REPORT A DOG TO US
What to do if you know of a neglected dog
Documenting
Do not approach the owners of a neglected dog, that is up to the SPCA or your municipal bylaw enforcement. Unless you have heard otherwise, neglectors seldom let you have or buy their dog. It is risky to let an animal neglector know who you are.
Watch the dog at various times of the day.
Watch to see if the dog is out all night or in a garage.
Look for feces and notice if there is the smell of urine. Look for flies.
If the dog is tethered, is the tether attached to a collar or a choke chain?
If you live in the neighbourhood, ask neighbours you know if they are concerned. If you can, find out as much of the history and how many times the dog has been reported to the SPCA.
AAS yard dog documentation and report questions
Phone AAS at 604-984-8826 and leave us as much information as possible
- What is the address of the dog(s) you are reporting?
- How many dogs are you reporting?
- What is the breed(s), age, sex, size, colouring of the dog(s)?
- How long has the dog (or dogs) been in this situation?
- Is the dog out at night also? If yes, can you say how you know?
- How much time does the dog spend outside?
- Is it tethered, loose, in a pen, in a garage, in a shed, in a basement, on a porch or balcony, etc?
- If in a pen or enclosure, how big is it?
- Can the dog(s) see out of its place of keeping or is its vision blocked?
- If tethered, how long is the tether and what is it made of?
- Is the tether wrapped around the dog's neck?
- Is there a choke chain around the dog's neck to which the tether is attached?
- Is the dog in danger of choking on its tether (i.e. can the dog get up high and possibly fall or jump and strangle itself?)
- Is there shelter?
- Is the shelter big enough for the dog to stand up in comfortably, and turn around without having to come outside?
- Is the shelter dry inside?
- Is it positioned to provide protection from wind and heat?
- Is the dog fed regularly? If not, is the dog thin?
- Is there clean water at all times?
- Is there excrement that the dog must live near or in?
- Is there a smell of urine?
- Is the dog dirty, matted, ill-looking, overgrown nails etc?
- Is the dog ever walked? How frequently?
- Have you witnessed it being beaten or yelled at?
- Is the dog ever muzzled?
- Describe its personality and temperament.
- Do you visit it? Talk to it? Feed it treats? (we are not asking you to do this at this time)
- Have you asked the owner if you can walk the dog? (we are not asking you to do this at this time)
- Have you asked the owner if you can buy the dog? (we are not asking you to do this at this time)
- Would you be able to foster the dog, or help find a foster home if you were given the dog?
- Have you reported this dog to the SPCA? (we are not asking you to do this before photographs are taken)
- Which branch?
- How many times?
- When approximately?
- When was the most recent time you contacted the SPCA?
- What did the SPCA do or say to you?
- Have any of the neighbours reported this dog to the SPCA?
- If the dog is in Vancouver, have you reported it to the Vancouver City Pound (251-1325)?
- Do you know if other dogs have been neglected at this address? If Yes, insert details here.
- Will you take photos of the dog showing the tether, shelter, feces, overturned water dishes, etc and send them to us? Photos are VERY important. Any photo, even of the porch, or the pen, etc, is better than no photo. It is not possible for AAS to get to every dog reported to us, so the dog is counting on you to document its suffering. Photos and the report should be made BEFORE contacting the SPCA.
- What is your name, address and phone number? Please tell us if you wish to be anonymous or if we have your permission to give your name to your Mayor and Council and the BC SPCA.
