So heartbroken I called the sherriff

15 years ago

Living in the country, we are used to people dumping trash and sometimes dumping animals. But this just broke my heart... DH came home from feeding cattle yesterday and told me someone had dumped trash a mile from us. Sadly, the person had also dumped a husky, who was laying on a blanket next to the trash, faithfully waiting for its owner to return.

DH looked through the trash and found the person's name and address. I called the number in the phone book for that person, but it was disconnected. I called the sherriff, and the dispatcher said someone had called about it the day before. "We sent a deputy out then...blah blah blah...there's nothing we can do...blah blah blah...nobody witnessed him dumping the dog..."

I just kept telling her it is breaking the law---dumping trash and abandoning an animal---and the fact that someone had called the previous day meant that dog had been there at least 24 hours! She said she would send someone out, but I felt very unsettled about it. Awhile later a deputy called me, and I could tell he was shaken. He said the dog was very clean and well behaved, obviously a house dog. Another deputy volunteered to take the dog home for the night to make sure it had foot and water, but they weren't sure if someone would keep it or if they could convince the city pound to take it. (In the country, we don't have "animal control.")

Deputy also said he would issue a warrant for illegal dumping and cruelty to animals. I could hear in his voice that he was mad at the jerk dumper. I thanked him profusely.

Isn't that the saddest thing? To just throw out your dog with your trash? People think dogs dumped in the country live happily ever after, chasing rabbits or being adopted by a nearby family. Truth is, most die from thirt or starvation or exposure to elements, or they are run over or shot. In this case, the dog may ultimately be euthanized, but at least that is humane. *sigh*

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Comments (25)

ronf_gw
15 years ago
We live out in the country, too and have seen our share of this. It is heart breaking.
People that dump animals are a waste of perfectly good carbon atoms. They should be hauled off to some wilderness area and dumped for a few days to see how they like it.
Not that I'm a vindictive person or anything.

Ron
alisande
15 years ago
Oh, that's disgusting. So sad. And I wonder how long the pound will keep him before they put him down. Not long, I'll bet. Huskies are such sweet dogs, too.
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nodakgal
15 years ago
Oh good gosh!!!!!!!
How can people be so heartless! The poor guy sitting there waiting for someone to come back and get him!!
I hope this ends differently than you expect.
susan_on
15 years ago
I'll never understand how someone could do something like that. My daughter works with a girl who started feeding a local cat, then brought him into her house on a cold night. She kept it for a few days, and then had her boyfriend drive it way out in the country and drop it off. Melissa was disgusted, and said to her "you probably took a cat that belonged to someone else, and basically sentenced it to death". She just said that she was tired of having it around.

I hope this Husky finds a good home.
Linda Wayman
15 years ago
That's so sad and makes me so angry. I think punishment is not severe enough for people who abuse, neglect or abandon animals.
I'm copying and pasting Ron's reply because it is exactly how I feel.

as posted by Ron
" We live out in the country, too and have seen our share of this. It is heart breaking.
People that dump animals are a waste of perfectly good carbon atoms. They should be hauled off to some wilderness area and dumped for a few days to see how they like it.
Not that I'm a vindictive person or anything "
vicki_lv_nv
15 years ago
"People that dump animals are a waste of perfectly good carbon atoms. They should be hauled off to some wilderness area and dumped for a few days to see how they like it.
Not that I'm a vindictive person or anything."

Well said Ron...however, I would leave them for a week or two and make sure they can't find anything to survive on.
FlamingO in AR
15 years ago
I know exactly how you feel, Rita and I feel your pain and disgust. It's happened to us more than once, one of those dumped dogs in currently on the sofa with Woody, snuggling. Whoever gets that dog is going to be a lucky person, because that dog deserves a good life with a loving family, not the scum that he lived with before. Anybody who dumps trash IS trash. Anyone who dumps off an animal, a PET, is worse than trash, they're a disgrace to humankind and don't deserve to live on my planet.

Personally, I'd be finding out who dumped that trash and I'd hunt them down so the state's attorney can prosecute them for animal cruelty. Baskets! I get so mad when I see or hear or read about this.

We tell Artie, our dumped off/dug into the yard/stayed forever dog, that he won the lotto the day he got dumped. And we did, too. He is the nicest dog and we love him so much. He was nice from day one, I can't fathom how someone would dump him. He's the most loving of all our dogs. (You should get that husky, Rita. He'll love you forever. Or maybe your Dad would take him.)

Man. This really makes my blood BOIL.
grammahony
15 years ago
Oh geeze. I hate hearing this. Ditto what Ron, Linda, Flamey said. I'd probably tell the pound to call me before they put it down. Poor thing.
Leslie
mcmann
15 years ago
Thank heavens your husband happened to drive by when he did. How sad that someone would do that to a pet. I hope the sheriff follows through and charges the owner. It would be interesting to find out what does happen to the owner.
Jasdip
15 years ago
There's been some news coverage lately about people treating animals as disposable items. Our Humane Society is overflowing with abandoned cats and dogs. This is a university town, and students often just leave their pets when they are done for the year.

