In your opinion, what constitutes neglect?

[Germanshepherdlova]

I have good news about the pit bull puppy. My friends children began going around telling everyone that they hated the puppy. The poor thing as I already mentioned was left in a crate almost all day with no interaction from the family and the familyis barely home anyways. Well, during the few times that the pup was allowed out of the cage he would chew on stuff and so my friend and her kids got tired of the dog. Then I found out that they were putting the puppy outside without a tie out and they do not have a fence. The dog was pooping in the neighbors yard and they would not clean it up-it was just a mess. The owner finally went to a vets office that is well known for doing rescues and told them that she had a puppy and was moving and couldn't take him with her. Two days later they called her and told her to bring the puppy in because they found a nice home for him. A middle aged couple was there and they were very happy to take the puppy and so hopefully the puppy is in a forever home now and much happier. One more thing, when she took the puppy to the vets to give him to the new owners, the vet did tell her that the puppy was too skinny-I can sleep better at night now knowing that this dog has been rehomed. This is one of those situations in which rehoming was in the dogs best interest.

[Pepper311]

Starvation is neglect. No excercies is neglect.

If a dog is getting fat and you do nothing about it and let it get fatter then you are neglecting it.

If you have a dog that you leave outside in a kennel to bark for hours because it is lonely/bored that is neglect.

He you have a dog left in a kennel or on a rope with no access to food, water, shelter that is neglect.

If you have a dog in a kennel or alone for 8+ hours a day and it only get to run once every few weeks thats Neglect.

If you have have a dog that has so many behavior problems that no one can go near it or it can not function in everyday settings. That is a neglected dog.

A dog that has a Heath condition or injury and is left untreated and suffers is neglect.

An old dog left to lay in it's own poo or urine and get sores is neglect.

The list goes on. Happy to hear the pup has a better chance now in a new home.

[paulag1955]

What does LGD stand for?

[amaris]

Originally Posted by Pepper311

If you have a dog in a kennel or alone for 8+ hours a day and it only get to run once every few weeks thats Neglect.

This, i kinda disagree with, not everyone can have a nice, neat 9-5 jobs, I know of executives and board of directors who work about 12 hrs or more a day, but who when not at work spend every minute of their time with their family and their dog. THIS IMHO, is not neglect, this is doing what they can for their dog and family to the best of their abilities.

[msvette2u]

Originally Posted by paulag1955

What does LGD stand for?

Livestock Guardian Dog?

[msvette2u]

Originally Posted by amaris

This, i kinda disagree with, not everyone can have a nice, neat 9-5 jobs, I know of executives and board of directors who work about 12 hrs or more a day, but who when not at work spend every minute of their time with their family and their dog. THIS IMHO, is not neglect, this is doing what they can for their dog and family to the best of their abilities.

Interesting. What does the dog do while they're gone, for potty breaks, etc.?
We just had an applicant last night who stated they were gone 11hrs. a day.
I felt that was much too long for a dog to be alone, let alone a 4-5mo. old puppy who is not even housetrained completely yet. I mean, I could give them the dog but I'm thinking he's going to be making messes and chewing things throughout the day and they'll ultimately decide they can't do it with him and bring him back.
Sad. I don't know the solution.

I encouraged them to seek a dog locally and even try their hand at fostering to get an idea of if it'll even work to have a dog of their own when they are gone from home 11hrs. at a whack.

[LARHAGE]

I'm gone 13 hours a day, 4 days a week, my dogs stay in horse stalls during the day where they have shavings to lay in and a big enough area to relieve themselves if need be, they are in a barn and completely protected from the elements, I have raised puppies the same way, and in fact it makes house breaking super easy, as the puppies are so used to doing their business on shavings that I can put a small pool filled with shavings to relieve themselves during the night on potty breaks. The beauty of dogs is they are adaptable, and thrive on routine, my dogs are quite content with their lives as we spend over an hour in the morning doing horse chores, and 2 hours in the evening again, so they get plenty of attention and exercise. It is just a fact of life that in this economy people can't spend all their time with their dogs, as much as we would like to... someone has to pay for things.

[msvette2u]

I understand people work. But these people have no plan really and no horse stalls with shavings.
Would you trust your puppies inside your house for 11-12hrs. at a time, with nobody there to let them out for a potty break or to supervise their activities?
Your situation is nothing like the applicants (in my case).

[Germanshepherdlova]

The horse stall and place for the dogs to relieve themselves combined with the owner needing to be away is perfectly acceptable. I assume when the owner gets home that he/she spends quality time with the dogs. To leave a dog (especially a puppy) locked up for 11 plus hours without anyone to come and let the puppy out to stretch (if he is in a crate) and relieve himself does not sound like an ideal situation. Definitely not a situation that a rescue should feel comfortable putting a puppy into.

[sashadog]

Originally Posted by msvette2u

I understand people work. But these people have no plan really and no horse stalls with shavings.
Would you trust your puppies inside your house for 11-12hrs. at a time, with nobody there to let them out for a potty break or to supervise their activities?
Your situation is nothing like the applicants (in my case).

No way.

I have a couple friends who are doctors and nurses who work 12-16 hour shifts and leave their dogs at home. However, their dogs have basically their own incredible set up in the garage. Big area inside with food, water, plush beds and a radio on with a doggie door to a covered, enclosed grass area outside. They also have a dog walker come at least once during their shift.

Also, the dogs are older and have a buddy during the day. On their days off, the dogs go hiking and running, and a couple of them even do agility and rally. It's doable but a plan is essential!! I would consider it cruelty to leave a puppy, or any dog for that matter, in a crate for 11-12 hours.