That dog hasn't been outside in months, is this abuse?

Question

I live in an apartment building, and my upstairs neighbors have a big dog that they never take outside. That seems cruel to me.

Answer 1

How do you know they never take it outside unless you are watching their house 24/7.

They might take it out at night.

Answer 2

My first question is how does he go to the bathroom without being able to go outside, ya know?  Go ahead and call it in, and let them get checked out by the SPCA just to be safe.  

Answer 3

  they can be taking the dog out when you are not around.  some people will only take their dogs out 2-3 times a day.  if they really are not ever taking the dog out, call your local humane society or spca.  if they are not taking it out they likely have a reason they do not want people to see it.  

Answer 4

Are you sure the dog is never outside? My neighbors think I never take mine outside, but I take them out at night when its cooler and there is less traffic.

A few months is a disgusting amount of poo to allow to accumulate, and I can only imagine the stench. If you can, offer to walk the dogs, if they refuse, call the SPCA and tell them your concerns.

It is neglect and cruelty to keep an animal penned up, but make sure your facts are straight.

Answer 5

Yes.  Because if they are doing what I think that they are doing from your questions details (which unfortunately aren't a lot) not only is not taking the dog outside to take care of his business wrong but so is not exercising him and letting him get fresh air.  what helps a dogs nails stay a short (even though they still do need to be trimmed) is letting the dog walk on pavement or concrete.  

You need to call animal control and report them I am sure that with a charge like that they will get out there and do what they can to see the dog.  They should put a thing on the door if nobody is home to have the pet owner call them so that the problem will be resolved if they don't call within the stated time period (usually 2 days) they will go back out there and put up another notice to comply and then if not they will just keep going out there until they can catch the people that live in the apt where you say the dog is and when they do they will either have let animal control see the dog or they either get a cop out there to make them comply or just order the dog be turned over.

Answer 6

Wouldn't you think it might just be cruel to the owner's nose?!!!!

Answer 7

UMM if you are 100% positive that the dog hasn't been taken outside then of course that's abuse....Think of it as imprisonment on an innosent person. But I think that the dog is  getting outside just maybe not as much as it should because...think about it....The dog would have to be either dead by now from starvation and dehydration or have many diseases due to ammonia from the dogs urine and fecal matter (p**p) and what owner would want to walk around a house with p**p and pee all over there floor. But i could be all wrong lol well to answer your question yes call the humane society.....

Answer 8

That isn't a big dog...

That's me...

That's what I look like in the morning unshaven...

(And yes...they are very cruel to me...)

Answer 9

It is cruel because it is creating a dog that isn't socialized.  This dog will be afraid of people and anything strange, most likely.  

Answer 10

Are you quite sure?  Where does the dog go potty if not outside, maybe they just take him out at times when you are not around

Answer 11

I was in the same exact situation at my old complex... I called the SPCA and they came and checked it out. Turned out that those people were heroin addicts and there was dog c**p and people c**p, needles, rotten food... all kinds of things all over the place. Those people also had children living there. They were evicted, the dog was taken to the SPCA and found a new home and he's not loved and gets to go outside whenever he wants. I'd call it in anonymously just to be sure.  

Answer 12

Yes. All dogs need fresh air and exercise, unless there's some extreme circumstance where the dog is extremely arthritic/old, or agoraphobic or photosensitive or some other rare issue. If the dog is over-aggressive and too hard to control on a leash, or just plain can't go outside, then it's ok if they have a treadmill for it to exercise on and play with it plenty. But the only way to know for sure without being nosy, is to call the ASPCA or some other local animal agency to investigate. They should be able to find out whether the dog is doing alright or not.