I understand that the SPCA cannot remove an animal without a warrant, but does this apply to animals that are left tied and abandoned in public areas? Surely not!

What if the dog had been harrassed, injured, or killed, by a group of weekend louts, because of it's vulnerability?

In that case I would hold both the "owner" and the SPCA culpable for allowing that to happen. Fortunately, luckily, it did not.

Luckily, because it seems that no-one was doing their job. Not everything can wait for Monday (or Tuesday) morning. I thought that was the reason for the 24 hour phone line.