Pet Lovers

[elated]

I walk everyday and pass this old house with three dogs tied up. One is a pitbull, one is a Siberian Husky (mixed) the other is a chihuahua. The other day the woman saw me and said she had locked herself out of the house and could I help. She is diabled and walks with a cane. She is very petite. I told her I would try but in the end the only thing she could do was break the window in her back door. We got in and was I horrified. I had never seen a hoarders home before but it was filth and everything you could imagine was stacked and piled up everywhere. She asked if I could help her get the dogs inside and I said yes. If they did not listen to her she tried to hit them with her cane. I told her to stop.  Little did I know that she would put them into cages that were to small for the large dogs and just right for the small dog. She had food and water in the cages but who knows for how long. When you went into the living room she had a tv dinner setting on top of a pile of mail. I gave her my phone number in case she needed help. I am going to call Animal Control today and see if they can take the dogs. She can't handle them and it is cruel to the dogs. She lives alone.

[Ohio St8]

Good for you. Please keep us posted. These dogs deserve a better life.

[elated]

Update: Animal Control called me back and said they had a complaint last month. She said they had never gone inside the house. I told her what it looked like on the inside. I told her the front door does not open--the latch is broken . I told her about the broken window in the back. She thanked me and said she was glad I helped with the dogs. I told her the dogs were as sweet as could be. They would lick you to death. She asked if there was a clear path to the front door and I told her yes. I explained to her what I saw on the coffee table about the mail all piled up and her tv dinner sitting on the top. It was gross. Hopefully, they will take the dogs.

[tends2dogs]

GOOD FOR YOU AND HOPEFULLY FOR THOSE POOR DOGS!!!  You did the right thing and and I will pray that action  takes place. 

Please keep an eye out and let us know.  When you love animals the way that we do on this forum and we hear about something like this it evokes all kinds of emotions.  I won't be able to wipe this image out of my mind.

Thank you for caring.  You did good!

Tends2dogs

[Kachina624]

First you should call adult protective services with your state's human services department and report the woman's living conditions.  They'll coordinate with animal services to take care of the dogs.

Is nobody concerned for the woman or are you just all about the dogs?

[jaxs mom]

Thank you for calling. 

[elated]

First of all, she has a daughter that lives about 30 minutes from her. Her daughter knows the living situation and has done nothing to help her mom. She has a granddaughter who also lives about 30 minutes from her. She is taking care of her granddaughter's dog which is the pitbull. Are you telling me that neither of these people care about their mother's or grandmother's health and living conditions?  I know if it was my mom she would not be living in these condtions. I would have made sure she is ok and not let her live in squalor. Do I care about her--yes. But the dogs have no choice and they can not walk out of the situation. Is that fair to them to live with a hoarder?

[elated]

Update as of 3/1: I talked with Animal Control today and she said they did not think the house was that bad. She said she had piles of boxes and other items but they have seen worse. She said as long as their is a clear path for them to walk in case they need to take her out in case of emergency it works. She said they also checked on her kitchen and it was ok. She helped with the front door to get it open. She brought dog houses and water dishes for them when they are outside. So she said she appreciated my call. She said the dogs looked healthy and were very friendly. She said the cages for the dogs were ok. She said she had nobody to help her even though she called her daughter. Her daughter never returned her call. She said if she gets another call the lady has been warned so she can't say she did not know.

[tends2dogs]

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@elated wrote:

Update as of 3/1: I talked with Animal Control today and she said they did not think the house was that bad. She said she had piles of boxes and other items but they have seen worse. She said as long as their is a clear path for them to walk in case they need to take her out in case of emergency it works. She said they also checked on her kitchen and it was ok. She helped with the front door to get it open. She brought dog houses and water dishes for them when they are outside. So she said she appreciated my call. She said the dogs looked healthy and were very friendly. She said the cages for the dogs were ok. She said she had nobody to help her even though she called her daughter. Her daughter never returned her call. She said if she gets another call the lady has been warned so she can't say she did not know.

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@elated  Hi elated,  I appreciate everything that you have done.  Most people don't go out of their way for others.  The comment that animal control made:  the lady has been warned - does that mean if there is another complaint, they will take action?  It is obvious that the family has basically abandoned her.  It also sounds like there is some mental illness going on, too.  It sounds sad all around.  Not telling you what to do, but I would have to keep an eye on the place, like when I was walking my own dog.  I suppose if you were the one to see something again and report it, they aren't going to jump right on it......let's hope that isn't the case. There is not enough help in these agencies to check out every situation - very sad. 

You are obviously a caring citizen.  Thank you.

[elated]

I don't know how to answer you. This is the second complaint. I would think that the next complaint would mean the dogs need to be removed. I do not have a dog. I walk everyday and pass her house that sits alone on a big lot. She has no neighbors. There are two business down the road. Animal Control said that most people do not call until it is too late to do anything. She couldn't thank me enough. I was just trying to do what was  right. I agree many people turn their heads when a fellow citizen is in trouble but that has never been me.