I don't know what goes through people's minds when they dump a pet, or just close the door behind them. How can they sleep at nite??

When a tragic accident happens, it breaks my heart thinking that a pet is waiting for their "parent" to come home at the end of the day, and they never do, and we know the possible outcome of that pet.
Granlan_TX
15 years ago
Ditto to all the above replies.

I'll go a step further, cause this turns me into a real B!tch, this low life dumper doesn't deserve to take up space on this earth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd either be keeping this dog or getting busy to find it a good home...our city puts down more animals than the capitol of Texas.

I hope you can help this sweet husky, Rita; this is definitely heartbreaking. ;(
marilyn_c
15 years ago
I've certainly seen my share of this. One time found 9 kittens taped up in a cardboard box and dropped off at my barn.

Another time, a practically new born kitten in a box by the gate here, laying on a nicely decorated hand towel.

It disgusts me to no end. I see enough sadness when I go to the shelters. People are abandoning horses now. Just moving off and leaving them.
User
15 years ago
It's just heart-breaking to think of that poor dog waiting for his owner to come back for him. Anyone who would do something like that is lower than pond scum.
stephmc72
15 years ago
I hate reading stories like this...it makes me so sad. Poor helpless animal. I dont understand how anyone can do that.

I'm glad you called. Maybe the dog will find a good home now with people that want him.
zeetera
15 years ago
That is so heart breaking and I have a hard time understanding how someone could be so cruel. I'm sure at some point they must have been attached to the dog.

Unfortunately they've predicted that this sort of behaviour will get worse because of the economy. I was wondering if someone could possibly set up a charity to help those who can't afford their pets any longer.

Sad.
caroline1947
15 years ago
We live in a very small rural town,and people dump cats at the convieniece store a couple blocks from us, We get all kinds of pitiful strays,and we feed them as much as we can,and so do some of the neighbors. I feel horrible for poor innocent animals that are at our mercy!!!God has a place in Heaven for those who love his creatures,and I hope theres a place in hell for anyone who harms them!!
caflowerluver
15 years ago
We live up in the Santa Cruz mts and this happens all the time. I don't know how many abandoned animals I have seen in 22 years of living here. Most of the cats were dead because of wild dogs and animals. Why people do this I will never understand.
Clare
lydia1959
15 years ago
I don't understand how anyone could do that. I hope the Husky is a lucky one and finds a good home.
des_arc_ya_ya
15 years ago
Oh good grief! How can people be so cruel? I firmly believe that the old Devil is reallly gonna turn up the fire on people who abuse things that are weaker than they are: children, the elderly and animals.

Hope he finds a wonderful home, Rita. Thank you for your concern and kindness.
rosebudms
15 years ago
Caroline, you go, girl!!!!!!!!! Place in heaven for people who care for God's creatures, and a spot in he-- for those who abuse them!!
Well said!

My kitty came from the shelter and she loves it here. If she had better bathroom manners she could have more friends...
Happy_Go_Lucky_Gayle
15 years ago
A few years ago we had a litter of 5 baby pit bulls dropped off near our house. The neighbors took them in. Unfortunately, they had to many issues and had to be put down. The litter killed another neighbors dog.
susanjf_gw
15 years ago
what i do understand it's feed your kids or feed the dog, why can't they take the time of surrender their animals? i guess with the recession, comes all the tragic stories. heard horses are another animal who are turning up at shelters...

are your shelters so full, they are turning away pets?
FlamingO in AR
15 years ago
Susan, where I live we only have one shelter within 25 miles and it's ALWAYS full. They are practically a no-kill shelter and because of that, there is never any room there for an animal that's been dumped off. There are dogs that have been there for over a year, waiting for adoption. They claim to put your name on a waiting list when you have an animal for them, but we have never been called back when there was an opening. I think you have to "know" someone there to get an animal in. I know they do good work and get a lot of dogs and cats adopted out, but when we need them, they can never help us. We've had to find homes for at least 5 dogs now.
notjannaz10
15 years ago
I'm sure someone else has probably already thought of this, but there are breed-specific rescue groups that might help this dog. Google would probably list a bunch.

As for me, I most certainly ***am*** vindictive enought to want to see the #%%$*!@ who did this suffer for it. All my pets have been or were about to be dumped.

Jann
nycefarm_gw
15 years ago
We live at the end of a country road, a couple miles from a boarding kennel. Whenever I find dumped strays (pulled a 6 week old puppy out of my window well once), I usually take them to the kennel, along with a donation for support.
The kennel lady told me that they found a dog abandoned in ditch by the road, TIED TO A CINDER BLOCK! Dog could not fend for itself or find help. They posted a sign asking if anyone was missing a cinder block, they would be glad to return it.
I just don't get how anyone could do that...

So heartbroken I called the sherriff

Comments (25)

ronf_gw

alisande

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