Is it wrong to steal an animal that's being abused??

I've been mulling this over all night in my head. I know I'm not in a good place right now and probably aren't thinking the clearest. My neighbors have an absolutely beautiful pit bull. I think they said she's a german blue or something like that but she's gorgeous.

The issue is she keeps getting out of their yard. She usually ends up on my front porch and I have to take her back. Well when I take her back they yell and scream at her. Yesterday when I brought her back my neighbor grabbed her by a leg and just jerked her into the house and threw her behind him. I was floored and couldn't even speak and then slam the door was shut. Last night while letting my dogs out to go potty I saw the man's son throw the dog off their back porch. I mean literally pick up and throw her over the railing onto the ground. That's it I can't just sit by and let her get treated like that. There aren't any marks on her and I've dealt with animal control here before. If you call in abuse it's your word against the owner's word.

I don't know what to do. My first impulse is just take her the next time she shows up on my porch. I have a friend that does pit rescue and she'd be glad to have her. She's such a good loving puppy! All she wants is love. I've never seen them so much as pet her or play with her at all. When she pops up on my porch she's all kisses and please pet me. I always love on her a bit before I have to take her back. She's breaking my heart because lately when she gets out she's been ducking when I reach for her or she just hits the ground and gives me belly. A dog's reaction should not be flinching or flat out submission just because you reach for them!

Would it be wrong to take her and give her to someone that will give her the love and affection she deserves? I'm just lost on this but I can't continue to stand by and watch it happen

If it is a recognized pitty rescue group, I'd call them to come get her the next time she showed up on my property. Is she licensed & vaccinated?

I know she's had her puppy shots and she's not microchipped. I don't think she's spayed yet because she's too young. Is it bad to call someone to come get her when I know where she belongs? What's really bad is I like my neighbors except for this. They seemed so nice. But why get a puppy to never play with it or love on it and mistreat it?

Yes, it is wrong to "steal" another person's property.

Personally, I'd contact my local SPCA or Humane Society and let them handle the situation.

That's being proactive while protecting your own safety at the same time!

Mean people do mean things, and you certainly don't want to be the target of their outrage should they find out you took their pet.

We can't personally save every child, old person or animal that's being abused, but neither does that mean that we have to sit by and do nothing!

By notifying authorities, we are sending the abusers a powerful message that there are people out here who do SEE what they are doing and that we WILL NOT hesitate to call for help.

Good Luck & Best Wishes!

I agree with pfrog. They really don't deserve to keep this puppy. Report them again.The authorities aren't clueless. The can assess how the dog is being treated by its behaviour.

It is wrong to steal a dog. But it would be very tempting to "relocate" the animal if the authorities are unable to change the family's behaviour. Maybe next time the dog finds its way to your place, wait until they come looking before you hand him back. If they can't keep the dog secured the dog could be run over.

Shes is going to have a miserable life and very likely will go on a `special ride' one day 50 miles away, dumped in other words. Do the right thing, sneak her into your house and out the back into a car at night and off to the rehoming place. Simple. Warning the owners means that special ride may take place earlier than the natural progression of their boredom with their animal. So many people treat animals like toys. A fad, a status thing, an accessory. Then get annoyed and bored and regret their `purchase' It will take you no time at all and you feign innocence at the rescue. You found her cowering alone 2 miles away didnt you...didnt you?

No, it isn't "wrong." It's never wrong to rescue a person or animal being mistreated. How could it be??? Just don't get caught.

Get video evidence then call authorities.

That is abuse, please alert this. I don't think stealing her is the answer but let the right animal authority know.

Some people abuse these animals on purpose to make them mean. Some people raise the puppies just to sell to fighting rings. They have no conscience about it, they just think of it as a money making thing. I hope you can get the puppy out of there before she is damaged.

Okay, I'm wrong. I'd take the dog to the friend that does rescue. My heart just ain't in watching an animal being abused. Those people have no emotional connection to that dog. They won't miss him/her.

In my opinion? No, it's not wrong. Why?

Because I've done it. And after going through this same internal battle in my head for days, when the dog got out and ended up in my backyard, I took him in and called the ASPCA. And now, we adopted that dog. And he has a damn good life because he deserves all the love and care a human can give an animal, not the life he was getting. Which was disgusting and horrid...

Keeping an animal on your property under the suspicion of abuse is not something the SPCA or what have you is going to look too much into. If you have explanations and examples, like you gave us, they will write all of that information down. They will bring the animal in for an examination, etc, and more likely than not see exactly what you were reporting.

And honestly? It's SAFER for the animal. If you call the SPCA or any animal service for protection, the animal can face further abuse upon the owners finding out, abandonment, or death. I have heard it happen more than once, and I KNOW this would have been the future for one of our lovely dogs if I didn't follow my gut.

Follow your gut on this. You have to balance logic and reaction here. You're reacting as a protector. Why is this? Because you're seeing an animal being harmed. Why are you questioning these actions? Because you're wanting to follow through with them to keep this animal safe.

