On Friday October 30, 2009, my friend (we will call him Bob) received a call to come "help" his neighbor (we will call him John) and was asked to bring a bolt cutter.
Bob went to his neighbor’s house to find that John’s dog (Max) was almost choking because his collar was so tight. Bob used his bolt cutters to cut the chain from around Max’s neck. Once he had freed the chain, they saw that the chain was still hanging from Max’s neck. The collar had grown into his neck and the skin had grown over the collar. This collar that Max was wearing was a choker collar that was designed for a puppy. Max is now a 65 lb German Shepard mix who had obviously outgrown the collar a long time ago.
Bob told John that he had to get Max to the vet immediately. John was not in a hurry to do so because he was worried about the cost. He didn’t want Max to run away, so he put him in the shed for the night. Bob came home very upset and called his wife. His wife in turn called me and asked for advice. I told her that we needed to get Max to a vet, the Pet ER.
Bob went back over to John’s house and told him that we would take Max to the Pet ER for him. John allowed us to do so. Once in the Pet ER, they had to put him under in order to operate to remove the collar. The smell was so bad and we found out he had an infection from the collar growing in his neck. He also had a fever from the infection. The vet at the Pet ER took pictures and documented the extent of his injuries. We also received the collar they removed with chunks of Max’s skin still attached.
While at the Pet ER, we called the Salisbury City Police to notify them of the situation. They took our report and said that we should call Wicomico County Sheriff’s Department and the Humane Society due to jurisdiction. The only reason we didn’t contact the Humane Society then was because they were closed.
Max was treated and ready to be released a few hours later. We did not want him to go back to John’s house because he was fragile and needed his wounds cared for. My friend, Bob, paid the $450 vet bill. Max spent the night with a "friend".
The next day, I contacted the Humane Society. I told them my friends were scared to press charges because they were afraid of retaliation. John had been calling Bob and wanted to know where Max was because he wanted his dog back. He was making threats towards Bob and they were a bit nervous.
The Humane Society told me that we could not bring Max there anonymously. If we brought him there, it would have to be under one of two ways. (1) John would have to surrender ownership of Max. Then the Humane Society would take care of Max and no charges would be pressed. (2) John would be investigated for animal cruelty and we would probably have to go to court.
We ended up taking Max to the Humane Society because we didn’t know what else to do. The Humane Society assured us that Max would be well taken care of and that John would not be told of his whereabouts until right before closing time.
Not more than two hours later, Max was released to the custody of John. When the Humane Society was asked "WHY", they stated that he had received vet care and they had no reason to keep him there.
Why would they release a dog back to an owner that has "ALLEGEDLY" been abusing him? They had the pictures and the report and the bloody collar with the skin attached. They still let him go. What happened to holding the dog there while they investigate? That way if there was a confirmed case of abuse, the dog would not have been put in harms way.
When asked if charges would be filed or if John would be investigated, the answer was "no". What is the point of the Humane Society? Why are they there? They could not have had more evidence of abuse. They could have at least done an INVESTIGATION on John to ensure that Max wasn’t going back to an abusive home.
Now my friends are out $450 and are devastated because we don’t know what kind of life Max is living now with that monster. Animals cannot speak for themselves. We have to be their voice. I thought the Humane Society was their voice, too.
I am so disillusioned and disgusted with them right now. I really don’t understand how they could have let this happen. Of all places we thought we could trust to take care of Max, the Humane Society gave him right back to his "owner", who made several comments to my friends that Max was "just a dog". Nice, huh?
We need justice for Max and something needs to be done.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
23 comments:
This upsets me so much I don't know what to say!
Hopefully this will push someone into doing something. Some people should never be allowed to have pets.
I have experienced something similar with the Humane Society and Animal Control in Worcester County. The dog was never helped and just disappeared one day from the incompetent owner. I'm sure the dog died from the conditions he was living in. Society doesn't give a crap about people in need let alone animals.
