Saw a terrible thing tonight...

[Aimros]

I'm a big animal lover. I adopt my pets and try to give them the best life possible. I know there are a lot of atrocities out there in terms of animal abuse and it drives me crazy. I feel so helpless and sad. I feel like I'm definitely aware of this hatred, but tonight I saw it with my own eyes and I feel so disgusted. My boyfriend and I were driving home from getting ice cream and we stopped to get gas. A pick-up truck pulled in to the gas station, and on the truck bed there was a large kennel type thing with several (probably 8-10) small cages with 2-3 dogs (looked like a lot of collies or other type of furry dog) in each cage. I hate seeing animals be uncomfortable and it just brought me to tears seeing it. We ended up following the truck and it turned down into a dirt road that goes into cornfields in town. We ended up talking to someone who was driving a car following the trucks and asked him what they were doing. He said they "were training the dogs to race" and that they "bring them down south every winter" (we live in New England). We asked him if he felt bad about having so many dogs in one cage, and he said "the cages were pretty big" (definitely not big enough for that many dogs on the back of one truck). Anyway, we ended up calling the cops. Hopefully they contacted animal control or the EPA or someone who does something - because I don't know what else I could do. Keep in mind this was 8pm at night on a cold night - a weird time to be going to the back of some cornfields to "train" dogs (if that's really what they were doing, considering the dogs didn't look like your typical "race dog").

Sorry this is long. I'm just really angry and sad. I lose a lot of faith in humanity when I see stuff like this. I just don't understand how people can be so cruel, it absolutely disgusts me.

 

[damo]

That sounds like a lot more than dog racing is going on. Kinda makes me sick.

 

[sunnyday123]

I've learned that unfortunately, you can't save them all, and sometimes it's better not knowing.


But I agree with you wholeheartedly, and would've done the same thing.

 

[a1tinkfans]

You did the right thing! Maybe even Saving those dogs!


It amazes me how SICK people really are!

 

[manning]

Sounds more like dog bait for bit pulls. More like training for fighting.

Look up the number for animal control and call them.

 

[Stitchfans]

Sounds more like dog bait for bit pulls. More like training for fighting.

Look up the number for animal control and call them.

I was feeling really bad when I read it until I read this. Now I am sick to my stomach. Yes, animal control should be informed. By telling the police at least the OP tried to help.

 

[DWGal210]

I'm sorry you had to seel that - but good to you for calling the police!

Those poor animals; I just can't imagine why someone would be deliberatly cruel to an animal. I don't think that's an animal-lover or not thing - that's just being a decent person. They're so innocent and it really takes a sick person to take advantage of them.

 

[Epcot luvr]

Here is a link for dog fighting laws for different states from the humane society of the US.
http://www.hsus.org/acf/fighting/dogfight/ranking_state_dogfighting_laws.html

If you have a tag/plate for the truck I would call in a tip today, I know you did last night but maybe onemore call would not hurt, just to be safe. Many states consider dog fighting a felony will respond or at least direct you to someone who will investigate. Especially if they are crossing state lines then this can even bring more charges into the equation. It might noit seem like much but you might be able to provide a link that has been missing. I am sure it can be done anonoymously. Thank you for looking out for those without a voice.

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

Anyway, we ended up calling the cops. Hopefully they contacted animal control or the EPA or someone who does something - because I don't know what else I could do.

Good for you! That is the type of thing that stays in my mind for days, very upsetting. I am so glad you took some action.

 

[FergieTCat]

You did the right thing. Those poor animals have no defenses in the matter.

 

[pixiewings71]

Sounds more like dog bait for bit pulls. More like training for fighting.

Look up the number for animal control and call them.

I agree, I'm sorry you saw that OP, how sad. I think I would be calling again, to follow up.

 

[shrubber]

I don't get it or am missing something.
Somebody had dogs in crates in a pickup truck and you called the police?
For what?

 

[Aimros]

I don't get it or am missing something.
Somebody had dogs in crates in a pickup truck and you called the police?
For what?

No the dogs weren't in crates, they were in like a giant kennel type thing on the truck bed. I ended up asking a vet friend of mine about it today, and it turns out she actually knows the people and is friends with them - they are dog sled people who bring their dogs to train in the very fields we saw them going into. I feel sort of bad now - I didn't tell her we called the police, but I'm really hoping that the people didn't get in trouble or anything. I'm hoping at least that since they are training their dogs to race, they take care of them. They looked squished to me (on the truck), but I guess that's how they travel (if you do a google search for "sled dog truck" you can see sort of what I'm talking about) and why they were training in the cold at night. But since we don't see sled dogs in my area very often (or never), I guess we didn't really know better. My vet friend says they bring them to Canada to race during the winter, which doesn't really explain why the kid told us they were going to race in the South, but who knows. At least I feel a little bit better knowing they weren't being used for dog fights or something like that. I just hope it doesn't come back to bite me for calling the police - if it ruins my friendship I would be devastated! I guess I shouldn't jump to conclusions so much.

 

[damo]

You did the right thing. Don't give it a second thought. I'm very happy to hear they are sled dogs.

 

[manning]

If I was the one transporting the dogs I would not be offended. At least I would know someone out there cares.

 

[Aimros]

If I was the one transporting the dogs I would not be offended. At least I would know someone out there cares.

Yeah, I guess that's true too. I think it would be smart put a sticker on their truck that says "Dog Sled Team" or something along those lines so at least people would know. I'm sure I can't be the only one who has seen that truck driving around and wonder about it.

 

[Epcot luvr]

You had the best intentions and in no way should this jeopardize any friendships. I am a huge animal lover and respect the fact you did call and did not just ignore something that has to do with the safety and well being of an animal !!! If more people would open their eyes to animal abuse and not just ignore it or hope it would go away the more animals could be saved from lives of pain.

 

[yoopermom]

I wondered if this was going to be the case, but was afraid of being flamed. We have hunting dogs, who also travel in what we call a "dog box", and it does appear, from the outside, that the dogs are "squished", but it's because the holes are just big enough for them to stick their heads out, their bodies really are fine in there, I promise. It's actually safer for them than what many people do who let their dogs bounce around loose inside a vehicle (which would make them a projectile if in an accident).

I'm really glad it all turned out for the best.

Terri

 

[Aimros]

I wondered if this was going to be the case, but was afraid of being flamed. We have hunting dogs, who also travel in what we call a "dog box", and it does appear, from the outside, that the dogs are "squished", but it's because the holes are just big enough for them to stick their heads out, their bodies really are fine in there, I promise. It's actually safer for them than what many people do who let their dogs bounce around loose inside a vehicle (which would make them a projectile if in an accident).

Thanks for letting us know Terri. I figured that was the case, but like I said we don't EVER see trucks like that in my area. I've been living in the same place for over 20 years and have never seen or heard about dog sled training/trucks/etc. So it was a new thing for us to see. But it is good to know they have lots of room, I figured they did and the reason they looked squished was because they all wanted to be able to see out the windows so they were all pushing up front.

 

[pixiewings71]

Oh thank goodness!!!! I have heard too many stories about dog fights, bait dogs and how they are transported and I was worried. Honestly, if you calling the police and reporting what you saw was the cause of a ruined friendship then it probably isn't that great a friendship and you're probably better off without it. That said, I'm sure your vet friend would be happy you did make the call, as many others said on this thread, we have to speak up for those who can't speak for themselves, this would fall into that category very well. You did the right thing OP, don't feel guilty.