Yesterday, as I was walking with Napoleon toward home, I noticed a guy walking a large dog near the mailbox area of the apartment complex. I decided to take a small detour as Napodog doesn’t always get along with other dogs and I wasn’t up to dealing with the scene that’s caused whenever a twenty pound dog decides he can kick the shit out of a fifty pound dog. This guy took his dog back toward the pool area, and then as I approached the mailbox area, he came out, holding the leash, without a dog, and got into the passenger side of a vehicle. At first I thought I must have been mistaken, the dog must have already been in the car, and then the dog came stumbling out from the mailbox area, no collar, and started investigating Napoleon, who was not really into having his butt sniffed. I looked up and made eye contact with this guy who had gotten in the car, like, “Why are you not controlling your dog, why aren’t you stopping this?” and as I’m thinking this, the SUV backs out to leave.
It finally clicked for me.
They were abandoning this dog.
I had the presence of mind to quickly memorize the license plate number, but I was a little flustered as to what my next step would be. I didn’t have my phone on me, and the dog was following Napoleon and me back to my apartment. I looked around for help but no one was around. I finally decided to get Napoleon inside, grab my phone, and call 911, sternly telling the strange dog to STAY when it looked like he was going to try to amble down the stairs and into my apartment. The dispatcher got the plate number, info about the dog, what scant descriptive info I could give about the abandoner and the vehicle itself. She said she was dispatching animal control, and I said I would wait outside the building with the dog until animal control arrived.
I told the dog to STAY again as I ran back inside, and got him a dish of water and some food since it was hot outside and it looked like he was starving. I’ve never seen such prominent ribs on a dog. He was also covered with tiny little bald patches, and he seemed to be walking funny, for lack of a better word. I gave him what comfort I could in the hour I had him until animal control arrived–patted him, told him he was a good boy, and he wagged his little tail and waited by my side. Napoleon, for his part, acted a damn fool inside, howling about the injustice that some of HIS food was being used to feed some OTHER dog, when doesn’t everyone know that he’s starving to death in there and HELLO he could also use some attention?
When the animal control officer arrived, he confirmed my worst suspicions–the marks all over this dog were bite marks, that he was walking on the backs of his paws instead of the front because his front feet were badly damaged, and additionally, he was missing half his tail. It makes me want to cry, thinking about what a terrible life this poor abused animal must have had.
I hope he finds a loving forever home. I hope they nail the bastards who did this.
I really fucking hate people sometimes. If you can, let us know what happens to the bastards who did this.
If I end up finding anything out, I will. The officer told me that the plate I gave them was registered to an address about 30 miles north, and that they’re going to investigate. I would imagine that where there’s one badly abused animal, there are others.
Sounds to me like they are running a dogfighting ring or are participating in one, so you are probably right and I hope the fuckers get put in handcuffs and taken away.
Oh please, please let this case get handled by dog-loving police officers. If anything in the universe is listening: PLEASE.
This.
Go you for calling the authorities on that asswipe.
I hate people so fucking much. *rage*
Yeah, it’s not doing much for my opinion about humanity.
x 100
and another x100.
TWATWAFFLE.
Looks to me like a pit bull, at least a mix with pit bull, and usually at most shelters these types of bully breeds are put down. I hope he went to a no kill shelter. Shameful the way people treat animals isn’t it?? But god for you for taking care of him and leaving him abandoned in the hot weather. You will be rewarded in some way for your kindness!!
I really hope he doesn’t get put down but I didn’t know what else to do, I couldn’t keep him. 🙁
We have been looking to adopt a dog and can report that King Co animal control has had pit bulls and mixes for adoption, so he shouldn’t be put down just because of his breed 🙂
You did the right thing. People are unbelievable!!!
When we adopted one of ours (in Phoenix at the time) they thought he might’ve been used as a bait dog in dog fights. He’s still got a few bald patches from the worst of the bites.
We almost walked out of there with a 2nd really old grandma dog just covered in scars just so she could die with some dignity.
Ugh..still makes me cry when I think about it.
I hope that assfuck has a great time in prison with a cellmate named Ram Rod.
It makes me sick, I like to think that humans are basically good and we all have a basic moral compass–but then I’m confronted with something like this that makes me realize that’s REALLY not the case.
I heard the phrase “bait dog” used on the tv show “Pit Boss” the other day. (I am unfamiliar with the show and only caught a few minutes of it while I was at my dad’s house.) What does that mean?
In dog fights you’ve got your best of the best, biggest, strongest, meanest dogs. When they get together to fight the dogs these are the ones they use.
The smaller, less mean dogs are used for ‘practice’ and called ‘bait’ dogs.
A lot of times they’re left chained up while the bigger dogs, who may have been starved for some time, aren’t. They are either killed or, at best, wounded.
That is SO horrible. How is it that some members of humanity are so lacking in humanity?
can i have the plate number? i have a lot of anger to work out.
I have some anger I’d like to work out with a tire iron.
sad. that puppy looks really cute. this is why i need nukes.
If he was that docile, had that many bite marks, and was abandoned, he might be an ex bait dog. 🙁 Ugh, I hope not.
