Tuesday 6 March 2012

Struggling with my emotions for this little dog

Twas a lovely start to the day, this morning was sunny, so after my bran flakes I went off to do some more litter picking in the woods. The council has not been to collect the rubbish I gathered on Thursday, so I thought I might as well add some more to it. I found some steel mesh panels, a plastic beer bottle crate, and loads more bottles and cans. I have rung them again about it, and the woman said, 'oh we have just been talking about that'. Lets hope it gets shifted now.
This afternoon I picked Rocky dog up and went back with my camera to get this pic.
This little fella has stole my heart. Remember last year when he kept escaping from his garden and going to see Barry, and his dog Scruff. He loved being with them. Now his owner has blocked up the hole so he can't escape. I take him out just about every day for a walk. I am thinking about him when I am away, because it is very unlikely that he will be taken for a walk, it makes me very sad.
Look at his little face, you can't help but love him. His little tail never stops wagging, he is such a happy little soul, even though he is in his garden 24/7 and sleeps in the shed. I wish I could do more for him.

34 comments:

  1. kidnap him and bring him to my house :-)

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  2. If you have good grounds to suspect that the dog is being neglected by his owner you should inform the RSPCA. You are getting yourself too emotionally involved, I suspect. You could always log a request with the RSPCA that you might be willing to adopt him if they agree that he is being neglected and should be taken into their care. But, otherwise you might not have a leg to stand on, if you suggest to his owner to relinguish her ownership to you. The woman has the right to refuse. A ticke situation. I wish you luck in solving your dilema.

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    1. What a little darling!i feel like grabbing him myself!i don't blame you for being emotional over him!

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  3. That is an amazing pile of rubbish you have collected!

    A tricky one about the little dog. He does have sweet face and I bet he loves his walks with you. The trouble is, if there is no cruelty and he has his "Five Freedoms" ( but does he?), the RSPCA probably can`t do much.

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  4. A friend of mine ( a very respectable lady) knew of a dog in a similar situation. She and her sister rented a van, bought some bolt cutters, donned black clothes and balaclavas, waited unitl some ungodly hour...snuck in and liberated the dog. Just a suggestion.
    Jane x

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    1. some people I know did something similar. A staffie puppy was being trained to be aggressive by her neighbours. She liberated it, a rescue rehomed it and it has been a perfectly good natured pet for the last 5 years.

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  5. Every little helps. You are doing the best you can, and he enjoys his walks with you.

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  6. He is just like my childhood dog Patsy. Nothing special to look at worth a million dollars. It is great you can walk him and make his life better. If he is friendly and happy when you take him out he probably isnt being abused; just neglected.

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  7. Ilona you know you have done an amazing thing with Rocky, he is lucky you are there. His owners won't change but at least he has you now to bring some fun into his life. He obviously isn't distressed and that is the main thing........

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  8. No, bring him to my house! I'd love him to bits and give him lots of walkies! I miss my own little dog, Bobby so much, it would be hard to fill his spot.But, rocky deserves better, bless you for looking out for him.

    Sandie xx

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  9. He's got me..so cute. The pleasure of having a dog is the long walks. I wish people wouldn't commit unless they like walking a long way in all weathers. Its not for everyone. My old lady can't walk much at all now, the end of the lane and she takes me back. I miss those long walks we used to have. Hope this little fella will have a happy life. Debs x

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  10. I don't understand why people have dogs and keep them outside all the time.

    Gill

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  11. No Kate, he isn't distressed, it's me that's distressed.

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    1. I know, I could tell it is really upsetting you, but I don't know what you can do other than what you already are. He isn't being treated badly so the RSPCA wouldn't get involved and you've already tried to prise him away from his owner but she wouldn't give him up. So sorry that it is upsetting you so much Ilona, he is such a lovely boy :0)

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  12. Perhaps he would like to live with you. A neighbor's cat came to live with me when they got a dog. The cat and I would visit the "real owners" frequently. When the neighbors decided to move, I asked them if the cat could stay with me and they were agreeable. You might ask the neighbor if puppy could live with you. Perhaps your neighbors have other concerns and the pup is not a high priority at the present time. They may welcome your offer.

