This is only a vent and I'm only posting it because I know you guys will understand. I have a younger sister who married a man who is very narrow minded about animals. He grew up with the mindset that animals are property and don't have any rights and aren't pets. I've kept my mouth quiet about everything but I'm about to reach my breaking point. They have two dogs currently that live outside 24/7 in a nasty wire cage. It stinks of poop and is never cleaned out besides the occasional hosing. One of the dogs is a basset hound and the other is a 12 week old beagle. They got the beagle when he was only 5 weeks old despite me preaching to them not to, and now they have decided to get rid of the puppy and get 12 hog hunting dogs.Yes, 12! WHY?!!? They have no money and can't feed themselves, much less their current two dogs. No dogs ever get vaccines, dewormed, etc. and their last hunting dog died a painful death of what I strongly suspect was heartworms. They buy the cheapest grocery store crap food they can and their dogs are left outside no matter what the weather is. They do have barrels to crawl inside, but that's the extent of their shelter. As if all this wasn't bad enough, these are the same two people who thought we were crazy for getting Vader since we live in a townhome without a yard and they make fun of us for how much we spend on his QUALITY food and toys. I am literally seeing red right now. My sister and I are otherwise very close, but this is seriously driving me crazy. They are always complaining that they have no money to buy their daughter diapers, but yet you are going to get a dozen dogs?! I don't even know what to say..I'm just so sick of seeing them treat their dogs so poorly.

Uhmmmmm Ookayy, Olivia I hope I don't offend you and I am sorry if I do, but have you thought of reporting this to animal control? It sounds like your sister and her husband should not have dogs of any kind.
I understand she is your sister but you need to think of these poor animals that can't speak for themselves. If you can't bring yourself to report them, have someone else do it for you. Sorry, just my opinion.

 Quote: Ellen Dondero

Uhmmmmm Ookayy, Olivia I hope I don't offend you and I am sorry if I do, but have you thought of reporting this to animal control? It sounds like your sister and her husband should not have dogs of any kind.
I understand she is your sister but you need to think of these poor animals that can't speak for themselves. If you can't bring yourself to report them, have someone else do it for you. Sorry, just my opinion.

Hi Olivia,

Don't mean to offend, either, but I agree on this point. She may be your sister but that still doesn't make it ok for them to treat their dogs this way.

I support calling Animal Control whether you do it yourself or have someone do it for you.

I second (third) that...my ex was an ACO and they would respond to home checks/owner interviews in these types of cases...

Also Olivia -are you sure they are serious? The plan sounds so bizarre (the lack of facility/finances to support, the sheer volume of dogs, etc) could they just be trying to get a reaction?

Should have mentioned it but I have reported them to animal control numerous times. Unfortunately we live out in the country where this treatment is considered fairly normal. As long as they have shelter, food, and water, they won't do anything. I could push the issue that they don't have rabies vaccines, but I don't even know if they would do anything about that. They are so overun with dog fighting and severe abuse calls that my sister's case probably doesn't seem that bad. If they get anymore dogs I will go to A/C myself and demand that they do something though..I'm sick of watching it.

Hilarie- Unfortunately yes, they are serious. My brother in-law proudly posted pictures of the new dog pen he's building to hold them all. Where he got the funds for that I'll never know since they have borrowed money from my grandparents recently just to buy groceries...but that's a whole different vent

Forget the getting more dogs & their treatment.....If they can't even always afford diapers for their child....maybe child services should be contacted as well. Who knows if the child is getting any regular medical care & a proper diet for a growing child. I'd be WAY more concerned about looking into that!

I thought that was a little strange, too, Anne.

Guess I'd be worried about my sister more than the dogs. If the guy cannot see that there is a "mind" in a dog, he may not see the "person" in your sister, just the
sweetness that she provides him. He may think that she is "property", too.
Maybe I'd take her to lunch and have a chat about what goes on over there. The dogs might be the least of the trouble.