Would you report them?

[MamaLazarou]

My sister is about to marry a hopeless racist loser - that's a whole other story, though.

They bought an illegal dog (American Pit Bull) from a breeder near where they live. Ridiculous, since they live in a tiny, third storey two-bedroomed council flat with three young kids and three cats. My sister claims that she didn't know it was an illegal dog when she bought it.

The two youngest kids (aged 1 and 4) were terrified of the dog, so they gave it to the DF's mum. My sister and her DF take the kids over to visit the DF's mum regularly and the baby plays with the dog. The idea of this just makes my blood run cold. I have expressed my concerns to my sister, but she says that it's fine, as the family keep the dog sedated (I feel certain that this counts as mistreatment towards the animal but can't prove it).

I want to report the breeder, and asked my sister for the address, but she can't remember it. I can, however, find out where the dog lives, and report the owners. Everyone would know it was me, as I have been upfront about my concerns.

Would you report these people for owning a dangerous dog?

[MamaLazarou]

No, I am still trying to find out their address without drawing attention to myself! I know the woman's name and the area she lives in - will have to do a bit of detective work to find out the rest.

Will post on here with outcome.

[TwoHot]

Eventually the animal may become more imune to the sedation.

[KingCanuteIAm]

That is what I thought too TwoHot, I am not sure how long it takes and if it is different with constant sedation or not but eitherway, it is not a risk I would be happy with!

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

you don't know your sister's address?

[KingCanuteIAm]

Baker, It is the address of the friends mum they want, they have the dog not the sister

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

So you don't know your future BIL's mum's address? Can you look in the phone book?

Unless DF is dear friend and not dear fiance

[KingCanuteIAm]

Sorry, I read it as friend, you may be right with fiance though!

[CrushWithEyeliner]

Sedating what on earth with? - please report no brainer, ASAP

[junglist1]

I'd report a dog being sedated because that's animal abuse but I wouldn't report someone just for having a pit bull. My friends own them and the dogs are as trustworthy as any other breed, not more or less. I've got staffs and there's nothing wrong with them either but people get hysterical and it's irritating TBH.
So basically report because the dog needs to be sedated NOT for the breed.

[GoodAdvice]

Junglist, they are illegal in this country though. The op is perfectly in her rights to report illegal activity wether it is breeding dogs, selling drugs or breaking the speed limit.

[junglist1]

I don't agree with reporting left right and centre. My friends love their pet and I'd never dream of reporting it, the dog isn't dangerous in their case.
In this case it seems the dog is dangerous but compulsive reporting just to amuse yourself is spiteful and sad behaviour.

[GoodAdvice]

Well it is not just to amuse herself is it? She has real concerns about some children so that is different.

However, in principle I agree with you, when the law came in (and still ongoing I believe) there have been some awful scenes of loved family pets being taken away, pets that have never done a thing wrong or turned an angry hair, this never felt right to me. However, in this case they are being breed and sold and, really, that breeder should be stopped - if for no other reason than this, with every puppy that they sell there is another family who may have to go through the heartbreak of seeing their dog being destroyed simply because of its breed. Too much potential heartbreak IMO - even assuming none of the dogs are ever turned bad (and I do hold the opinion that most dogs who go bad are made bad not born bad).

[junglist1]

I agree with you too! If the dog needs to be sedated then the owners are and have a problem. Any dog can be lovely and people screw them up probably because they want a dog that's well ard. The breeders should think who their pups are going to instead of just taking the money and not caring. It's so sad

[GoodAdvice]

Did you ever see the programme they made about the effects of the law change? They focused on a few families and the journey they went through. All of them ended with the dogs being PTS apart from one young girl who, after they turned up twice to take the dog away, actually took her dog and hit the streets in order to keep him alive, she was 15 and he was about 1/4 pit bull (so not pure) but still fit their "breed criteria" At the end of the film she was still on the streets and they were still after her - talk about breaking eggs to make ommelette. One of the worst things I remember was the dog in question welcomed the bloomin' people into the house when they came to try to take him away. Clearly just another lovely dog who suffered arbitrary decisions.

[junglist1]

Brainless isn't it

[GoodAdvice]

Yes, IMO it is not clever

[PlumBumMum]

Just want to agree with everyone else definitely report it, the fact that they are sedating is scary!

[MamaLazarou]

FabBakerGirl: it is my sister's fiancé's mum. I have only met her once, briefly (as mentioned previously, they are racists, and I don't associate with that kind of person).

Junglist - thanks for your comments, it's interesting to hear the contrasting point of view. As far as I know, this dog has not yet hurt anyone (it is only a few months old). But I do not consider myself to be qualified to decide whether it is dangerous or not, so have decided to put it in the hands of someone who is. I also think reporting the owners might lead to finding out the identity of the breeder: I care about animals and can't bear the idea that an illegal breeder could be selling dogs to people who may be using them for fighting. Dog-fighting sadly still happens in this day and age, and if there is a chance that the breeder is selling dogs for this purpose, then I feel obliged to report it. I am not reporting this in order to 'amuse myself' - I could think of a million things I would rather do for entertainment than this!

I love Staffies, too - they are lovely dogs. Not illegal, and not dangerous (in the hands of the right owner) IMO.

GoodAdvice: No, I have not seen that documentary. It seems rather extreme behaviour to make oneself homeless for a dog. I hope they manage to find the young lady and give her the help she needs.

Anyway - I have now reported the dog to Crimestoppers and will sleep better tonight as a result. Thank you all for your advice.

[LoveBeingAMummy]

I think you have done the right thing

[SueMunch]

Well done MamaLazarou - definately the right thing to do.

Will you promise to keep us informed of the outcome.

If you get any comeback from your sister I think you should deny everything - the anonymity of crimestoppers means she will never know

Great stuff!

[Mamazon]

They can legally own the dog, they just need to aquire a license first.

just because the breed is dangerous doesn't mean that the dog will be.
That said i fully appreciate your concerns. why not phone the RSPCA as if your a neighbour worried about barking.
they will send someone round to check and then will notice that the dog is an illegal breed and make further checks.

that way you get the outcome you want without causing grief within your family

[flatcapandpearls]

Yes I would report.

[MamaLazarou]

I will keep you informed, SueMunch.

"They can legally own the dog, they just need to aquire a license first."

I did not know that. I don't think they are responsible dog owners, anyway - apart from the sedation issue, they also claim to enjoy using the dog to frighten people around the estate.

[glasgowlass]

You have done the right thing, can never be too careful with there types of dogs. As for the sedating the animal, that is just bloody cruel and the using the dog to put the frightners in people hardly smacks of a responsible pet owner IMO.

Hope you dont get any grief from your sister but you know you have done the right thing.

Keep us informed.

x

[KingCanuteIAm]

That is interesting Mamazon, was that decided when they did the re-hash of the law change? I know that, following all the who-ha about it (like the documentrary) they were going to look at it again but I don't really remember much after that.

MamaLazarou, they were not going to help the dog they were going to destroy it, that is why she left, she simply said she would keep the dog away until they made the law work rather than just kill dogs out of hand - tbh I htink the sentiment makes sense although I don't know if I would have been able to do it her way.

I would be interested to hear how it works out - FWIW if you had said about the scaring people bit up front I think you would have got an even more strong reaction n support of you, it is people who do that kind of thing who really do make dangerous dogs in the end.