Here's the deal, my neighbor up the street has a small breed puppy, about a year old. He's intact, I doubt he's vaccinated, and he doesn't even have tags.

The guy is letting the dog out everyday, expecting somehow that the dog will stay in the driveway. The dog takes off and runs around the neighborhood. He comes running up to play with Tasha when we open the door. Its not a huge problem because Tasha happens to love this dog, but its a real pain in the ass and I worry about the dogs safety.

This is happening so much that i've considered buying a puppy leash to keep with me, and just take him along on the walk.

It doesn't help that the collar he is wearing appears to be a cat collar. He also seems to be a bit hand shy. Its obvious that these people really just don't care about the dog.

The one time I got a leash on him by looping Tashas leash through his collar, he walked right next to me like a little gentleman! He's really a sweet little guy looking for some leadership.

So I have to walk up the middle of the street with him loose, and Tasha on leash trying to play with him. Me putting my hand up like a traffic cop to stop any coming cars. This happens almost everyday.

Anyway, I'm thinking about seeing if my landlord will approve of a small dog as a second pet and just taking this puppy.

What would you do?

That's really sweet of you Lauren. Have you tried talking to these idiots (I'm sorry -owners)?

 Quote: lauren jeffery

What would you do?

1) knock on the owner's door and ask if I could have him.

if "no"

2) call animal control next time the dog is loose, follow the van to a/c, and put my name down as wanting to adopt the dog

If the owner reclaims the dog, repeat both #1 and/or #2 until it works.

T

If somebody leaves their bike in my yard, I'm gonna ride it.

Your situation sounds a lot like mine.

Option two is a good one, Tracy.

The only reason I haven't called AC is because I'm afraid that if he got picked up he would end up being euthanised. An owner who is this careless is likely to say "I don't know what dog your talking about." when AC officer shows up with a ticket in hand.

I haven't yelled at the owners or anything, but I did tell him that they should at the very least put him on a tie out if they let him outside. I mentioned that he's probably out looking for the ladies, and that at his age he is not going to stay home without a fence.

Obviously, a tie out is a horrible option, but its better than being hit by a car.

That conversation was a week ago, and they have been too lazy to even try the laziest thing a dog owner can do.

...then I agree -on to option 2.
I don't know the AC regs where you are but we have an escalating loose dog policy here...public safety and all. Two strikes and the pup could very well be yours...

Well, since you want to keep the dog, it's a little different situation. I have been known to spirit dogs away now and again and rehome them. Neighbors had a cute little Corgi girl. Horrible flea allergies, filthy, nearly hairless, always scavanging for food. Sweet and friendly as she could be. She came into my house when I had an electric cord strung out the door vacuuming my car. She went straight to the bathtub to get de-flea-ed and hidden under a blanket to be taken to a new home the next day!

Here's my experience with irresponsible neighbors.

One night about ten years ago, we heard puppy yelping from the neighbor's backyard. It was a cold night, near 0 F. I looked over the fence and saw a little black puppy in a box. No bedding. No cover.

The neighbors weren't home so I climbed the fence and brought the puppy inside. She was so cold, she was shivering, a little 8 week old black lab mix.

When the neighbors got home, we told them we had their puppy. They told us to keep it. Turns out the guy who got the puppy couldn't keep her anyway because the village he lives in does not allow dogs (seal issues).

We named her Alice, and kept her for a week until we found her a new home. I considered keeping her, but I wasn't looking for another dog.

As a thank you we got a big slab of fresh halibut from the neighbor. I guess it was his way of apologizing.

We could have called animal control, but this turned out better for everyone involved, and Alice is a happy 10 year old now.

So, I'd suggest talking with the little dog's owners first, before going through official channels. If they'll let you keep the pup it'll be the easiest route for everyone, including the little dog. Save him the potential trauma of going to animal control. You could just take the pup home and see if the owner notices you walking him around the neighborhood. But since you've already talked to them, might be better just to keep the owner informed.

Sounds like Tasha may have a new playmate soon! I do enjoy having two dogs, and if they already get along so well (and are male and female), I bet it'll be a very easy addition.

I have an e-friend who had a similar neighbor situation (with the young guy who owned the pup feuding with his mother who had not wanted the pup in her house, so of course the dog is the one tossed into a back yard alone 24/7 at 3 months of age).

She waited near her door for the young guy to come home from work after noting his schedule. When his car pulled up, she ran outside (completely bypassing the mother, or even knocking on the door!) with a box of warm chocolate chip cookies and a proposition about him being allowed to visit the dog.

She took the dog home immediately -- and even made a pretty good neighbor/friend (the young guy being more unthinking and uneducated and busy with young-guy stuff than he was deliberately abusive).

I was just making a post but lost it. Its funny that you guys replied in that time, since what I was going to say is that I think I will talk to them instead.

Given his age, and the relative newness of the situation, I am assuming that he is being tossed outside for marking in the house. Also, the owner seems to think that only bad dogs take off when you let them out. So he might be ready to give him up anyway.

The only thing I have to consider is if I will be able to manage training another dog when I already have one who needs a lot from me. In some ways I think it would be good for Tasha to live with another dog, and I know I could get her to accept an easy going male. But it might be hard for me to find the time for a second dog in the begining, since it would be a lot of seperate exercise and training time for one person.

However, I can tell that this little guy would be really easy with minimal effort. Just the way he walked with me on the leash was a good test. He really wants to be shown what to do.

I have some thinking to do. One way or another I have to do something about this. It would kill me if I found out something happened to him. I can just see that he has the makings of a really awesome little friend.