Sydney's Story

Sydney is a 13-14 year old male Weim that a year or so ago was found by a good samaritan in her backyard in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Sydney was a starving rack of bones and was unable to eat as his owner had placed a nylon muzzle on his face. The muzzle had been on his face so long that his hair was embedded into the material. He still has a scar tissue today where the muzzle sat on his face. He also had a large cyst/tumor on his back, that we still have been unable to remove due to his continued unstable condition.

His previous owner found Sydney's Angel and when he was asked why he left a muzzle on the dogs face he told her he didn't want him eating dirt as he was always digging in the yard. When she asked him why it took him so long to look for Sydney (she had reported to the police more than a week prior that she had found him), the man told her "I just figured the old dog just wandered off to die somewhere."

Fortunately for Sydney, he was safely in the GLWR rescue program by then. Sydney is still with us as a permanent GLWR foster. 6 months ago he was diagnosed with early congestive heart failure and consistently battles fluid in his lungs and pneumonia. But, Sydney is a fighter, and each time something knocks the wind out of him, he fights his way back.  At this point in his life, GLWR is just trying to give him a soft place to rest his head and the best quality of life possible for his golden years.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are unable to track all cases of neglect and abuse because it happens every day.  Do you know the signs and symptoms of abuse?

We can help prevent needless tragedies by recognizing the signs and speaking up.  Neglect is the failure to provide for basic needs like clean water, food and shelter.  Abuse, on the other hand, involves beating, kicking, and physical mistreatment.

According to the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, indicators of neglect and abuse include low body weight, sores on the dog's coat, inactivity, eye or nose discharge and keeping a dog outside in harsh weather without shelter, adequate food and water within reach.  These are all signs of possible abuse.

What should you do if you suspect neglect or abuse?  Call your local Humane's Society or other Animal control organization and be persistent.  Authorities only investigate after a situation is reported and because these organizations can be overworked & underpaid, it can often take multiple reports on the same dog, to get their attention.  They need as much information as possible - cite specific examples of the abuse.....for example: the dog was tied up outside all night in sub-zero weather without a dog house or food in sight.  Give them the address and (if possible) names of the owner(s) and a summary of the abuse.

Is it abuse or treatment you just don't agree with?  Keeping a Weim, with their short coats, outside all night in freezing temperatures...can be abuse.  Keeping an Alaskan Husky outdoors in the same weather...may not be.  It depends.  Is there shelter - a dog house, garage, shed...where the dog can go to get out of the elements?  Is there food and water within the dogs reach?  Does the dog look emancipated or are they a healthy weight?  Do they appear in distress by crying or limping...?  Just keeping a dog outside isn't necessarily abuse - even if that's not how you believe the dog should be treated. 

How do you tell?
    Use common sense.
    Know your dog breeds and what they are bred for.
    Make a list - is the dog limping?  Does he look painfully thin? Are there sores? Is there shelter? Is there an adequate supply of food and water?

If you'd like to find information about Laws on Animal Cruelty and Neglect in your state, check out the following websites:
    www.aspca.org   (look under "lobby")
    www.pet-abuse.com