The dog is a medium sized dog, and it seems to be
a lab-pitbullX (based on his markings and very
short coat). He looks pretty thin. I am up on the
third floor of an apartment building and my
window looks across the alley into the dog's
yard, which is where I can see it. As far as I
can tell, the dog looks to be about 11/2-3 years
old. If I were to go in the alley I would never
even see him, as the fence is too high.
I moved into this building last February and
didn't really notice until the summer that he was
never taken out of the yard for walks and no one
came in the yard to play with him. He had no bed
then, and used to lie on the back porch, which
was mostly uncovered, except for a door-width
cover. Then, the owner built a gate so that the
dog could no longer lie on the porch. Once it
started to rain (it rained a reasonable amount
this summer, I know, I work outside) the dog was
screwed! I then wrote a letter to the owner,
asked if I could walk the dog, etc.I mentioned
lack of bed and cover fromt he rain. No response.
Shortly after, the dog house appeared.
The dog house is under the porch stairs,
surrounded by a hot water tank, ladder, etc. I
wouldn't be surprised if the bedding was
inadequate. He is in there most of the day and
night, except if he hears his owner coming home,
and then he runs out and runs back and forth from
one side of the house to the other, trying to see
if he can see somebody. No one comes to him.
Sometimes the dog comes out to just sit there and
look around.
The dog is fed daily, in the evening, it seems.
This little guy looks pretty playful still: in
the summer, I watched as he brought his ball to a
neighbour who was working in his garden, drop it
over the fence, and have a bit of fun while the
neighbour threw it to him a few times. But the
neighbour went back to his gardening, and the dog
sat a foot from him, just watching him garden,
probably happy to be near anybody.
I watched the owner feed him last night. He threw
some hard food on the snow in the yard (where it
is dark and there is no light to illuminate the
yard), brought out another bowl (water?) gave the
dog a 1 minute hug/scratch/pat and then went back
in.
The dog has nothing to watch, no stimulation,
unless a neighbour comes home through the alley
way. The SPCA has been no help.