I came across this today and it really makes me emotional.
Someone not too far from me leaves their dog tied up outside morning, noon and night, its sounds are pitiful, I am going to put this in her letterbox, hope they have a think and that I can save this one dog from any more distress...
1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful. Remember that before you buy me.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me, don't be impatient, short-tempered, or irritable.
3. Place your trust in me and I will always trust you back. Respect is earned not given as an inalienable right.
4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. I am not capable of understanding why? I only know I have been rejected, you have your work, entertainment and friends - I only have you.
5. Talk to me sometimes, even if I don’t understand your words, I understand your voice and your tone - "you only have to look at my tail."
6. Be aware that however you treat me; I will never forget it and if it's cruel it may affect me forever.
7. Please don't hit me. I can't hit back but I can bite and scratch and I really don't ever want to do that.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, obstinate or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right foods, or I've been out in the sun too long or my heart might be getting old or weak. I may be just dog tired.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You, too, will grow old and may also need love, care, comfort and attention.
10. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say: "I can't bear to watch" or "let it happen in my absence." Everything is easier for me if you are there. Remember, irrespective of what you do I will always love you.
Thank you Jeannie i have shared this on Facebook with my friends. Am going to show it to the kids to help them appreciate our own wee dog.
Love
Linda x
Good post Jeannie, I wish people would stop and think and do their research before getting a dog. Another post which did the rounds on Facebook that I also like is this, which although upsetting, hopefully gets the point across to some of the idiots who get puppies or dogs.
I died today. You got tired of me and took me to the shelter. They were overcrowded and I drew an unlucky number. I am in a black plastic bag in a landfill now. Some other puppy will get the barely used leash you left. My collar was dirty and too small, but the lady took it off before she sent me to the Rainbow Bridge . Would I still be at home if I hadn’t chewed your shoe? I didn’t know what it was, but it was leather, and it was on the floor. I was just playing. You forgot to get puppy toys. Would I still be at home if I had been housebroken? Rubbing my nose in what I did only made me ashamed that I had to go at all. There are books and obedience teachers that would have taught you how to teach me to go to the door. Would I still be at home if I hadn’t brought fleas into the house? Without anti-flea medicine, I couldn’t get them off of me after you left me in the yard for days. Would I still be at home if I hadn’t barked? I was only saying, “I’m scared, I’m lonely, I’m here, I’m here! I want to be your best friend.” Would I still be at home if I had made you happy? Hitting me didn’t make me learn how. Would I still be at home if you had taken the time to care for me and to teach manners to me? You didn’t pay attention to me after the first week or so, but I still spent all my time waiting for you to love me. ... I died today.
Love, Your Puppy
Thank you for posting these. There is a dog next door to me who has never been allowed in the house. His owners walk past him as if he isn't there and he spends all his time in the garden or in the shed (I think it is mesh on one side so he isn't in the dark) barking or crying. He is there as a guard dog and a status symbol as he is a big muscley dog. He is taken on a 10 minute walk to a nearby field once a day to go to the toilet and someone must feed him. It upsets me to hear him. I have reported it to the RSPCA but they won't do anything as he isn't being beaten or starved and the council said they'll get back to me and haven't after 4 months.
Ylangrose, unfortunately, the RSPCA are pretty useless in cases like these, not by their own doing but by the fact the law leaves them powerless. If the dog has food and shelter and isn't being beaten then there is nothing they can do. The laws on animal cruelty in this country desperately need revising but unfortunately, it's not a priority and hasn't been for many years.
You are so right Bannick and the law is so wrong, it is about time that leaving a dog tied up outside day and night is an offence. We HAD friends who kept a lovely springer spaniel in their garage all day and night, no light whatsoever, no window either. He walked it once a day then back it went in to dark isolation. One time she (my X friend) had a pink fit when I mentioned that my heart went out to the dog and I would like to see it. I later found out that the husband regularly thumped the dog. I phoned the RSPCA and told them all of this but nothing was done about it at all. We had a big blow out one day when I told them they were cruel, horrible people and that we did not want to know them anymore. Some time later these so called friends/human beings sent me a text stating 'Bracken has died we are brokenhearted' They continued to say, 'when we got home and opened the garage door, he ran in to the garden and lay down and died' I mean are some people just brain-dead or what Oh not that it is really anything to do with it but these people were Born Again Christians!
That is horrible to hear and I think the notes that you Jeannie and Bannick wrote are so true indeed!
I used to volunteer with a cat shelter and with that, we liaisoned well with dog shelters (surprising how much we needed each other time to time!) and it's just amazing how much more a smaller shelter can do than big main stream organisations can. Where things like the RSPCA and Dog's Trust etc work within a general law given, often smaller shelters (local) can have permissions via police. Although iunno how able they will be in this position. The only way they can take the dog in is if they are denied any type of shelter, malnourished, unkempt in coat condition etc to show a lack of care. An outside dog is not enough on its own even if it does appear obvious to you they are not being well kept unfortunately there must be a concreted reason for removing a dog, although you can (should I dare say!) be able to request them pay a visit (sometimes taking this via police who contact a shelter is better, it's all a matter of trial and error) though I would say it's worth phoning someone and having complaints on record.
My concern is Winter should be harsh this year and perhaps action should be considered, especially if this poor dog doesn't have adequate shelter
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Not just a Dog
Oh not that it is really anything to do with it but these people were Born Again Christians!
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