It seems likely, unfortunately. The dog was probably about two years old yet he knew NO commands, was not fixed, looked like he hadn’t been washed OR fed in months…
Oh no, poor puppy! I’m so glad you realized what was happening in time to get the plate number and call the police. I hope they catch the bastard and nail his balls to the wall. Good luck finding a home poor abused puppy! <3
It’s a shame that we can’t starve and abuse prisoners the same way they did to the poor animals in their care.
too good for them, just grind them into dog chow…slowly…feet first.
That works, too, just so long as their evil nature doesn’t result in poisonous meat.
You did the right thing.
I hope they get the person who did this!
Awww – he looks like a really sweet little pit. Fuck people piss me off, sometimes. Poor kid. Glad you were there and yeah: hope they nail those fuckers.
This icon wins the humanity award today. Those people, on the other hand, deserve to have tiny fury thrown at them. Come on people, I’m ready.
OH MY GOD 🙁
You, my dear, are a goddamn saint. *hugs you bunches*
I’d like to think that anyone in my position would have done the same thing…but I’d also like to believe that the sort of person who would do this to a helpless animal in the first place doesn’t exist.
Right there with you.
what a sweet face. I hope he fills a dog-shaped hole in some family that loves him.
Thank you for your diligence in taking care of the situation. I wish more people would step up like that when the need arises.
Awwww what a terrible situation. I hate when people take advantage of animals like that. Those fuckers.
people are horrible. MOST people. the good ones know when animals are in trouble and react positively.
i hope the jerkheads get what’s coming to them. and kudos for you to acting so fast.
(my friends have all rescued animals before. one in particular was abandoned after the loud, out of control family moved away and she wandered down the street and ended up on their front porch. a year later, the dog is in a happy, healthy, loving home and has a big sister (also a rescue dog) to play with.)
I know it will sound hippy-dippy-ish, but I think an animal knows when it’s been rescued and repays that act with extra love and devotion.
it’s totally true. case in point: nicky.
she’s a rescue cat and since she was rescued about seven years ago (by derek no less!), she’s got so much love and devotion, it’s crazy.
Oh, they do. Trust me.
Oh my god. How horrible. I want to take him home. I’m glad that at least the dog had you though and that you got that license plate number. Those poeple need to pay.
I hope they get what’s coming to them, but even more importantly, if they have other dogs, I hope those dogs are rescued from that home as soon as possible.
It’s amazing that you were there at the right place / time to witness and report. I hope this ends in a happy story for this poor pup. 🙁
I’m surprised they thought no one would be around to see it, this is a big apartment complex and there’s always SOMEONE out and about. Granted, not always someone as nosy as myself, but it’s never completely quiet.
People can be such shits. I’m glad you’re you.
Fucking bastards! This makes me cry that someone could treat an animal this way. Every single one of my pets I have ever had were rescues. I hope they get the asshole who did this and I hope the poor dog finds a good home.
I don’t understand how some people can be so heartless. They would HAVE to be, to treat an animal this way.
Awww he’s so cute D:
Why are people such assholes? I say when that douchebag is found, he is stripped, thrown out of a car on the road in the middle of death valley, with glass in his feet.
D:<
Exactly this. Anyone who would starve a creature to death deserves the same.
How do people that dogfight have such a lack of empathy? Poor dog.
Aw, look at that ugly face. He’s adorable. I hope he’s adopted quickly. And I’m really glad that although he was in rough shape physically, it sounds like he was friendly and sociable enough. That’ll go a long way toward getting him adopted.
Agreed, his friendliness is a huge point in his favor when it comes to being adopted. If he was aggressive at all, it would not bode well for him.
Poor buddy! I hope someone adopts him soon!
Our last cat, Tybalt, was abandoned. Some fucktard left him in the middle of the street during a snow storm.
Ugh, I’m so glad you took him in. What sort of an asshole does that!?
The vet’s best guess was that Tybs was just one cat too many for some home. He was a smart little bastard.
Awww this is just so sad…but I think it will have a happy ending. He has a friendly face, I bet he’ll be picked up once he’s taken care of.
I hope so. 🙁
Which Animal Control came to get him? If it was Seattle I’ll keep an eye out for him at our shelter and let you know what happens with him. Though, given your description, I wouldnt say the outlook is good. Adopting out healthy, well-trained pits is hard enough…
Still, a peaceful death would probably be better than what that poor baby had to suffer through in his short life. Abandoning him (especially where someone like you could see) was probably the only good thing those assholes ever did for him.
It was Renton Animal Control. I hope he gets adopted, he’s so eagar to please that getting him trained seems like it would be easy enough…but it is a strike against him.
That’s terrible 🙁 Sadly I think he’s better off even if he does end up being put down. Good for you for helping him. It’d be such a shame if the owner’s details were mysteriously published on a hardcore animal rights activist forum! 😛
If I had info other than just the plate number, I’d consider it.
I really can’t deal with story’s like this about animals, I got a little misty reading this post – also if you are rounding up a posse of folks with some anger to work out, I would like to volunteer my angry angry services.
Dude is going to have an angry mob with pitchforks on his ass if we ever get his address!
I hate it when people are assholes!
Also, I hope your area animal control has different rules about pits than ours. Ours is no adoption, auto put down. I’m not fond of our animal control.
Seems like that’s not the case with this area’s animal control, volunteers at Seattle’s animal shelter and they take in pits.