Is this animal cruelty?

[CHICO2003]

I got home a couple hours ago and heard a couple dogs barking. My neigbors, 2 houses down, are having a party and their two dogs (big short haired mutts) are chained up outside barking their brains out. (one of them especially sounds pitiful) I've never had any problems with these neigbors and don't want to create any hostility. However, with a temp of 27 degrees and a windchill in the upper teens, this seems to be a bit cruel.

I couldn't find anything on animal cruelty laws online so I was wondering what u guys think I should do. As you can tell, I've got a soft spot for animals and have no patience for people like this.

Thanks....

 

[pluto316]

I think they are required by law to have a dog house.

 

[capnsavem]

call animal control. they'll know

 

[Pretzellogic]

Doesn't sound kosher at all.

 

[sickpro5]

I had this same problem last yr around this time. These ppl that lived behind me had their dog outside chained up to a tree, but had a dog house next to the tree also. Well being that I also have a soft spot for animals, I figured that with it being damn near freezing outside, and the ground covered with snow, this just isn't right. Well I called the MP'S (military police) and asked them if they were allowed to do that. They told me, " As long as there is a dog house there, they can't do anything about it." Which pisses me off, becuase that dog feels the cold just like we do, and you wouldn't want to be chained in cold ass weather, can't even lay down cause the ground is freaking cold as hell. Anyway, yea I think if they have a dog house, nothing can be done, if not, then something can be done about it.

 

[CHICO2003]

I'm not sure about the doghouse rule... it may differ state to state. All I know is, after a couple hours went by last night, I got so pissed off that I went over there and (politely) asked them if they'd let their poor dogs inside. Some drunk b**** sort've brushed me off and said she'd do it. Half hour later, still barking. I had no choice... I called the cops and within minutes they showed up. Minutes later... no barking. In hindsight, I wish I hadn't gone over there. Obviously they'll know it was me that called but... whatever. These people didn't have a doghouse (which I agree, wouldn't have made that much of a difference) but at least it would have sheltered them from the windchill. Leaving an animal (especially a short-haired dog) out in the cold like that is just plain cruel. I was glad to see the police took this seriously and did what was necessary. I just hope I didn't make any enemies...

 

[lasermp5]

****'m... if they want to get an attitude over that, then you can play dirty too I"m sure.

 

[boostisgood]

Call the police on the "noise" of the dogs that way they GOTTA take em in the house.

 

[pingdum]

.......... becuase that dog feels the cold just like we do,........

No they don't. They have different systems for stuff like that. Depends on the dog. My dog loves the winter. He can stay out side all day in the snow, doesn't bother him one bit.

 

[cheapmiata1600]

So, what do you think all the non-domesticated or stray animals do in the winter? They can't exactly go inside. Seems like the dozen or so stray cats around my apartment do ok in teen degree weather. I doubt cold temperatures are that hard on dogs.

 

[lasermp5]

Well in that case, what do homeless people do? lol, you won't die, but you'll freeze your nuts off...

 

[CHICO2003]

Just like people, some animals are better equipped to deal with the cold. A Siberian Husky, for example, obviously doesn't have too much difficulty with cold weather. Through a greyhound in the same 3 ft of snow and see how quick his nuts freeze off.

Rest assured... these dogs weren't Siberian Huskies. If they were, as opposed to barking their heads off, they'd probably just be 'chillin'. Trust me... the way these dogs were barking last night, they might as well have been saying "let me the **** inside you dumbfucks!"

As far as stray cats... dogs... and homeless people go. Let's not assume they all make out ok in the frigid cold. It's not like anyone's conducting any studies to show what percentage actually make it. One of the worst childhood memories I have is walking through the woods with my cousins and finding a cat literally frozen stiff from an icestorm. That's a hell of a way to go....

 

[girth]

that dog feels the cold just like we do, and you wouldn't want to be chained in cold ass weather, can't even lay down cause the ground is freaking cold as hell.

I love how all dog owners think this way -- as if they know the dog feels things exactly the same as humans. Dogs are outdoor animals.

 

[CHICO2003]

Here's why that logic is flawed. To assume that an animal is ok in the cold just because their central nervous systems MAY operate differently than ours is inhumane. I for one would prefer to veer on the side of caution. So dogs are outdoor animals huh? Hmm... so I guess taking your dog for a walk through the Sahara desert is cool since, afterall, you're outdoors! Come on dude... while it's true, many dogs are 'outdoor' animals (while many aren't) you obviously have to draw the line somewhere.

As far as whether or not they FEEL what we feel... how we feel it. I agree, that's difficult if not impossible to truly know. While we humans have the ability to articulate how we feel via the spoken word, animals do not. They rely on, in this case, barking.... which, often times, is overlooked via the 'cry wolf' principle. The bottom line... walk by a bum during the middle of winter and ask yourself if you think he's cold. You may assume he is since you are... but in reality, various factors might make him less or more cold than you. Unless you literally jump into his skin (something I doubt you'd enjoy doing) there's no way to TRULY know. Same thing goes with animals. Since they can't talk and barking can be misinterpruted, one must rely on other indicators. Namely... common sense.

 

[slayer4u]

I love how all dog owners think this way -- as if they know the dog feels things exactly the same as humans. Dogs are outdoor animals.

humans breed differant species to fit the climate and what the dog was used for. a dashound for instance. they were bread to crawl through holes to flush out various varmits. thats why they have short legs and long skinny bodies. I doubt the would be much use in below celsius weather like siberia or some s***.

 

[Chuck_Norris]

If those dogs were barking next door to me, I would roundhouse kick them to the face!

 

[pluto316]

Not funny. No more stupid joke usernames, please.

 

[CHICO2003]

Sweet!! Chuck Friggin Norris joined the forum. (who knew he drove a Mazda?) I bet it's kick ass.... probably an RX-8 with a twin turbo and mazdaspeed accessories. Oh man... I loved you in Sidekick! Don't listen to those critics.... it wasn't nearly the cheesy karate kid ripoff they said it was.

So you'd roundhouse kick them to the face huh? Why not sidekick or frontkick? I've never found roundhouse kicks to be that powerful. Then again, I don't use the Total Gym 2000 everyday like you. Speaking of which... How's Christie these days?

 

[sickpro5]

I love how all dog owners think this way -- as if they know the dog feels things exactly the same as humans. Dogs are outdoor animals.

excatly, we don't know how they feel, so whats to say that they don't feel what we do. I hate how non-dog owners say that dogs are meant to be outside. I can't stand that s***, why have any animal just to see it from a window or sliding glass door. I have had pitbulls sice I was 15yrs old, and every last one of them were house dogs. No they weren't all on the couches and in the beds and stuff, they knew their place, but at the same time they were house dogs. Never did I have a problem with them using the bathroom in the house, nor chewing stuff up. If you get an animal, then be prepared to take care of it, not just use it at your convience.

 

[NoRotorNoMotor]

i know for a fact my dog gets cold

in summer she can play outside for hours and never want to go inside, but in winter after about 30 minutes of running around in the park she starts to slow and kinda looks at me like "i'm done can we go in now"

those dogs were probably barking cause they didnt like being chained to a tree and not cause they were cold, but you could always just call animal control and complain about the noise, not that they ever respond around here for that