I was sat in my living room just a few minutes ago, and I was watching an old Lab that belongs to a family of... well not a nice family who just lets this poor dog out on to the street to do his business. I have never seen them walk the dog or anything. He is a lovely old dog and I get bones and things for him when in town, because he never looks like he has had any dinner. Anyway I was watching him because he had a black bin bag that he was 'playing' with, I thought it could be dangerous for him so I went out and took it off of him and gave him a chewy, the next thing the owner is knocking on my door saying - well, shouting at me for taking HIS bin bag off of the dog, that the dog had ran off with it this morning, and had legged it outside, and that he wanted it back! When I said I had put it in the bin, he said he was going to call the police (!) and have me arrested for 'stealing' this bag from him! Honest to god, what sort of world do we live in? I was so stunned I could hardly say anything! The bloke was really annoyed at me from saving his dog from possible suffication I got the black bag out of the weelie bin and passed it to the bloke and I said to him (as nicely as I could!) does he realise the danger that his dog sometimes gets into - people who know our street know there is a fair chance the dog will be about and are therefore more careful, but people who don't know our street have had to slam their brakes on a few times missing the dog sometimes by inches, one car did actually clip the back end of the dog but thankfully there was no harm done. The bloke told me to f*** off and walked off down the drive with his black bag and his dog following behind. Is it just me or was there absolutly no need for it? If he wanted the bag back then all he had to do was ask for it - I wasn't trying to make trouble, just get it off of the dog! Stupid man! I am going to be in a mood all day now!!! :) But we are picking our kitten up later on so that will cheer me up! I don't think I will tell hubbie as he will go over the road and have a go at the bloke and I get the feeling the dogs owners are the sort of people you don't want to get on the wrong side of... too late for me ;) Sorry to rant on - I had to tell someone!

bloke sounds like a nutter................. some people have just no idea...
hope your kitten brings a smile back on your face today :)

I know its not funny and if it were me I would have been fuming and like you been in a mood all day!!!! BUT I really would loved to have seen the police faces when he told them he wanted you arrested for stealing a bin bag!!! That wasn't even on his property!!!!

Have fun with your new kitty!

I hadn't even thought that far - I was just amazed he threatened to go to the police in the first place! I don't think my heart has settled down yet! My nextdoor neighbour came round about 1/2 an hour ago to see if I was OK, bless her, so now everyone in the street will know that I am a bin bag thief!!!! :D The thing is the dog is still outside just plodding along as old dogs do.

...he might have thought that you wanted to steal his identity from rubbish he's thrown in the bin :D :D

Margot

The neighbours will be giving you the eye everytime you walk past their bin now!!!!!!

People........hhhmmpphh.....hence the wonderful expression "The more people I meet the more I love my dog" - ain't that the truth !  :) - CD'ers excepted, of course :D :D

he has got a happy fullfilling life then? No issues there!! There is none so queer as folk!!

Natalie..did you look what was in the bag, Im very intrested. If it was me Id hope the police did turn up, now that would have been very wierd.
Good for you in keeping an eye on this old dog, Id do just the same as you.
Good luck with the kitten

There wasn't anything in the bag, it was just empty. I could have understood the way he reacted if it had his family jewels in it!!! :) However I have calmed down a bit now, our kitten is lovely bless her, she has settled in very well and so far the curtains, sofas, and carpets are still in one piece, so that is a bonus!!!

Stann - the way that the owners treat him inside the house remains to be seen. He is always dirty and smelly, and looks like he needs a good meal in side him, but having said that, he is a lovely old thing, he always comes to say hello, and the kids that are always knocking about outside love playing with him, he does actually seem like he is happy with things, I find it really sad because he could have been a great joy to own for someone.

Nat, have you phoned the dog warden? It is against the law for a dog to wander the street like that, especially if he is without a name tag and collar. Next time you see him loose, call the dog warden, they will collect the dog and either take him to the police station or kennels, depending on the area, or deliver him home again if you can tell them where he lives, which by the sound of it, you can. Do this every time you see the dog loose and get the neighbours to do the same. Eventually the dog warden will tire of telling them off and take the dog away or the owners will have to pay a fine and probably won't bother and he can be rehomed. I would phone the RSPCA too, anything to get that poor dog out of there. :-(

How people can treat their dogs like this is beyond me.  We have a family just down the road with a GSD and BC.  Both live outside with a shed for housing and small piece of the garden for exercise.  We have lived here for three years and have only seen them being walked once and that was new years eve last when the GSD attacked my youngest!  The neighbours across the road last week found the BC in the skip that was next to the house foraging for food.  They took it home beliving it to be a stray and called the RSPCA and it was then found that it was the people down the road.  Apparently the kids were at home but didnt even notice he had gone missing.  The dog was in a right state, matted fur, crawling with fleas etc etc.  The excuse was 'he is an outside dog'.  Sorry but that is no excuse for a dog to be in such a state. 

I haven't phoned anyone, I have thought about it, but to be honest he must be about 12/13 years old and I have heard many scary stories about old dogs in even the best of rescue services. As I said I know I and my next door neighbour feed him bones and chews, so even if that is all he gets (which I don't think it is) he is actually getting food. He is smelly and dirty all of the time, but once last summer he had wondered into the back garden, so I tried to put the hose on him and he went mental, I thought he was going to bite me, so I left him to it. I think he is happy with the way things are, he gets plenty of exercise(!) and he certainly gets all of the attention from the people around here so even though it obviously isn't the best situation for a dog, I think he is better off here than in a rescue centre for probably the rest of his life.

Hi Natalie as tough as it may seem I think the way you are handling things is right. You keep an eye on him and make sure he doesnt go hungry. To report this old dog now could do more arm than good. Hes used to his life the way it is. And for him to reach an old age he must be doing ok. Take care

Hi Sharon,

I am affraid it is out of my hands now, the dog died yesterday :( I have left a post on Rainbow Bridge, just so he has someone who is thinking of him.

Nat

That is so, so sad. Was it old age? I am really sorry. At least he had a few choice bones from you in his old age and had your kind thoughts.

No he was run over. Wish I hadn't said anything now - I am crying again!! He wasn't even our dog I just feel so sad for him, and although I did do what I thought was right at the time, I wish I had have done more to help him.

It's ok, Natalie, I'm crying and I'd never even met him, I also feel very sad for him but he is at peace now.

You did all you could, you were there for him at the very time when he needed someone who cared, that will have meant alot to him.

Emily

Oh my god,  I am so sorry as it must have hit you hard. At least he is probably in a better place and getting treated much better than in life.  He also had a friendly face and some lovely bones to end his days with.

So sorry Natalie, thats really sad. At least you cared for him. Take care