Can the Humane Society confirm the owner received any instructions from the vet or those that took him to the vet? Possibly the only hope is to prove additional cruelty. Not following Vet’s orders may constitute that? Either way, pushing the officials to watch the situation will be the task. Unfortunately too many people think the order of things is the house, white fence, kid or two, then a dog.
Ray
Similar inicident with the Dorchester County Humane Society. I contacted them about two dogs being fenced in a wire trash bin because the dogs were both walking and laying on mounds of trash and both looked ill. There was no water and the only food they may have been getting was scraps in the traash heap. A few days later one of the dogs was dead. I contacted them again hoping this would now be a priority, however after repeated trips past the house and several weeks of the surviving dog still in the pen..I saw no change in the conditions. The second dog died a few months ago. It is a damn shame these poor animals are being neglected by an owner and the humane societies are not doing anything to protect them.
Im sure the man didnt even want "his dog" back. he was probably just worried about criminal/legal action being taken because of his neglect/abuse. this is sickening. now the animal is in danger and the neighbors could be too. very sad
Find out what the vet's follow up instructions are. Have the vet get a copy to Max's owner.
Bet there is a follow up visit in it. If there is and Max's owner does not take him for the follow up visit, file a court action against him.
Being "poor" does not give you the right to abuse an animal or neglect its care.
Hell, even the homeless guy asks for donations for his dog, which looks healthier than he does.
I know you people worry about retaliation all the time, but at some point, you have to stand up to that, too.
Kudos to you and the folks who helped Max. Maybe Max's owner is truly just Low IQ Stupid. Or too afraid to ask for financial help to help his dog. Maybe the fix to the problem starts with that, raising Max "buddy style."
As for Humane Society, they only seem to tell half the story when an animal is brought in, then the other half when they get the facts of the case and find out the law isn't with them.
There are ways to deal with that too. But all I can for now is, friends of animals beware. Institutions rarely come to the aid of animals in this abuse state.
wow...you think you do things by the book and still the guilty party gets away...So why doesn't you friend sue the other man for the cost of the vet bill..he can surely show the dog isn't his and make the owner pay him back for his damage done...just might open a judges eyes when he sees the evidence of abuse...
Sometimes we have to bite the bullet. That is the price we pay to maintain a civil society.
The Humand Society does not get to decide who gets prosecuted and you do not have to go through them to have the law enforced. The Sheriff's Office (if in the County) needs to step up and charge the owner. If it is "not worth it" it is for the State's Attorney to decide.
It is not too late to have him prosecuted and have the dog removed. Do it. Next time it might be a child - will we just watch then too?
That is so sad. My dogs get the best possible care in the world, as well as the best food. I always make sure I can get a 2 finger width between the dogs neck and collar. My dogs go to the vet every two months just to get check ups to ensure they remain as healthy as possible. If you as a pet owner can't devote your time and money to them , don't get a dog. The owner of that dog should be in jail for cruelty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe is the owner of this dog a cop by chance ???
When I was a little girl I would sneak into yards where people had their dogs set up in unhuman quarters and set them free. There was this one dog in a little square cage that ran around in circles all day chasing his tail. I couldn't stand it. My friends and I camped out and made it our mission to set it free. Maybe people need to take matters into their own hands sometimes when the system doesnt work.
I wonder how much a new collar would have cost the scumbag...before the poor dog grew too large for the one that had to be surgically removed! I paid less than $6.00 for the last one I bought my dog. If it were me, any time I see an animal in danger that I am unable to get hold of myself, I take pictures and post them EVERYWHERE with the dog owners address. This way, you get the word out anonymously, create a huge buzz and in most cases will not have to worry about retaliation.
I have an American Bulldog that I love more than most of my human family members. He is only 18 months old, but he spent the first year of his life very ill with GI issues. He was written off by the "experts" across the Bridge, and we were advised to put him to sleep. Through prayer, changing our vet to Healing Hands, and the last-ditch effort of Prednisone, he is a very happy, albeit large puppy, living a life of luxury. We dropped a five-digit amount in order to keep him with us. Truth be told, I would rather spend time with my dog than most people.
