Abandoned dogs in abandoned houses—can’t we protect them?

There are more and more stories of dogs left behind when owners can’t pay the mortgage, move away, or go to jail. Animal control officers are subject to trespassing charges if they break into the home to release the dogs.

As many silly laws that are passed today, it seems that something might be done to prevent the suffering of dogs that are forced to live in their own waste and starve while people dither about how unfortunate they are.

The police can break into a home if a human life is in danger. Do we have to continue to treat dogs as property when their lives are in danger?

In the meantime where are the vandals when they are needed?

One well placed brick and, oops—who let the dogs out?

Comments

[Dennis the Vizsla]

Whoooo let the dogs out? Who? Who? Not animal control apparently.

[Khyra]

What would they do if these same 'people' left a human puppy in a house?

[Denny]

I would let the dog out, if I end up paying a lawyer's fee then so be it.

[Karen Friesecke]

or just go by at night with a crowbar :)

[jackie]

this is just one of the sadder moments from the down fall of our economy...sad sad sad

[YesBiscuit!]

We need more *discreet* vandals, not ones who break in while the local news is filming!

[Marion]

Somebody in the neighbourhood surely knows there's an animal left behind, when people leave their mortagage strapped house. If I was one of the ones who knew about a pet left behind, I would break a window and worry about the law after. This is terrible.

[MJ]

I'm with other posters - I'll figure some way to get in there. What about those shows you see on Animal Planet where the humane officers are allowed to take the pets if no one is home (obviously in an abandoned house!) and the pet is in danger. I would consider starving a danger. Or is that a case of the old "This only happens on TV" ?

[Life With Dogs]

I'm not a fan of lame policy or the giant losers who pull this crap. But I am very happy about today's update...

[pam]

Police are starting to work more closely with local orgs to ensure kids aren't left home alone when a parent is arrested. The same should happen between police and Animal Control. But dogs are uniquely situated in the law between protected individuals and private property. Tough call.

[pam]

Sorry. Speaking to you like a public policy wonk. On a personal level, yeah, it'd be crowbar time!

[cube]

Honestly, something should be done about the law that prevents Animal Control workers from going into an abandoned house and freeing trapped animals. This is just common sense.

[the 4Bs]

this story p*ssed me off so bad. i just don't get how a human could do that to another creature. if i knew where that house was, i would have gone there and broken a window myself. the neighbors said that it had been 2 months since they had seen the homeowner - 2 MONTHS that the dog was tied in the dark basement alone. i would love to tie that (former) dog owner up in a dark filthy basement for 2 months and feed it by throwing its food on the floor.

[Col]

A sad state of affairs and very lacking in common sense.

[Pets life]

Someone have to teach a good lesson for all Owners.http://www.vivamagonline.com/index.php Owners Very interesting and informative article to read. I love the way you have created awareness for pets life. Well done!!!