're safe. Dogs are pack animals anyway and want to be with their pack, which is us, their human owners.
  • memaw66
    memaw66 Posts: 2,558 Member
    The reason they are outside is that we just built our new house. They used to stay inside before but they didn't like my sense of style and decor so they made their own. By this, I mean they chewed giant holes in the walls, big enough to go from one room to the next!!! No kidding. So we built them a really nice house in the yard complete with carpeting and windows, just like if they were inside. They have a doggie door to go in and out. I don't have a garage or basement and don't want them tearing up my new house. The laundry room is way too small for all 5 dogs!
    We do plan on getting some cameras and a lock for the gate. I too thought my Doberman would be scary enough for no one to mess with them but if they are there often enough, he probably would get used to them. Tonight when I go home I will file a police report with the county. Another scary thing is that my husband is a truck driver so I am home by myself most of the time. I do have an alarm on the house but what if they are lurking around outside in the bushes. Like I said, we live on the top of a big hill and have a little over an acre to ourselves, so there are plenty of trees and places to hide. It's strange that the 2 cats that have disappeared are the two that were really freindly with people. The 2 that are left won't go near anyone but me at dinner time! Thanks for all of the advice and I will keep you posted on what I find out.


    P.S.
    The two in my profile picture are the 2 that have been injured. Chloe and Punk.

    Memaw

    (what a good name!!! LOL)
  • ali106
    ali106 Posts: 3,754 Member
    awwww! I am sooo sorry...poor animals!!!:brokenheart:

    what is wrong w/ people who hurt the vulnerable!!!! makes me soooo angry:explode:

    big hugs and prayers that you can figure out how to keep them safe....and sooo sorry!:brokenheart:
    ali
  • sgtinvincible
    sgtinvincible Posts: 2,559
    :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

    If you couldn't guess, that makes me :mad: !!!


    *calm down J, calm down and contribute....*


    Ok, first things first.

    In North Carolina harming an animal (even stealing an animal) is a felony. Memaw, you need to file a police report and have then start investigating this. Chances are this is not isolated only to you. The local investigators need to know it is happening to you also so they can broaden their investigation to your area as well.

    Now for the rant.

    I love my dogs. I love them. I love animals in general. I never in my wildest dreams could ever harm a domestic animal for the 'fun of it'. Anyone who can do this with a clear conscience shows an extremely warped psyche. I would protect my pugs just as I would protect my family (because let's face it, they *ARE* family). Woe be it to the person who attempts harm on Meatball and Mathilda Jones!!! :mad:


    Memaw, don't take this lightly. Report it.
  • sgtinvincible
    sgtinvincible Posts: 2,559
    The law is all but useless in most animal cruelty cases, as most states have very light to non-existent laws on the books. And, even then, if you catch the people doing it, the judges usually give them a slap on the wrist and that's it. I persecuted many people for cruelty and saw my fellow officers do the same when I was an ACO--some were horrible cases--and no one ever went to jail and very few even got more than a $100 or $200 fine.

    Best bet is still to keep your animals--dogs and cats--inside where they're safe. Dogs are pack animals anyway and want to be with their pack, which is us, their human owners.

    That is probably true in some areas. I can tell you that in my area we have put away several people for animal cruelty. Let's hope that your area is more pro-prosecution of these things Memaw.
  • kerrilucko
    kerrilucko Posts: 3,852 Member
    geez... thats AWFUL:mad: I cried when we had to set a mouse trap and one got caught :sad: SO I have no idea how anyone could purposely harm a beautiful dog! How about some sort of fence or penned in area? Even some sort of barn or LARGE shed to house the dogs while you're away? My heart is broken for you :brokenheart:
  • memaw66
    memaw66 Posts: 2,558 Member
    geez... thats AWFUL:mad: I cried when we had to set a mouse trap and one got caught :sad: SO I have no idea how anyone could purposely harm a beautiful dog! How about some sort of fence or penned in area? Even some sort of barn or LARGE shed to house the dogs while you're away? My heart is broken for you :brokenheart:
    They are in a large fenced in area with a big 10x12 dog house. I think someone grabbed the Greyhound through the fence and held him while hurting him. The little one, I think they just opened the gate and she ran out and then laid down for them to pick her up. She's very freindly but I noticed now she is not so freindly to strangers. She pees when someone (even me) tries to pick her up. I am definately going to file a report tonight when I get home from work. They (police) will probably think I am crazy but oh well. I'd rather be known as the crazy lady than the lady with all the hurt animals.

    Memaw
  • mkeithley
    mkeithley Posts: 399
    Who cares if they think you are crazy!!! I bet they'll be more sympathetic than you think. Look at the outraged peeps on MFP. Even if they do I'm sure they have seen far worse "crazies" than you on a daily basis. I hope you get this resolved soon and justice is served.:flowerforyou:
  • banks1850
    banks1850 Posts: 3,475 Member
    Setting up an outside Web Cam is pretty easy to do, and you can even set one up that does live feed as well as stores some hours of video. That might be a good idea, you can check up on your dogs while you are anywhere with web access. It's not as expensive as you might think.

    You can either set up the camera to look through a window while gone, or get a (more expensive) outdoor setup. the indoor will cost somewhere around 80 or 100 bucks, the outdoor one will be more around 300 bucks or so because the cameras are over 100.
  • iluvsparkles
    iluvsparkles Posts: 1,730 Member
    i just needed to comment on this as everyone has. it is wrong and something should definitely be done. I live near to SgtJ, and we too have had animal cruelty charges in our news..even people being cruel to farm animals and horses! It is not acceptable, and people can and will go to jail and be heavily fined. Im so sorry this is happening, i have to say id be keeping my babies inside also, and i know this isnt possible in some situations, but maybe some kind of dog lot? im not sure, but im praying fo ryou!
  • littleone68
    littleone68 Posts: 67 Member
    I too am so sorry and infuriated to hear what has happened to your wonderful companions. As everyone else has said, filing a police report is vital. Although animal cruelty laws in this country are a joke, it will give you a firm leg to stand on if the person(s) responsible are caught. Keep in mind you can also file a civil suit on top of any criminal charges that a brought about. This person(s) can be held responsible for any vet bills and loss of life. Security cameras can be pricey, but what price can you put on an animals life? I'd go to Radio Shack or a store that specializes in security equipment that private detectives use. Get motion sensor lights for yourself and the animals, no one likes to be surprised especially at night. My last suggestion would be if you could get a friend or a family member who has their days free to pet sit for you. Make sure they have a video camera too. If this person strikes while the sitter is there and you get it on camera, the more solid your case is in court. Good luck, I wish you the best.
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