If the dog comes to your yard, you're not stealing anyway. Especially if you're calling protection for the dog RIGHT when it arrives.

You're a good person. I don't at all think that these actions are wrong, especially when it is from a protective instinct.

Good luck.

I agree with captainchaos, try to get video evidence and call the authorities. Maybe contact you pit bull rescue friends and ask their opinion too.

Does she have on a collar and tag?

As far as I am concerned, if a "stray" dog shows up on my porch....then it's a "stray" dog on my property.
And I will, and have, taken them to the pound. (If you can take it to a rescue, then do that)

Abusing animals is a red flag, just the next step in abusing a person. Absolutely report it before it ends up dead.

I have been pondering this since I read the original post this morning.

I struggled with the idea of "stealing" someone's dog because I once had a dog stolen. Then I realized it's a different situation. My dog was loved and well cared for. A ring of dog theives went through our area taking people's pets. Gawd only knows what happened to them after they were stolen.

That's not the case here. You have witnessed the pup being abused. From where I sit the fact she keeps coming to your house means she is looking to you to rescue her. Next time she shows up, I'd let her in the house then give her to the rescue group. Like George said thoug, be careful the neighbors don't see you with her. If they are willing to hurt the pup they might be willing to do something to you. I'd also be ready to look them in the eye and deny having seen her if they show up at your door.

It is wrong to steal things. A living creature is not a thing. While the neighbors are technically the dog's owners, they are also her caregivers. It is their responsibility to secure a healthy and happy home, and assure the dog is being cared for.

If she is being mistreated they are not fulfilling that responsiblity- which they implicitly agreed to upon taking the dog into their home.

From my point of view:
You can't really "steal" a creature. You can kidnap it, you can rescue it, you can harm it, you can love it, you can mistreat it,you can care for it.

I understand with pets, all of these statements are not agreed upon- we all have different viewpoints.

But to respond to your question?

I think whether it is wrong to remove the dog from the home, and how it is done, would depend on what action or inaction you could live with doing or not doing. Ultimately, since it is a living creature, I would consider what is right by the dog AND myself and attempt to balance that out.

If I personally viewed crystal clear evidence of such repeated abusive treatment I would not actually consider the neighbors' rights as owners in the equation; in my opinion they forfeit such rights when they refuse to care for their charge.

Which isn't at all any particular recommendation, just the kind of factors I consider in such situations.

Listen to your heart and act with your head.

One more thing to consider, saving a puppy at a young age will perhaps also save the the dog from being put down later for biting out of fear.

I say take it and give it a good home with your friend! I took my neighbours puppy after I witnessed him punching the poor thing. I took the puppy home and called the police. We found old cut marks and burns all over this poor dog The guy was high on drugs at the time. I guess I am pretty lucky I didn't get hurt but I couldn't just stand there and let this poor dog be abused anymore. I received a call once the dog had been given a new home with a family Last I heard he was very happy

Thank you all for the responses. I tried the proper channels and got nothing which after my last dealings with them I expected. Animal care and control asked over the phone if she had any marks and said as long as there are no visible cuts, lacerations, burns, symptoms of malnourishment etc.. then it's my word against my neighbor's. They said if I have a smart phone to discretely take video if we see anything else. But these are the same people who I called about a similar situation years ago and they did nothing. The poor dog I called about would literally pee herself and then curl into a ball if you reached for her. The guy that came out to check on the situation said and I quote "That's not necessarily a sign of abuse. She could just have a really nervous disposition. There are no visible signs of abuse. So this case is closed. " I almost got the cops called on me because of how I went off on him.

Right or wrong the next time she shows up on my porch IF no one is around then she's being relocated.

Well, obviously stealing the dog is a bad idea, ... it's theft, and could potentially cause a serious problem with you and your neighbors, if they are as bad as they sound. Call a ... thingy, ... one of those "do you know of an animal that is being mistreated?" lines.

Good Luck

Please let us know what happens.

I'd take the dog to your pit rescue next time she escapes. The dog could have easily run away. You cant keep the dog when your neighbor will know you "took" it.

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Yes take it to a rescue home next time he/she comes in your yard. Be clever and don't get caught! They'll think the dog has run away. Make sure it's not microchipped as they'll just get the dog back if it is

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this is a tough one. I don't think its wrong under the circumstances. my next door neighbor leaves his dog outside alone all the time and it whines pitifully because of course dogs are pack animals. I have wondered many times if it would be wrong to steal it and I suppose it would because it is well fed and healthy and probably not being abused (in legal terms). but physically experiencing what your neighbors are doing is different, and it may end up doing psychological damage to the poor animal, and it goes without saying that a pit bull is a very powerful thing and sweet to begin with but needs to be treated right. so, you are right to be concerned and do whatever you think is best without feeling guilty about it.