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  13. It's a heartbreaker when you have no way to control the situation.

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  14. What is wrong with the dog sleeping in the shed? That dog, like my hens, would like all the freedom that can be had. Laws here say that a dog must be in a fence/yard, not loose. Living outdoors is much more natural for an animal than living in a house. Two-year-old children would like complete and total freedom, too. But, for their sakes, we confine them and make them wear clothing...lol..

    I will never have any animal in the house because of my allergies. How do you know the dog owner does not have similar problems? My life background dictates that dogs live outdoors with proper shelter. Just because someone else thinks the dog must live in the house with humans does not make it so or right. A dog house inside the shed might make the shed a little cozier. We had a dog that lived outdoors and had a doghouse. She refused to sleep in the doghouse, sleeping on top of the dog house instead. Yes, in all kinds of weather, she was on the roof. The roof was barely higher in the front than in the back.

    If you go to my blog, you will see that I am not heartless. Today's blog and the blogs for a few days are about trying to save the life of my afflicted hen that I love very much, yet she lives outdoors. Yes, hens can live in the house. There are diapers for them because hens cannot be paper trained.

    Fancy, my hen, is indoors in a cage right by the back door. She is inside because her life is in danger. She will go back outdoors if she lives. I could take her to the vet if I had about $100, but I would never spend that on a chicken even if I had it.

    It is very nice of you to take the little dog for a walk and commendable that you worry so much. But, other than having no company, I don't think the dog is being mistreated in the least. A companion in the yard would make the dog much happier.

    My neigbors had a dog that they never talked to and kept tied. They set food and water out and never even petted the dog or talked to it. That was cruel. Does this dog ever get a pat on the head or petting by the owner?

    I commend you for having a kind heart and wanting the puppy to be happy. Have you ever talked with them about their dog? Is the owner getting older and cannot care for the dog?

    Lots of men have wanted a date, but insist the dog or cat or bird lives indoors in spite of my feelings and health. So,I just never go on a date with those men. I cannot spend my life itching, sneezing, coughing, and wheezing for an animal's rights.

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    1. Just curious - have you ever been a dog "owner"?

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    2. Yes, I grew up with dogs, outside dogs. We had a dog when the children could play with one, outside. I had a Border Collie after I divorced, outside. Actually, I rescue dogs from their owners, catch dogs that get out, unwrap chains they have managed to get tangled. I don't want a dog in the house. There is nothing wrong or callous in that attitude.

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  15. I think you are doing enough Illona. Better what you do than nothing.
    I get so fed up with people thinking that animals are inferior to humans and don't need to be cared for, it makes my blood boil.
    Briony
    x

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  16. I understand how you feel. There is a beautiful yellow lab in my neighborhood that is in a similar situation as Rocky and it breaks my heart. I have started avoiding passing by the house...cause it's just too painful to see. Just try to enjoy the time you have with Rocky and take some comfort in that he is living in the moment and enjoying the walks and time with you and the other pups. You are an inspiration...

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  17. oh I wish you could get him MQ ! are the owners adamant that they won't let him go ?
    I've also 'unofficially rehomed!' animals - sshhh don't tell anyone !
    I just can't sleep at night if I know there is an animal that needs love and attention or is being mistreated - people have different ideas/priorities when it comes to keeping pets,some think that as long as it is fed, that's all they have to do, personally, all my animals are part of the family, I wouldn't keep my family outside so why would I keep a pet outside ? surely all pets need a fireside, indoor basket or a lap ?
    Please keep trying to talk the owners round -
    if anyone can do it - you can.

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  18. PP, although the dog has the run of his not so big garden he is in fact a prisoner in it, so not much freedom there. He does not get the social interaction that all animals should have, either with humans or other dogs. The owner will not rehome him, I have asked.

    I think I just have to keep on taking him for a walk, if I didn't he would have a lonely life. Kate you understand me so well, thank you for your comments. He isn't being badly treated, he just isn't getting the attention he deserves. Or is it that I love animals too much.

