Dog casualty of family break up. What advice for friend?

[MagicLlama]

My friend has a choc lab. He about 9. She has owned him since a pup. 3 years ago she moved in with her now ex. They split up 6 months ago and she went into a refuge. She left the dog with her ex.

He rang her brother (he has no contact with her) to say the dog is poorly and she needs to sort it out. Her brother has been to collect the dog, and apparently its in a right state. Hes limping badly, and has clumps of hair missing and sores all over his hips and sides, his back end is also very skinny. They are desperate to take him to the vets, but worried about being done for animal cruelty, as hes quite clearly been left for a while and not received vet treatment.

Ive told them they just need to get him to the vets asap and worry about the repercussions later as he is obviously unwell and has been for sometime. Failing that I said ill take him in and say I found him, but obviously if I do that, hes not going to be covered by her insurance, and without insurance there is no way of paying for whatever medication he might need if its pretty serious.

Any advice on whether a vet is likely to report her if she takes him in?

[readysteady]

The vet won't report her if she seeks veterinary treatment. Just tell them the truth. If anything she could get the vet to take photos as she may have a case against her ex for him causing suffering. The most important thing is the dog sees a vet.

[IncognitoIsMyFavouriteWord]

Take him in she can prove she's been in a refuge and the dog was left with him.

Be honest the priority now it is to get the dog well. Face anything else if it comes.

[readysteady]

Oh and you posted your mates name may need to report your own post and ask them to take out her name.

[sanityawol]

Just get the poor bloody dog to a vet.

If it is a vet she has used for years, and she explains her situation they may be sympathetic.

[AbraStone]

Just get the poor thing to the vet, tell the truth and stop fucking about worrying about what might happen. FFS.

[AnotherFurry]

Tell the vet the truth, they didn't cause the suffering.

Poor dog

[MagicLlama]

Shes petrified of her ex, so there is no way shell do anything to make any waves against him at all. I suspect he might possibly have kept the dog as long as possible just to make life difficult for her he is a right nasty piece of work

Ive told her she just needs to get him there and worry about it all later, but obviously that doesn't stop her worrying about it.

[AbraStone]

Well while she's worrying about it she should get the dog to the vet

[MagicLlama]

I know that Abra and I have told her that in not getting him to the vets asap then she is guilty of animal cruelty, but that I would attempt to find out what I could for her about how likely she is to get a conviction for animal cruelty by taking him in and that if all else fails I will take him in myself.

[HorizontalRunningOnly]

I'm surprised a dog ur friends has owned since a pup and has now been returned to her in such an awful state hasn't been taken to te vet immediately she laid eyes in his limping skinny balding self! How much longer is this senior dog to be left suffering while people worry about 'getting in trouble' gobsmacked sorry - get the poor creature to a vet before u wake up and find he's passed away!

[WeAllHaveWings]

did you friend manage to get her dog to the vets? hope he's ok?

[MagicLlama]

Yeah wings she took him - he has a skin infection of some kind - they have taken a skin scraping and given her some pain killers for him, and a shampoo, so hopefully hell be on the mend soon, at if nothing else shes at least got her dog back!