Just Saw A Homeless Dude Torturing A Dog...

A problem we have stepping into the lives of others is what cascading effects we may cause. If we call the cops on this guy, the dog likely ends up in his own sort of jail awaiting a decompression chamber and a mass grave. It's unlikely the homeless guy has a recent shot record for the dog or AKC papers. I don't envy the choice. As for money, I hand it to people I can see, in front of me. I have a few stores that round up my bills for other charities, but anything I ever give to homeless people is face to face. I don't want them thinking ALL white guys in suits are dicks. (we are though)

I've been homeless as well. The worst for well over a year. Easy way to lose a few pounds though!

 

Hi, pacific.....you have a heart for animals....
That is wonderful.....
What a sad story , though, for that poor little dog.....
Homeless taking his frustrations of his life out on the dog? Who knows?
I would have been livid and would have said or try to help that dog somehow.....I do not tolerate people torturing animals at all...and to think of how many animals are tortured every day and no one knows......

Sometimes i realy wish there was a hell and that people that would torture anything would go there.




50 people just walking by...no surprise to that either...but you were the rare one.

 

OK, I did not doubt your word. I know a lot of Homeless people in Fort Collins Colorado. Most of them are good people. That one sounds like a real butt hole. Next time call the Humane Society or whatever agency handles that sort of matter. The poor dog sould not suffer because his owner is cruel. Best of luck to the dog and to you.

 

Ok--I'm 75--but I'd like to say right here and now---I'll fuck somebody up for doing that bullshit. Immediately.

 

That's what I'm talking about, Scratcho. I'd have to remove the dog from him.

 

you should have called humane society to pick up the dog

 

Yeah, right, rainy.....as that guy is going to do that again...probably has all along....

 

That was my natural instinct, but the incident was so sudden and surreal. I mean, the psycho dude's face was so close to my own that I could feel his breath as he ranted about how I needed to mind my own business. I kept glancing down at the little dog, and did actually think about scooping it up, but then the cab arrived and the crazy dude backed off, and I just automatically began putting several bags of groceries into the back seat. He picked up the dog and watched me the whole time this was going on. Then after I was in the cab, he freaked out and started pounding on the window. The cabbie was not happy (to say the least) so I gave him my address, and we got the hell out of there...

IMPORTANT UPDATE: I did not get any sleep last night (for obvious reasons), so I called the store as soon as they opened, and told the manager about the incident. She seemed sincere, and told me she would make sure the security guard was on the lookout for the crazy homeless dude, and the police would be called if he showed up in front of the store again. I gave the best description I could of the abusive dude and the poor little dog, so I am hoping he will get nailed big time. Also, I have been in touch with a pet shop that finds good homes for abused cats and dogs (sadly, my building does not allow pets), and the owner promised she would let the little dog stay at her shop until it could be placed in a safe and loving home. So things are looking up. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that the crazy dude decides to stick to his usual schedule. This very sad story might still have a happy ending

 

Thanks for the kind words, Moonglow. I've always been a fierce advocate for vulnerable people and animals. So this recent incident is a way for me to practice what I preach: respect and kindness big time

 

Right on. If only you could have been at that store...

 

Keep us posted on the story man. It would be great if you can get the dog off this mf.

 

maybe jumping to conclusions here.. when the other bystanders did nothing, maybe they observed bad behavior from the dog before you did. Maybe homeless dude was muzzling the dog and pinning it because it lashed out on passerby and he wants to prevent it from attacking people further.. after all it is his pet and companion ., wont be for long if it bites someone..

just playing devil advocate here. but calling a kill shelter to save the dog seems illogical ..

 

Film it.

 

I agree with Orison319 . The dog was being firmly diciplined . It yelped . Likely he did not raise it from a pup .
And I assure you a street dog , a traveling dog , is never hungry .

Ignorant sentimental opinionated kindness can be annoying .

 

so can arrogant cruelty....^

at any rate, yes, maybe it was discipline. I was not there to get the true sense of it....so I do not know.

 

Yep ^ both sentiments are exactly what I was thinking as I was reading this.

People can talk about discipline or "Ignorant sentimental opinionated kindness" and I keep going back to the dog was little and the cold, wet sidewalk and the weather...

If I personally couldn't "fix" that, damn if I wouldn't call on a few vets I've come to know real well...and I'd call from there. I have no doubt they'd "fix" that situation if I couldn't.

I don't give a damn if the dude is homeless or not...that's no excuse.

PacificDude, you did what you could, and I'm glad you stopped him when you did. Hopefully that was enough to make him vent on something/someone beside the dog, and go on to other craziness that won't involve the dog.

Sometimes I tend to think those of us on the east coast are way less likely to put up with shit (of any kind) than those on the west coast.

 

Will do

 

Hey, thanks. I wish I could have done more (scooped the little dog up), but the situation was way too heated, and I know enough about street people that many of them carry a blade. I was without any sort of weapon, so I reasoned that if the crazy dude stabbed me, the little dog would have wound up in a kill shelter, and I never would have been able to make a post about this. So I think I handled the situation as best I could. Anyway, thanks for the really cool support

 

Sorry, but that is NOT how it all came down. When I first stepped outside the store to wait for my cab, the dude was asking people for spare change. The dog was at his side, but was not barking or misbehaving in any sort of way. In fact, a couple of people asked if they could pet the cute little dog. I think what set the dude off was when another homeless dude showed up (with a much bigger dog), and the little dog started barking at the other dog. That's when he grabbed the dog's mouth shut w/both hands, and pressed his knee firmly into the dog's side. This was not for a minute or so. It continued until I confronted him (at least five minutes after), so I fail to see how anyone could call that discipline. And every time the dog whimpered in pain, the crazy dude shouted (very loud) to shut up. He was obviously more worried about alienating people that might give him some money, instead of taking good care of his dog.

 

I guess that backfired on him. I will bet he didn't collect any money during that outburst.

I'm not suggesting I'd be strong enough to wrestle a dog away from anyone.

I think some friendly intervention might have helped.

Someone giving the guy some money might have calmed the situation enough to begin dialogue with him about his needs and the dogs needs.

We have a Pit Bull rescuer here who won't be stopped removing a dog from harms way but he doesn't leave it at that. He works with people and dogs.

He posted a video of a homeless man camped in the woods with his dog. He brought them donated supplies they needed. He vetted the dog. He took the man for a steak dinner.

A few weeks later, the homeless man was seen drunk and being abusive to the dog outside a restaurant or store. The dog did have to be taken from the man at that point.

You have to try kindness to diffuse a situation like that until it's proven that kindness is not all that's needed.