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  19. I can't understand anyone having a ' pet' and all the expense that they incur - food,vet bills etc, if they're not going to give it any attention. It just doesn't make any sense at all.Why would anyone pay to feed an animal that they then ignore?

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  20. Illona, try not to worry too much, you are a little ray of sunshine in his life. If I was you I would just keep re-iterating to his owner that you would be very willing to have him when she can no longer cope. Maybe/hopefully, he will have his freedom in the near future thanks to you.

    Sue xx

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  21. Practical Parsimony, I guessed you were from the US straight away before I double checked your blog. I'm afraid there is a huge difference in opinion between the US and the UK. Here, we do not chain dogs and make them live outside, it is not part of our culture if you like. Although working dogs are an entirely different matter that I don't know enough about to comment on. Dogs that are pets are just not kept outside here, but I am aware it is the 'norm' for dogs to be chained outside for their entire lives in the US. I'm not knocking you personally but just telling it as it is, concerning our cultural differences. If there is an animal that causes an allergy with a household member, then surely the ideal solution is to not get that type of animal. I hope your hen is okay, as being a hen owner myself I know how worrying it can be and in my experience they seldom recover when they reach a certain stage of illness, I hope this is not the case for you.

    Ilona, I can really understand how you feel as I would feel exactly the same, I love animals like you do and they are a big part of my life. I would certainly ask the owner about either letting the dog in the house or rehoming. An ignored dog is so sad and shouldn't be allowed to happen. Was he out in all the snow recently too? :o(

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  22. Chaining dogs is seen as the norm by some people. I, personally, don't like it. Our culture does not prescribe to a set of beliefs about dogs. Dogs that are chained usually bark and are mean. They bark incessantly.

    So, you have hit upon the truth. It is a difference in culture, not that I am unfeeling. Animals are "lesser" than people, as someone put it. They are sentient beings that deserve to be treated in a manner that is not cruel. My hen is a lesser being than my children. Actually, plants react in a manner that shows they are feeling also. Maybe sentient we could say? Plants feel. They react.

    If my hen has egg yolk peritonitis, she should have been dead. Feeding her meds and caring for her is the only reason she has lived this long. She is somewhat better this morning. Did you read where I did a gynecological exam?...yes, fingers up her butt.

    Some people eat dogs

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  23. poor rocky it must be a long day for him and so cold in the winter you are a star for taking him walks

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  24. Sharon, she did thankfully allow him in the house when the snow was laid about and it was cold. But he was out again as soon as it had gone.

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  25. SharonK - Amen to that ! the thought that a living creature could be chained for it's entire life is sickening and abhorrent to me. and is nothing short of cruelty - as far as animals being 'lesser' than humans, well believe me I much prefer animals to most humans ! all my animals have been treated in exactly the same way as my family, and hve been given the same consideration - after all they are part of my family.
    I love all animals to bits, that's why I am a vegeterian.

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  26. Drug dealers like to chain a dog on a long chain so that the dog can reach anyone that comes to the door. Some of the dealers have several dogs chained around the exterior of the house to alert the dealers to the approach of anyone, customer or police.

    Most people in the US do not approve of chaining dogs.

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  27. Way to go Wean, couldn't have said it any better. If ur allergic to animals then don't have them. On what basis are animals "lesser" on a moral basis? In my opinion the only basis upon which animals are "lesser" is a legal basis and before anyone uses that as justification for treating animals as lesser, lets not forget that the law often takes time to catch up with what is morally right eg at one time it was legally ok to own another person if the were either a different colour than you or (for men) if they were of a different sex and you had claimed ownership of that other human being by marrying them. Did that make it morally right? Were those humans that were "owned" lesser beings - the law said so, but that didn't make it morally right.

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  28. I found your blog about a month ago. I enjoyed it so much that I have started from the begining. What I wanted to comment on is the person pp who replies often does not represent the USA very well. I would like your readers to know that her responses and statements are her own and not at all the majority of Americans. I have not been to England, but have been to Ireland several times and found the people to be friendly,kind,and enjoyable to get to know. Thankyou Kris

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