Saturday, January 17, 2009

Just so everyone knows......a reminder about Joe and Tom.......and what I have already tried to do for them....

Just to let everyone in my reader's world know...I HAVE called the Humane Society about Joe....not once.....but at least THREE times now.....I think it is actually 4. My uncle has also called numerous times. EACH county apparently can make up their own rules to go by......and what they do or do not do as compared to state laws. I finally did get the woman from the Humane Society to come out to investigate Joe....the dog....as he is confined outside all the time in all elements in a small pen surrounded by his own POOP that the owners NEVER clean up. The grass that used to be in the pen has been LONG GONE which means Joe is prone to open sores on his legs and feet which can then possibly get infected from the mud and poop that build up in the pen. AND this HAS happened. I believe he is fed and given water....but I am not sure he always has fresh water available. Whenever I go see my grandma we always go check on Joe first....taking him treats and in the extreme hot weather a drink.

He has a too small dog house that sits over a hole in the ground. There are many holes in the ground in his pen that fill with water when it rains and combines with the poop in the pen creating a stench and unsanitary conditions. He looks so sad....but despite all this neglect he has the most loving heart and spirit out of any dog I have ever known.

I even turned to Channel 2 our local news center ...and asked if they could please step in and do something. NOTHING was done.

The humane society woman DID finally make an appearance to check on Joe. However...she did not get out of her car...she only drove down the alley and did not even check the leg that had the sore on it that I told her about. She said she told the people they had to put straw in the pen....give Joe fresh water and food and shelter from the elements.

The owners did nothing. I called again. They were served papers. The owners SAID they did crap but they did nothing. FINALLY...this year.....2 years later....they finally put some straw in the pen this winter for Joe. NOT much and it is already saturated with poop and mud...etc...because......you guessed it.... THEY DO NOT CLEAN THAT UP EITHER OR CHANGE IT.

I have wanted to sneak over in the middle of the night and just TAKE Joe; however, I do not live somewhere yet that I can do that as I am not even allowed to have pets here and I already took in 1 stray cat and have him in hiding. TOM (the other stray cat at my grandma's) is being fed and taken care of by me and my grandma until I can get a place to also bring him.

Other than going over and stealing JoE we have done everything we can apparently on our end. I don't know what else to do. I have wondered if we put on some demonstration somewhere locally if anything would be done. BUT my grandma does not want family stirring up problems for her with her neighbors. I don't want the neighbors just taking Joe to be put to sleep or dumping him. I doubt they would pay money to have him put to sleep...so maybe that is not a legitimate worry.

We all feel bad about Joe. The conditions he has to endure and live in are deplorable at best. So at this point that is the reason I ask for prayer. Because there does not appear to be much else we can do. Another nearby neighbor of my grandma's DID let their dog freeze to death in the bitter conditions. I think many so-called "owners" need a lesson in pet care to say the least!

The Humane Society lady has told me they have done all they can. They tell me they will go back out and they never show up. They tell me the straw was put in the pen which it was....but all the other stuff is left unchecked like the fact that the same straw is never replaced or cleaned out. They also have told me they told the owners to put Joe in their garage when the weather is bad. It does sometimes appear they might be doing that. So that is something at least.

I have posted pictures before about Joe. In the summer the weeds around his little pen get so high he cannot possibly get air. SO my uncle goes over and cuts the weeds down. Other than me or my uncle and my son going over to talk to Joe or say something to him....or an occasional other family member...his owners never seem to visit him or play with him or anything. They neglect him. They meanwhile have 2 cats and another dog INSIDE their home.

It makes me sick. I wish the owners could be stuck out in the pen for a period of time to see what it is like.

Here is a link of my prior post that tells more of the story and shows pics of the conditions Joe has to endure in the rainy weather.

PRIOR POST ABOUT JOE

at the end of the post I linked to above is a MOVIE CLIP of Joe's conditions in warmer wet weather

I think I will send in my story and photographs to the STATE somewhere......or the sheriff's office. I don't know who is ABOVE the Humane Society.....since it is NON-profit and county ruled....they can make up their rules as they go along.

Meanwhile I am sending a letter this time to all the email addresses on the county's web site. I have not tried that route before. I am also attaching copies of all my photos and movie clip link.

5 comments:

lv2scpbk said...

I found out what they call the dog people. They are called, "dog law officers". I am sure animal right activist would do something. Call the dog law officer in your state and see if you can find animal rights people on the web in your area. One of those should do something. I feel so bad for this dog. Obiviously, the Humane Society in your area won't do anything. Please don't give up, this dog needs you and can't speak for himself. And, thanks for all your efforts that you are doing.

Joanne Kennedy said...

Check with local dog rescue groups in your area. Maybe you could take Joe and bring him to a rescue group to find a home for him.

Has anyone talked to the neighbor about mistreating his dog? I feel so bad. I wish I lived there. I would take Joe and keep him until I found a home for him.

Post a plea in the pet section of Craigslist. Maybe someone that lives near you can help or know someone who will help.

Call your local DA office and tell them what has gone on and that no one is helping. See if they will help out.

This is so sad.

Will your grandma put a blanket in a box out for Tom? Something to snuggle up to and keep warm?

I sure hope you take him soon.

I'm such a big animal lover. I hate to hear about people who mistreat them.

Please keep on top of this. If it were not for you poor Joe and Tom would have no one to help them.

Melinda said...

my grandmother lets Tom in on her back porch all the time now ...especially in bad weather. My mom bought an outside cat house and we filled it with pine chips for TOm at my grandmother's house...she he has a place to stay out of the elements when the weather is bad and he can stay warm. SO TOM is taken care of

Melinda said...

and if anyone took Joe....they would face charges of STEALING the dog unless it was done when no one knew about it. He does after all officially belong to the neighbors and is on THEIR property in his pen

KatCollects said...

My heart just breaks for this dog. Have you actually talked to the neighbors? Asked them if maybe you could find a home for him, some place where he can be inside? I know you are trying to help him, don't give up, you are his only help right now. I am thankful there are people like you who care, keep us posted.
Kathy