To read the blatant disregard that this ignorant jacka$$ has regarding the life of his dog is infuriating. Your dog is a responsibility, and if you are unable to handle that, you need to Man Up and offer the pet up for adoption to a family that would cherish him or her.
This is sickening, and should infuriate all readers. Poor Max needs justice, and a caring home.
Wicomico Humane Society is a sham. Lies Lies Lies. Misleading Misleading Misleading. I will NEVER deal with those people again. We were outright lied to as well. They want to cash in and the only way to do that is give the dog back and charge the fees for having him there.
well they couldnt fine the neighbors who took care of them so the let the abusive dog owner have the dog back without a fine , what a laugh they fine people for dumb stuff. my dog was taken there just because he got out of the house and it cost me 70 to get him out the 200 in fine for leash law but he is healthy so i guess i need to put a tight collar on and i will be a good dog owner they do what they want that is for sure. a person like that should have went straight to jail even though the dog had vet care that the bill is now someone elses problem
Animals (or "furry children") are the most wonderful friends in the world. How could anyone ever treat a creature like this is beyond me. Max probably, even after all this, wags his tail and leaps for joy whenever he sees his evil owner. Dogs are nonjudgemental and will always love you no matter what. That's so sad. we need to get Max away from this jacka$$
I cant afford to take care of a dog properly(vet bills and all) so you know what?I dont have one.It isnt fair to the animal,Idiots like this dogs owner need to learn responsibility.
I am one of the ones who helped to rescue Max. We all feel so helpless as to what to do now... Max is being kept inside now and we can't see what is happening to him or what kind of condition he is in. We are filing a civil suit for the money we spent on the vet bill. If they dont want to pay the money, we are asking them to just give us Max. Everything just takes so long..... what to do in the meantime??
My dog was held by a neighbor one time when she got out and that was on a Friday. On Tuesday after spending an aweful long weekend with my children crying about our dog missing. (MOnday the Humane Society was closed for Holiday) She was on TV up for adoption. I was furious and the reply was they don't often get wonderful dogs like her and wanted to use her to generate a response. They got what they wanted, a large RESPONSE!
Max is the sweetest dog and yes, I'm sure that he WAS happy to see his idiot owner again. I was the "friend" who kept Max overnight after the vet visit. It was obvious to me that he never had seen the inside of a home and didn't know what to do with himself once there. I had to teach him to walk down the stairs! It makes me so mad that Max is back with that despicable man and his family. He deserves a loving home and to live inside! The man wanted him back because Max is his "possession", not because he actually wants him as a pet. It seems he wants him to be some sort of a guard dog or something. Can't do that if he's DEAD!! I'm still sick over the situation. My only hope is that the owner messes up again and it is witnessed, then maybe something will be done about this.
11:48 I know a police officer that has a dog named max and he is not abused. Well loved and cared for as well as the other animals they have. This cop has to keep max outside because he has a smell his kind of dog always has. This max has a large yard to run in, water in 2 locations, and is fed every day with special dog food. Max during the winter at night, Max is brought in out of the cold.
How do I know? I am Max's grandmother.
Who ever this owner is he deserves to be punished to the MAX!
Unfortunately, the system is punishing you for your quick response. If you had called Animal Control to come out and view the situation first hand they may have started an investigation especially if the owner failed to go and get the dog care immediately. Because the dog was provided care (even if it was because of caring neighbors and not the owner) there is not much that can be done at this point until another incident occurs. Alternatively, if the neighbor had taken the dog to the vet and not paid the bill, Animal Control could have stepped in and relinquished custody to the Humane Society if the owner refused to pay the bill. It makes for an unfair situation when everyone just wanted to help the animal. Unfortunately, the law protects abusers and victims equally.
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