Needing lots of advice lately! Here is a new request

[HoneyPooh]

We live next to a large lot owned by a Catholic church which sits on the other side of the lot. We have a hedge (about 5 foot tall) around the front of the house and all the way down the side towards the church lot. Between the hedge and house there is a large tree under which our dog has a doghouse. When he wants to be outside for a couple of hours he is chained to the tree and has access to his house, water, kibble and a hole in the hedge in one spot where he goes through to see whats going on around town (he's nibby like me). Well the church has a large garage where they do a food distribution for senior citizens and a charity thing where you can buy clothing and some household items very cheaply (we donated my washer and dryer when we moved here because we got new ones).

The people who run the church program are there every week day in the morning and my husband knows some of them because he grew up in this town. This morning I was home until 10:00 before going to work and I heard the dog barking (which he only does when someone comes in the yard). I looked out the window and one of the ladies from the church was inside our hedge with the dog putting a blanket under the tree (not in his house). Now, this past month or so I had been coming home from work and finding shredded blankets around the yard and wondered where they were coming from, now I know! A few minutes later I hear the dog bark again and look outside to see a man from the church on the other side of the hedge laying another blanket down on the ground outside the hedge for the dog. The dog promptly pulled the blanket inside the hedge and proceeded to shred both blankets (which is what he has always done to blankets!). Not 10 more minutes later I hear the dog again and look out to see the original lady back on the other side of the hedge this time with a bowl of some sort of food or other, feeding our dog!

Let me tell you, our dog in no way shape or form looks undernourished! He is very healthy. I had also wondered over the last month (and had brought it up to my hubby for when he takes the dog to the vet next) that the dog was getting rather....heavy, fat, weighty. Now I know why! It also explaines the recent rash of "accidents" inside the house. He's eating to often and I don't know what they are feeding him. Our dog is allowed absolutely no human food whatsoever and I'm not sure if they have dog food over there at the church.

So, I'm wondering if I should walk over there tomorrow morning and nicely request that they not bring any further blankets or feed the dog again. I appreciate that they probably think they are doing a nice thing, but the dog is well cared for and loved and really doesn't need anyone messing up his routine. He's as friendly as can be and wouldn't hurt a fly, but the fact that someone came behind my hedge to mess with him, bothers me a lot since he is a pitbull lab mix. You just never know and that is why he is chained or leashed and walked only in the yard when he is outside.

I need suggestions on how to talk to them and make my point, without being rude.

 

[andromedaslove]

In all honesty, I would just explain the situation to them. Let them know that you are aware that alot of people chain their dogs up outside and just leave them there, but that isn't the case with your dog. That he is a very loved and cared for pet. Also explain that when they bring the blankets over that he tears them apart, and could ingest parts of them, which could be dangerous for him as they could get caught in his intestines and cause a blockage. Explain that he is on a specific diet and that when he gets food from them that it causes him to get an upset stomach which then leads to accidents in the house, and him not feeling very well. Let them know that it was a nice gesture but that you would appreciate if they would stop. If explained in a calm and polite way no one should be able to get upset about it.

I on the other hand almost got into a fight with a woman at the vet for allowing her puppy to climb all over my poor old lab, who is way past the time of being tolerant of puppies and was doing his very best to restrain himself from killing the little bugger.Some people when it comes to animals just aren't very smart at all.

 

[agnes!]

Hmmmm...

Are these donated blankets that people have given to charity, but instead are now being used for something else?

If these nice people want to do good deeds for some animals, they should be donating time/items/money to the local animal shelter. I had a big bag of expensive cat food that my older cat didn't like. I called up the local shelter, they said that they wouldn't be able to use it since the shelter animals are on a certain diet, but they would give it to community volunteers who help out rescue animals.

I am still stunned that these folks would trespass onto your property, regardless of their intentions. And I just re-read your post...they even have to cross a large lot to get to your property.

The dog might be barking when you're not home, especially now that the church folks have trained him to expect treats when they show up.

I like all of the previous poster's suggestions.

You might need to either fence your yard (putting up a fence that your dog cannot get through - especially considering his bloodlines) or perhaps moving his chain/house/kibble. You said yourself that he is a pit bull/lab mix and that you never know...

Good luck,
agnes!

 

[Christine]

What she said!

I do believe that these people probably think you are mistreating your dog. Most people cannot stand to see a dog chained up for any reason. Since their window of being there is short, they probably think he is always chained up.

I would agree that you need to nicely go over and request that the stop with the blankets and the food, explain that you only leave him out for specified times, and that you love your dog. I know these people mean well, but they really could end up hurting your dog.

 

[HoneyPooh]

We never leave him outside if we aren't going to be home, we just can't take a chance he would get loose. He isn't out all the time, we only walk him when it rains or snows so he isn't outside chained when it's wet out. Our dog is not fond of being wet in any way shape or form and we have to force him out door when it's raining out to walk him. My DH had even cleared the area around his tree and house so there wasn't any snow there. Considering he did this before he did the front steps you can tell he loves that dog . There is just enough chain for our dog to clear the hedge and emerge fully on the other side. No room to move around just lay down and check out the scenery. He's still on our property when he comes out the other side. Am I being silly or isn't it usually obvious when a dog isn't being fed? There has been a noticable weight gain over the past month. I think when my DH get home, I'll make sure he didn't tell them they could do it, but I'm sure he didn't. He was as confused as me about the blankets and weight gain. Maybe since he knows some of the people over there it would be better if he speaks with them.

 

[agnes!]

Not trying to start anything here, I can tell from your posts that you and your DH love this dog and are trying to be good neighbors, I am just trying to understand. I think you said in your reply that the dog is never outside when the family is not home, but in the original post I understand that you have been coming home from work and finding shredded blankets in the yard? (plus the unexplained weight gain).

I remember being a kid and folks would have their dogs on a chain in the yard and nobody ever thought anything of it. Now, in the county I live in? If you keep a dog on a chain, you can get charged with a crime (a misdemeanor).

I think you're smart to have your DH go over there to talk with these folks, since he knows some of them. Maybe he can find out what's going on...

agnes!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The solution lies in putting up a kennel for your dog. Chaining is very dangerous for people and dogs. It is a fact.

It doesn't take much for a well meaning person to become entangled in your dog's chain and be killed, as a tragic accident.
Or your dog gets wrapped up somehow and gets injured.

If people are coming on your property you have a big liability.

 

[CheshireVal]

The solution lies in putting up a kennel for your dog. Chaining is very dangerous for people and dogs. It is a fact.

It doesn't take much for a well meaning person to become entangled in your dog's chain and be killed, as a tragic accident.
Or your dog gets wrapped up somehow and gets injured.

If people are coming on your property you have a big liability.

I totally agree with this. Either fence in your yard, or put in a kennel. Those are really your best options here.

You can talk to the church people in the meantime, but I really think they believe they are helping your dog and doing a good thing.