Cruelty to animals

Amy Steppe

Amy Steppe

Cathlete
Recently, a dog who seems to be a Sharpei/Boxer mix was found with her muzzle completely bound with duct tape. When some truckers stopped to help her, they realized she had been trying to claw the tape off for at least 2 days.

At first she was afraid, but when they got the tape off, she became very friendly and led them to her litter of 7 puppies about 4 weeks old. She had made a nest for the puppies so they would be safe.

They are at the local animal shelter now. Many people want the pups, but nobody wants the mother. The puppies are not yet weaned, but should be ready for adoption by the first of November.

I called the shelter and expressed my interest in adopting the mother. Somebody did send money for her spaying. I want her if at all possible.

I have already named her Allison. She is a very large dog and I have a Siberian Husky/Chow mix who is 13 years old. His name is Jake. I have a fenced backyard that is quite large. So I though I would bring Allison home to live with us.

I also have my border collie, Tiffany who is an indoors/outdoors dog.

I am concerned about socializing all of them, but I did take a dog training course and Tiffany went to obedience school and is a great dog.

Jake is happy go lucky, so I know he won't care -- he's sort of senile, but adorable.

But I refuse to see that mother dog (she's only 18 months to two years old) put down.

I have lots of love and can take good care of another dog.

Allison will have a great home because my pets are family, not just animals.

I just hope I am lucky enough to adopt her.

I can't fathom what would go through a person's head that would compel them to duct tape a dog's muzzle shut and leave her and her puppies on an Interstate.

I think if a person would do that to an innocent animal, then they would hurt an innocent human being.

Dogs are loyal and loving by nature. They love unconditionally. I can't believe this really happened.

But then I think of all the children and disabled and elderly who are abused and I get sick.

Just keep Allison and her pups in your thoughts.




;(
 
Amy,

You are such a kind soul. Let us know how things go OK? I love happy endings.

Janie

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return"
Nature Boy by eden ahbez 1908-1995
 
You are a kind soul indeed. I will keep Allison in my thoughts and I hope the adoption is a success. I adopted a loveable fuzzy myself just a few weeks ago. She's driving me nuts with her puppy chewing but I couldn't imagine life without her.
 
Amy - BLESS YOU!!! She sounds like a sweetie!! Introduce your dogs in a neutral territory and let them get to know one another (either both on leash, or both off if you feel comfortable and have a place where they can move around yet be confined (like a fenced yard). Maybe the shelter can help you with that - they often have a "getting to know you" area and they want you to be successful as well. You'll have it a bit easier as males and females tend to get a long better - the social rank makes it easier. But sounds like you know what you're doing. Good luck and let us know how she is. I'm happy this poor abused dog will find a home with someone who will obviously treat her well for the rest of her life.
 
Amy, I know Allison is going to get along great with the rest of the "pack" - it may take a few days of adjustment but then you'll be one big happy family. You're so wonderful to do this!

When I was reading your post I was reminded of something that happened here in California about 7 or 8 years ago - a dog was found by its owners when they came home from work, it was a very hot day and the dog always stayed outdoors where it had access to shade and water. But an irate neighbor had taped the dog's muzzle shut, because the dog barked too much all day every day - and because of the high heat, the dog could not cool itself off by panting and it died of heatstroke. The owners found it "huddled under a tree" (I'll always remember those words from the newspaper account UGH), with its muzzle taped shut.

They found the neighbor who did it, he said he had contacted the owners many times about the dog barking all day, he was severely handicapped (in a wheelchair) and in constant pain from a chronic condition, and he couldn't sleep or rest, and he said the dog barking interfered with his rest and tormented him during the day, and the owners did not take his complaints seriously. He lost his temper on this one day and "to teach the dog a lesson" he rolled his wheelchair over to the neighbor's yard and taped the dog's mouth shut, he had no idea that a dog relied on its mouth to get cooled off, and at the trial he was extremely extremely distraught and contrite because he had not meant to hurt the dog, only to make a point.

Have I ruined everyone's day now? The whole thing was a horrible situation, I could almost sympathize with the poor handicapped guy listening to the dog bark all day, fighting his pain, unable to rest, while the yuppie neighbors drove off to work in their fancy cars and ignored the dog all day. And of course the whole community was in an uproar over the cruel way the dog had died. SIGH.
 
Amy,

I kept passing up your post b/c I didn't think I could handle reading it, but then my curiosity got the better of me. How AWFUL!!! I just think of that poor mommy not being able to lick her little puppies like they do. And no matter the terrible situation she was in, she still made sure her puppies were comfortable. THANK GOODNESS those truckers didn't just throw her in the truck and go off before being led to her puppies. Oh my, do you see why I didn't read it at first. I think of all of the sadness.

Anyway, you are so sweet for wanting to take Allison into your family. After everything she did for those babies and what she went through, it is so sad that nobody wanted HER. And she's still so young. But you wanted her. You are very special.

I hope all goes well. Please keep us updated. And don't forget - tonight is the season premiere of The Dog Whisperer. Yay! Did you see the thread (or the episode) that talked about how Cesar introduced new dogs to each other by first going for a walk together so that they walk side by side and not introducing them nose to nose, which can cause a fight right off the bat?

I did have to skip over Diane's reply though b/c I'm pretty sure I couldn't handle two sad stories today. :(

Anyway, good luck!!!

Suz

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
 
Bless your heart for taking in the mother dog. I hope all goes well with all the dogs.

As for what I think about the person who left the dogs (and her muzzle taped shut?) I won't say what I'd like to see happen to them, because this is a PG-rated site! (Just imagine the most horrible torture possible, and you'll be close!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top