Dog left outside in any weather most of the time (Houston: apartment, house)

[Cabot]

I reported a situation like this when I lived in NC. I can't remember exactly who I contacted now but they came out, spoke to the owner and the dog had shelter after that. What's wrong with that? The goal was to get shelter and that happened.

[suz1023]

Personally I'd rather be dead than chained without shelter.

[Cabot]

I don't agree with keeping dogs outside but some people are going do it so you try to make sure the ones that are outside have decent shelter. The OP didn't say it was chained so that's a blessing.

[dendrotriton]

Originally Posted by Glossa

Please leave the dog ownership to people who actually care about them. To the OP, please report your neighbors. There is no excuse for mistreating animals.

Dogs are naturally adapted to deal with cold. Up north in the blizzards, or at minus 40 degrees they just curl up with no shelter and are cozy as can be. Too much heat is probably more a of a concern to dogs.

The pets of many city people are so pampered they have a higher standard of living than even most people around the world. Personally I think it's more cruel to keep them locked up in the house all day while the owners are at work than to leave them outside where they have space. That's why Im against people owning dogs if they live in apartments/no-yard.

See... they're just chillin' out... so happy to have all that space

[3a's]

Is the dog harmed in any way in other words does it not get food or water, looks straggly, not taken care of? We have a dog that is outside we tried for a year to keep her inside but she was not happy always scratching the door and wanting to go outside. She gets fed, walked- outside of the yard, has a dog house, bathed monthly and is happy to be running after the bunnies. Some dogs stay caged up throughout the day while their parents are away at work but you do not know since they are inside in a wire kennel. Unless you answered yes to any of the above questions you would be doing more harm than good for the dog. If you are really concerned about animals and have extra time to watch your next door neighbor's dog you can go to CAP and volunteer. Sorry if this is to harsh.

[cockermom]

There are laws in place to protect animals. The authorities (e.g. the Houston SPCA, Humane Society) will attempt to talk with the owners first to educate them so they are made aware of what they're doing wrong and why. Sometimes it truly is a case of ignorance. In this instance if the dog is left outside without shelter and it gets below 32 F, then it is a violation. The dog must also have access to water. They will get a violation or two before the dog is removed. They don't just go in and remove the dog after one phone call or on-line report.

§ 821.077. Unlawful Restraint of Dog

(a) An owner may not leave a dog outside and unattended by use of a restraint that unreasonably limits the dog's movement:

(1) between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.;

(2) within 500 feet of the premises of a school; or

(3) in the case of extreme weather conditions, including conditions in which:

(A) the actual or effective outdoor temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit;

(B) a heat advisory has been issued by a local or state authority or jurisdiction; or

(C) a hurricane, tropical storm, or tornado warning has been issued for the jurisdiction by the National Weather Service.

(b) In this section, a restraint unreasonably limits a dog's movement if the restraint:

(1) uses a collar that is pinch-type, prong-type, or choke-type or that is not properly fitted to the dog;

(2) is a length shorter than the greater of:

(A) five times the length of the dog, as measured from the tip of the dog's nose to the base of the dog's tail; or

(B) 10 feet;

(3) is in an unsafe condition; or

(4) causes injury to the dog.

CREDIT(S)

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., ch. 674, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2007.

[Kiovo]

OP did not state this dog was chained, just that it was outdoors in the backyard.

Do you have a clear view of their backyard where you know for sure the dog has no shelter? Try talking to your neighbor before just calling someone.

[Texascrude]

Originally Posted by imabird

The poor pup needs a dog house and bedding at the very least. Leaving a dog outside without shelter is cruel and should be reported.

You realize this is exactly how dogs lived for millions of years, right?

[Cabot]

Originally Posted by dendrotriton

Dogs are naturally adapted to deal with cold. Up north in the blizzards, or at minus 40 degrees they just curl up with no shelter and are cozy as can be. Too much heat is probably more a of a concern to dogs.

The pets of many city people are so pampered they have a higher standard of living than even most people around the world. Personally I think it's more cruel to keep them locked up in the house all day while the owners are at work than to leave them outside where they have space. That's why Im against people owning dogs if they live in apartments/no-yard.

See... they're just chillin' out... so happy to have all that space

Those dogs are born and bred for it. Your average Houston mutt wouldn't last very long in those conditions, they don't have the coat for it. It was in the 80s here a couple of weeks ago, look where it is now. Apart from anything else, from the OP's post, it sounds like they don't spend much time with it either. Sad life.

[TFW46]

There's a big difference between a Husky (as pictured in post 14), which has a lot of coat to protect it from the cold, and a shorthaired dog being left outside. Even with a doghouse, a shorthaired dog cant endure cold weather easily. In my opinion, putting a dog to sleep in a shelter is kinder than sticking a dog outside with no protection from the elements and very little human interaction.